The juggernaut beauty brand is expanding in Ireland and in the UK.
Inglot Cosmetics Ireland, a family run makeup franchise with roots in Mullingar, yesterday announced that it is expanding its UK operations with the opening of two new concession stores in British clothing, footwear and home products retailer, Next. The announcement comes as Inglot Cosmetics Ireland celebrates 10 years in business.
In what will mark the cosmetic retailer’s first incursion into concession retailing in the UK, Next will allocate space to its new partner in two of its biggest and top performing stores in Manchester, the Arndale Centre and the Trafford Centre. The first two concessions will open simultaneously in May, with many more planned in the coming months. The expansion plans follow the opening of three new standalone stores in the UK in recent months, including Inglot’s flagship store in Westfield White City, London, which opened in November 2018.
(Jane Swarbrigg – photo Kieran Harnett)
Speaking at the announcement, Jane Swarbrigg, Managing Director, Inglot Ireland, said:
“This is a very special year for us as we are celebrating 10 years since we opened our first store in Liffey Valley in 2009. Since then, we have grown the business significantly and we now have 22 stores across Ireland and the UK, with more standalone stores planned for the UK. While our business is strong, retail is an industry in transformation, with new channels driving growth. Diversification is vital for success, which is why this strategic partnership with Next is so significant, not only will it broaden our distribution and geographic reach, but it also presents an opportunity for Inglot to reach new audiences in the Next customer base. We look forward to working with the Next team on the roll-out of our new concessions in the coming months.”
Peter Swarbrigg, Financial Director, Inglot Ireland said:
“This partnership represents a significant opportunity for the Inglot brand in the UK, Next has more than 500 stores across the UK and Ireland, so the sky is the limit with respect to expansion. Currently, we’re also considering standalone stores in Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff and Essex, which are some of the biggest shopping destinations in the UK, with considerable footfall.
“At home, we continue to evolve, which is why we are rolling-out the Inglot brand in a number of pharmacies across Ireland, beginning with CH Chemists in Tralee, Burke’s Pharmacy in Naas and McElhinney’s Dept Store in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. These are the first of many as we focus on the wholesale market, selling to pharmacies in regional towns in Ireland where we don’t already have an existing store.”
Geraldine Swarbrigg and her daughter Jane introduced Polish cosmetic brand Inglot to Ireland in 2009, in the height of the recession. The franchise thrived, expanding to towns and cities across the island of Ireland. Following the success of the Inglot brand in Ireland, the family were offered the UK franchise in 2017 and opened their first store in Newcastle in the same year. Inglot now has stores in London, Newcastle, Gateshead & Glasgow.
In 2018, Inglot opened its ITEC certified academy in Dublin, Cork and Galway and more recently, diversified their offering, selling wholesale to selected pharmacies in Ireland. This year, Inglot also secured a listing with one of the biggest online beauty retailers in Ireland, Cloud 10, a move which has proved hugely successful.
Inglot Cosmetics employs more than 300 people in 22 stores across Ireland and the United Kingdom in addition to a thriving online retail operation. For more information, see inglot.co.uk, Inglot’s newly relaunched website for Ireland and the UK.
