A Cle de Peau Beaute flagship store has been launched in Singapore.
Owned by Shiseido, the Japanese luxury skincare brand says it chose Singapore because of robust growth in its beauty market.
Its 1012 sqft (94 sqm) store at Mandarin Gallery faces Orchard Road, directly opposite the new Apple store at Knightsbridge Mall.
Shiseido Asia-Pacific president Jean-Philippe Charrier says Cle de Peau Beaute had double-digit growth in Singapore last year amid a weak retail market.
However, the beauty and personal-care sector in Singapore has been bucking the downward trend in retail, with consumer research group Euromonitor noting the sector’s growth in Singapore from $1.45 billion in 2013 to $1.57 billion last year
Charrier, who is based in Singapore, says the country has a “positive halo effect on the region” and the flagship store will be used as a showcase for the label in Asia.
“I see Singapore as a window for the other countries. I find it interesting to start things here – a country that is not big in terms of market size, but it has so many visitors,” says Charrier. “So many people visit Singapore and find the brand here.”
Cle de Peau Beaute is also carried at three department stores – Isetan, Takashimaya and Tangs.
Charrier says the concept store was launched to offer its clients experiential shopping.
Founded in 1982, the brand is more often found in luxury department stores such as Shinsegae Centum City in South Korea. It is available in 13 countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam.
The store features 12,000 suspended Swarovski crystals, two facial cabins, a gift-wrapping counter and a private area with plush seating for intimate consultations.
