Page 20 - March 2023 #179

Italian Beauty Goes Global

KIKO Milano was born in the very city that is part of its brand name,
Milan. More than a quarter century later the company continues
forward with the idea that makeup should enable all women to
express their own individuality. In this interview, we spend some
time with CEO Simone Dominici to discuss the evolution of the
company and what the next stages are in its development.
Since its launch in 1997 the business has East being a key growth driver for them and
grown to provide the widest cosmetics a region where they plan to nearly double
assortment in the sector as well as their presence this year to 140 stores. They
expanding into other categories such as skin also jumped across two oceans to reach the
care. The company offers an outstanding in- Philippines where they have also recently
store experience across all their stand-alone opened and have a strong growth plan in
stores and beauty products with high quality place. They will continue to expand across
standards at the most accessible prices. multiple markets in 2023 and have planned
The company closed out 2022 with just openings scheduled for Europe, Africa, Asia
over 1,000 stores after adding 60 new units and the Americas.
last year as well as growing its reach into ten As a company that is always looking
new markets across the Middle East, North to the future, the primary focus at the
Africa, South East Asia and the Americas, moment is on transforming KIKO Milano
meaning they now have a presence in 62 from a multi-regional beauty retailer into
markets throughout the world. a global beauty brand, which Dominici
Even in the time since this interview believes is its natural evolution. It is already
took place and you reading it now, the at the heart of the Italian beauty industry,
CEO explains that they will have no doubt which while providing over 55 per cent
added a few more stores as they continue of the world’s best cosmetic products to
to expand, with the five-year goal being to brands all over the world, has not had the
add 400 additional mono-brand stores and same global brand impact some of their
an additional 1,000 doors across selective larger competitors have.
beauty retailers. “We plan to change that, because KIKO
KIKO Milano recently opened store Milano is representative of one of the
number 1,000 in Dubai, with the Middle most recognisable beauty cultures in the