Sales in the selective retail channel in France slightly decreased in the first half 2012: -2.9% in volume and -0.4% in value.
Over the first five months, the market recorded a dramatic drop (-6.3% in volume and -4.2% in value), however "high sales figures on the occasion of Mother’s Day (+8.5% in volume and 7.8% in value compared to 2011) have softened this downward trend," explained the French Federation of selective perfumery (FFPS) in a statement.
All product categories were impacted, apart from sales of skincare products that remained flat in value. Makeup sales decreased by 0.2% only, upheld by the dynamism of nail products (+2.2%), complexion products (+0.8%), and gift boxes (+1.9%). Actually, fragrances were the most severely impacted: on the entire half year, their sales have decreased by -0.6% in value and -3.1% in units. "The launch of new fragrances at the beginning of September should reverse the trend of the selective channel’s main product category," commented Marie-Hélène Morin, General Delegate, FFPS.
Similarly all the channel’s operators were impacted: sales in independent perfumeries decreased by -7.8% in volume and by -6% in value, while beauty chain stores (Marionnaud, Sephora, Nocibé) contained their withdrawal to -1.9% in volume (+0.5% in value) thanks to the opening of new outlets and strengthened promotional activity. In department stores, the decrease of sales in volume (-3.2%) was offset by value gains (+1.8%).
