Holland & Barrett (H&B), one of the UK’s leading healthcare and wellness retailers, has acquired its first beauty brand.
By taking over ownership of beauty services provider blow LTD, the beauty seller says it is improving its competitive edge.
All of blow LTD’s employees, along with its 1,200 professionals, will integrate into the new structure.
The app, which offers beauty and hair care treatments, including massages, make-up services and blow drys, allows customers to book visits to their home at a time that suits them.
Customers in London, the home counties, Birmingham and Manchester can access the service.
“We have an exciting transformation strategy, with the vision of helping 100 million customers globally achieve their health and wellness goals,” said H&B’s Chief Business & Science Officer, Tamara Rajah.
“This vision sees H&B moving beyond offering wellness products and advice, and expanding our reach to offer personalised services, diagnostics and wellness solutions across our digital and retail channels.”
H&B is not the first retailer to acquire beauty brands.
The UK’s largest beauty retailer, Boots, has owned many cosmetic brands for years.
Up until creating a separate company for its cosmetics brands, the No7 Beauty Company, the high street chain had been the driving force behind Liz Earle Beauty, No7 and Soap & Glory.
Boots is also thought to be divesting in one of its best-known brands, Aromatherapy Associates, something the retailer has declined to comment on.
Blow LTD, meanwhile, was founded in 2013 by Fiona McIntosh, the former Editor-in-Chief of Elle and Grazia, and claims to have revolutionised at-home beauty services.
Dubbed the ‘Uber for beauty’ platform, the business was a roaring success among customers and went on to acquire other cosmetics applications.
In 2016, it took over Return to Glory, a similar at-home beauty service with an added focus on massages, yoga and pilates, services blow LTD had not previously had in its repertoire.
Speaking about the takeover, blow LTD’s CEO, Thomas Nutt, added: “The whole blow LTD team are excited to become a part of a global vision to make health and wellness a way of life for everyone, and bring natural, sustainable beauty and wellness products, services and advice to million of consumers across the UK and beyond.
“The combined entity will accelerate blow LTD’s vision of expert service to your door with H&B’s leading expertise in ethical, planet-friendly health, beauty and wellness.
“We all very much look forward to the next chapter in the blow LTD story.”
