French cosmetics group Panther, which owns toiletries brand Cottage and cosmetics brand Institut Arnaud, is opening its own sales outlets. It will sell Institut Arnaud at the front of the shops, and Cottage at the back. The first, modestly sized shop will be in the Bordeaux suburb of Bouscat, followed by others in Paris, Lyon and Marseille.
The shops will account for only a fraction of turnover, with most of the company's €15m sales remaining indirect. The cosmetics (65% of turnover) are distributed via specialist networks, while Cottage shower and bath products (35%) are sold in supermarkets and via Amazon.
Around 60% of the company's production is exported and Panther has said it wishes eventually to open branches in China and Russia. It also launched a website last year for the Institut Arnaud brand, including a new anti-ageing product line for men, Oligoji 35.
Panther is owned by two brothers – Antoine and Herve Madrid – who bought the Cottage brand in the early 90s, followed by Institut Arnaud in 1995, and eventually merged them under the name Panther in 2000. The company employs around 68 staff and has its own development team.
It also formerly owned the distribution licence for Soleil des Iles monoi oil, which accounted for one third of turnover. Loss of the licence nearly scuppered the company and it no longer distributes for third parties.