In a world where beauty alliances often mean new horizons and expansive reach, it’s not every day we hear about titans like Sephora and Zalando drawing their collaboration to a close.
For those in the know, Sephora and Zalando embarked on a beauty journey together two years ago, christening their partnership in the vibrant markets of Germany and Italy. But as the sand flows swiftly through the hourglass, it appears this partnership has run its course.
“In the context of the strong business momentum we are experiencing in the [Europe, Middle East] region, we have made the decision to refocus our efforts and resources on our core business and own channels,” Sephora voiced in a heartfelt statement. Not only has their collaborative dance taught them invaluable lessons, but it has also gifted them with a promising response from their clientele.
Dripping in gratitude, they further articulated, “After evaluating both pilots and next steps, we came to a joint conclusion that our full potential is best realized outside of the current partnership. We have therefore come to a mutual and amicable decision to wind down the collaboration in the next few months.” This shared sentiment was mirrored by Zalando, who once found in Sephora the ideal partner to usher in upscale beauty brands.
However, times change and so do business directions. Zalando accentuated, “Our full potential in beauty is best realized outside of the current partnership. We have therefore come to a mutual and amicable decision to wind down the collaboration with Sephora in the next few months and focus on direct partnerships with beauty brands in Germany and Italy – in line with the model we continue to have in the rest of our beauty markets.”
The chapters of their collective journey are turning a page, but both giants remain appreciative of the trails they’ve blazed together.
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