Retail in Asia

In Trends

Benefit won Online Retail Store Award in Retail Innovation Awards 2013

US cosmetics brand Benefit Cosmetics won the Online Retail Store Award in the Retail Innovation Awards 2013 on Tuesday.

Paying tribute to companies that provide outstanding technologies, products and services to support the booming Asia retail sector, the Retail Innovation Awards 2013 consist of 17 categories, covering three major areas: Store Front Solutions, Backend Operations and Innovative Marketing.

Having launched its first e-commerce site in China in 2011 with hybris Commerce Suite, Benefit has already become one of China’s leading global cosmetics brands and is ranked as one of the top three beauty brands in the Chinese market.

Founded in 1976 by twin sisters, Benefit has since become an instantly recognisable name in cosmetics. Though Benefit had already opened around Europe, North American and Australia, it was not until 2007 that the company decided to break into the Asian market, starting with China. Now, in China alone, Benefit products are available in 43 department stores, 139 Sephora stores, 22 brow bars, 5 boutiques and one e-commerce site.

"Being awarded this accolade is a great honour," commented Mike Hu, Brand General Manager of Benefit Great China. "China is poised to become the largest online marketplace in the world and back in 2011 we had the foresight to recognise the exciting opportunities that the market has to offer. To make it happen, however, we needed a standard global e-commerce platform that would enable us to develop and maintain our unique brand in the market while allowing us to successfully navigate the cultural, linguistic, governmental, legal and technical specifications that are unique to the Chinese subcontinent. hybris has enabled our China operation to be a proof-of-concept for future operations in the country and other Asian markets and we look forward to further building our brand and business in region."

"Specialty stores need a platform that is global in nature and able to replicate a business model across countries," explained Burghardt Groeber, Vice President Asia at hybris. "hybris Commerce Suite allowed Benefit Cosmetics to do exactly that, enabling it to align its Chinese site with its global business model, accurately tailoring it to the retailer’s unique branding worldwide. We are delighted that Benefit Cosmetics has received this prestigious award and we are very proud that we have played a part in such a great success story."