Skins Cosmetics Gets Vendis Capital Investment
PARIS — Private equity firm Vendis Capital has invested in omnichannel beauty retailer and distributor Skins Cosmetics, based in the Netherlands.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
More from WWD
Skins Cosmetics was founded in 2000, culling premium niche brands that are backed by its eponymous retail brand. Skins Cosmetics now carries about 150 luxury niche brands.
“With Skins Cosmetics, we achieved many successes, driven by the growth of existing stores and successful new store openings,” said Philip Hillege, a cofounder of the company, who is its creative director, in a statement. “This ultra-high-end segment of the market is growing rapidly and is inadequately served in the existing international retail landscape.
“We believe in the qualities Vendis Capital will add to the development of Skins, supported in part by its familiarity with the luxury consumer brand industry and its experience in successfully rolling out retail concepts,” he continued. “Vendis’ arrival also marks the departure of five early investors who supported the company in its previous phase.”
Today, Skin Cosmetics has 20 stores, with some franchised, in the Netherlands, Belgium and South Africa. It has its own e-commerce, as well.
During the past three years Skins Cosmetics has registered average sales growth of more than 30 percent. Last year, it generated more than 40 million euros. The group counts about 200 employees.
Hillege remains in his role at Skins Cosmetics and Claudia Pouw-Dullaart as its chief executive officer.
Vendis Capital, founded in 2009, specializes in the consumer goods sector in Europe. It invests in small to medium-sized companies in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia.
“Skins Cosmetics fits Vendis’ investment criteria very well,” said Vincent Braams, a partner at Vendis Capital. “It presents a successful omnichannel retail brand, offering a premium selection of niche luxury products through a strong go-to-market platform. The brand is well-positioned for further growth, and we are confident that together we will realize its potential.”
Best of WWD
