Beauty in the eye of the category holder

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. Consumers are switching channels in some key beauty categories, according to a new survey fro The NPD Group and Information Resources Inc.

While department store sales of makeup declined, makeup posted a slight increase in the FDMx channel. Conversely, the hair segment, although representing a relatively small portion of the prestige business, grew by 6% in department stores versus the decline of 4% in mass, where hair represents a larger portion of the overall business.

“For the first time we have the ability to take a broader view of the U.S. beauty industry,” said Diane Nicholson, president of beauty for The NPD Group. “When looking across total channels -- department stores and food, drug and mass channels, excluding Walmart (FDMx) -- we can size the market at $19.1 billion dollars, representing approximately 60% of the U.S. beauty industry.”