After raising over $3M, popular VC-backed beauty brand Ami Colé is shuttering | TechCrunch https://t.co/CA2HQE8uux ...

A 36-year-old beauty mogul is South Korea's newest billionaire after shares of his company soared 200% this year https://t.co/dQO5wllmPY https://t.co/3McQPOYw8v ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 reached new all-time highs, surpassing levels last seen in February, indicating strong investor confidence as summer approaches [1] - The market's strength is attributed to robust corporate earnings in Q1, with upcoming Q2 earnings being crucial for sustaining the rally [1] Company Highlights Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) - AMD reported Q1 2025 earnings of $7.44 billion, exceeding expectations of $7.1 billion, with a year-over-year growth of over 35% [4] - The company raised Q2 revenue guidance to a range of $7.1 billion to $7.7 billion, with a consensus expectation of $7.2 billion [4] - Analyst upgrades and strong earnings have led to a resurgence in AMD's stock, which has broken above key moving averages [6] Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA) - ULTA reported Q1 earnings with an EPS of $6.70, beating expectations by $0.97, and a quarterly revenue growth of 4.5% year-over-year [7] - The company raised its full-year 2025 sales guidance to $11.7 billion, with EPS projections increased to a range of $22.65 to $23.20 [7] - Following the earnings report, ULTA's stock jumped 11%, supported by a bullish technical signal known as the Golden Cross [9] Adobe Inc. (ADBE) - Adobe announced Q1 earnings of $5.06 EPS and revenue of $5.87 billion, representing over 10% year-over-year growth [10] - The company maintained its full-year 2025 revenue estimates but raised EPS projections to a range of $20.50 to $20.70 [12] - Despite strong earnings, Adobe's stock remains undervalued compared to tech peers, trading at 23 times forward earnings [10] Amer Sports Inc. - Amer Sports reported Q1 earnings with an EPS of $0.27, surpassing expectations of $0.12, and quarterly revenue of $1.47 billion, reflecting over 24% growth year-over-year [13] - The company raised guidance for full-year EPS and revenue, leading to new all-time highs for the stock [15] Jabil Inc. (JBL) - Jabil reported fiscal Q3 2025 net revenue of $7.8 billion, exceeding analyst expectations and internal projections by over $800 million [16] - EPS for the quarter was $2.55, a 35% year-over-year increase, with full-year revenue guidance raised to $29 billion [16] - The stock reached new all-time highs, supported by strong fundamentals and analyst backing, including a price target increase to $245 [18]

Inclusivity Gaps in the Beauty Industry - Cosmetic science research and major beauty brands have historically underrepresented darker skin tones [3] - The Fitzpatrick scale, a clinical standard in dermatology, inadequately represents the diversity of darker skin tones [4][5][6] - There is a lack of skincare products and treatments specifically designed for darker skin tones [7][8] - Dermatology education often lacks sufficient training on chronic skin conditions in darker skin tones [7] Scientific and Product Development Challenges - Many skincare and beauty brands make efficacy claims for all skin tones without adequate testing [10] - Sunscreens are often not formulated to blend well into darker skin tones, leading to white cast [10][11] - It takes longer for hyperpigmentation treatments to show efficacy on darker skin tones [15] - 48% of African-American consumers report difficulty finding skincare products that meet their needs [16] - Black consumers are almost three times more likely to be dissatisfied with product offerings than white consumers [16] Economic Opportunity and Funding - Addressing racial inequity in the beauty industry represents a $26 billion (2.6% billion) opportunity [20] - Black-owned beauty brands return 89 times more than non-Black-owned brands but receive half the venture capital funding [20]

Core Insights - The documentary "THE FINAL COPY OF ILON SPECHT" won the Grand Prix in the Film category at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, marking a significant recognition for the advertising industry and the legacy of Ilon Specht [1][4][10] - The film, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot, celebrates Specht's contribution to advertising through the iconic tagline "Because I'm Worth It," which has empowered women globally and contributed to L'Oréal Paris becoming the largest beauty brand [2][6][10] Company Highlights - McCann, the global creative agency behind the documentary, has achieved its third Grand Prix in the Film category, showcasing its commitment to impactful storytelling and cultural significance [1][12] - L'Oréal Paris, as the brand associated with the tagline, continues to emphasize women's empowerment and self-worth, aligning with its long-standing brand platform [6][13] Awards and Recognition - "THE FINAL COPY OF ILON SPECHT" received five awards at the Cannes Lions, including Grand Prix in Film, Gold in Entertainment, Silver in Entertainment and PR, and Bronze in Film Craft, highlighting its creative excellence [9][12] - The film's success has solidified McCann Paris as a top-performing agency at the Cannes Lions 2025, contributing to the network's global achievements [12]

Core Insights - Tmall's "618" event this year saw record user engagement and sales, with 453 brands achieving over 100 million yuan in sales, a 24% increase year-on-year [1] - The high-net-worth 88VIP membership exceeded 50 million, marking a new high, while brand membership numbers grew by 15% [1] - The competition intensified with new players like Meituan and the collaboration between Taobao and Ele.me, drawing significant attention to the delivery battle [1] Group 1: Sales Performance - Tmall's "618" event featured a simplified promotional strategy, starting pre-sales earlier on May 13, with discounts up to 50% [2] - The combination of national subsidies and Tmall's "618" led to a 116% increase in total sales for participating categories compared to last year's "Double 11" [4] - Tmall's market share in home appliances and 3C digital products reached 45.3% and 45.5% respectively during "618" [4] Group 2: Product Trends - New beauty products saw explosive sales, with nearly 100 items surpassing 10 million yuan in sales [4] - The trend of wearing lingerie as outerwear gained popularity, with sales exceeding 200 million yuan during "618" [4] - Sales in sportswear and outdoor apparel grew by over 50%, while categories like trendy toys, jewelry, pets, and beverages also showed high growth [4] Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - Tmall's "618" serves as a critical period for implementing its "support the strong and eliminate the weak" strategy, with a doubled investment in user growth [5] - The platform simplified the registration process for merchants, allowing for easier participation in the event [6] - The competition among e-commerce platforms has evolved from consumer subsidies to a focus on supply chain efficiency and multi-channel growth strategies [6]

Core Viewpoint - L'Oréal S.A. is recognized as a leading consumer staples company due to its significant competitive advantage, strong fundamentals, and healthy growth rate [1]. Company Analysis - L'Oréal has established a substantial competitive edge in the market, which contributes to its robust performance [1]. - The company demonstrates exceptional financial fundamentals, indicating a solid operational foundation [1]. - L'Oréal maintains a healthy growth rate, which is attractive for long-term investors [1]. Investment Perspective - The company is primarily favored for its long-term investment potential, appealing to investors with a contrarian view [1].

Core Insights - AXIL Brands, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with JuiceCo Pro Agency to enhance the global distribution and visibility of its Reviv3 hair and skin care products [1][4] - The partnership aims to leverage JuiceCo's expertise in brand development and market penetration to secure key distribution partnerships and elevate Reviv3's profile among beauty professionals and consumers [2][3] Company Overview - AXIL Brands, Inc. is an emerging global consumer products company that manufactures and markets premium hearing enhancement and protection products under the AXIL brand, as well as hair and skincare products under the Reviv3 Procare brand [6] - Reviv3 Procare specializes in hair and skin care products that focus on clean ingredients and professional-grade performance, trusted by salons and consumers worldwide [7] Leadership and Expertise - Jack Ingraham, founder of JuiceCo Pro Agency, brings over 25 years of experience in brand development and product marketing, having previously served as Chief Commercial Officer for SalonCentric Canada and General Manager for Redken Canada [3][4] - The Board of Directors of Reviv3 Procare expressed confidence in Ingraham's strategic insight and commitment to excellence, viewing his leadership as a key asset for the company's global growth [4][5] Market Strategy - The partnership is expected to strengthen Reviv3 Procare's professional partnerships and expand its global footprint, contributing to a more meaningful financial impact from this segment under Ingraham's leadership [5] - The company aims to continue focusing on its AXIL branded hearing protection products while also enhancing the growth of the Reviv3 Procare segment [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net revenue of $65.4 million, a decline of 4.1% year-over-year [11] - Adjusted gross profit margin remained strong at 76.4%, an increase of 10 basis points year-over-year [11] - Adjusted EBITDA was $4.4 million, reflecting a margin of 6.7% [11] Performance by Business Line - Milk Makeup experienced a revenue decline of 15.1%, but domestic performance was solid, driven by the successful launch of Hydro Grip Gel Skin Tint [12][13] - Obagi Medical achieved net revenue of $36.2 million, increasing 7.1% from the previous year, despite out-of-stock issues [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Milk Makeup's U.S. retail sales showed high single-digit growth, particularly due to the launch into Ulta Beauty [12][17] - Obagi Medical's growth was tempered by supply chain issues, but the brand remains the fastest-growing top 10 professional skincare brand [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to strengthen its supply chain and improve flexibility to meet increasing demand [9][20] - Focus on expanding digital channels and retail footprint, with Milk Makeup's entry into Ulta Beauty being a significant step [10][21] - The company is committed to innovation and expanding into new categories while maintaining a disciplined approach to distribution [30][66] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges in the beauty market and macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in achieving annual growth and profitability goals [6][7] - The company expects net revenue growth in the mid-teens and adjusted EBITDA margin in the mid to high teens for the full year [27] Other Important Information - The company is actively addressing supply chain disruptions and has implemented strategic changes to enhance operational efficiency [15][18] - Cash position at the end of Q1 was $10.8 million, with net debt totaling $172.1 million [24][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the supply chain restructuring for Obagi? - Management indicated that they are working on improving the flexibility and responsiveness of the supply chain to better meet demand [45][46] Question: What is driving the slowdown in the physician channel? - Management clarified that there is no significant slowdown in the physician channel, attributing the decline to less favorable comparisons with the previous year [49][50] Question: Can you provide insights on sell-through trends for Obagi and Milk? - Management noted that Milk Makeup's U.S. retail sales were strong, while Obagi operates on a sell-through basis with no significant discrepancies [54][56] Question: What are the expectations for SG&A as sales grow? - Management expects SG&A to grow in absolute terms but aims for operational leverage, keeping it relatively flat as a percentage of sales [73][74] Question: How is the company addressing tariff impacts? - Management stated that the impact of tariffs is manageable, with low exposure to China, and potential pricing actions are being evaluated [69][71]

Group 1 - The core function of brand management is to control pricing across all channels, as price chaos indicates a loss of control over the pricing system, leading to market disorder [1] - Price chaos results in a broken channel profit chain, with online low-price promotions causing significant declines in offline store traffic and profits for distributors [3] - Brand value dilution occurs when consumers purchase products from low-price channels, leading to skepticism about the brand's premium positioning and a shift towards lower-priced markets [5] Group 2 - The proliferation of counterfeit products and a trust crisis arise from low-price competition, which squeezes the profit margins of genuine products, allowing counterfeiters to thrive [5] - The core causes of channel chaos include insufficient e-commerce awareness and reliance on traditional distribution models, leading to unregulated low-price distribution [8] - An imbalance in profit distribution mechanisms among brands and distributors incentivizes short-term low-price dumping, further complicating price control efforts [8]