Accelerator Highlight: Sephora's Beauty Lab

Did anyone else notice that the Internet was slower than usual yesterday? Cyber Monday deals had the world clicking “Add to Cart” in unison, causing dizzying loading issues. One retailer that made a significant dent in inventory is Sephora. The beauty retailer was an early adopter of the e-commerce experience and has seen its online sales rise by 75% year-over-year with added perks like Klarna for payments and Instacart for deliveries. But the company’s forward-thinking doesn’t stop there. For the past five years, the company has invested in the D2C beauty boom and brought up and comer brands under its wing through the Sephora Accelerate program.
 

This year, the company has focused on BIPOC-owned companies as part of its 15% Pledge to see 15% of products in stores coming from Black founders. The 2021 cohort included nine founders from across the country, including one brand of which I consider myself a loyal customer. Topicals is a skincare brand that is on a mission to transform the way people feel about their skin by addressing a wide range of skin concerns focusing on science and mental health. The company is defining the next generation of indie beauty brands.

Stay tuned for the 2022 Sephora cohort.