Deal Flow

REI Backs Dune Suncare, The Clear-Gel Sunscreen Brand Redefining Sun Protection

REI has invested in Dune Suncare, the sunscreen startup known for its skin-tone-inclusive clear-gel formulas and skincare-forward perspective on sun protection, through its venture fund. Established in 2021, the outdoor...
Retail Report PremiumPremium Content

Beauty Shoppers Showed Up On Black Friday/Cyber Monday Despite Economic Jitters

Consumers’ wallets may be tightening amid high economic anxiety, but they still showed up for beauty in a big way over Black Friday/Cyber Monday as deep discounts and desirable products unlocked strong demand. Indie beauty brands saw double-digit...
Deal Flow

Founder Olowo-n’djo Tchala Buys Back Alaffia To Refocus On Mission And Growth

Founder Olowo-n’djo Tchala is back at the helm of Alaffia, the fair-trade beauty brand he built for two decades. Tchala, who was born and raised in the farming village of Kabole in Togo, has returned...
Brand Report

Fixer Advisory Group’s Founders Program Aims To Close Beauty And Wellness Entrepreneurs’ Knowledge Gaps

Entrepreneurial optimism is indie beauty’s rocket fuel, but entrepreneurs’ rosy outlook may obscure crucial aspects of running a business that they don’t know—and don’t know that they don’t know. Nicole Marra, founder and...
Beneath the Surface PremiumPremium Content

Indie Brands Break Into Conglomerate-Dominated Professional Beauty Channel

For every brand that makes it on the shelf of a coveted retailer, there are hundreds vying for its spot, and in a fiercely competitive market, where failure at a retailer can cause permanent damage and...