The UK’s best natural beauty retailers have been revealed today at the exclusive launch event of the Natural Beauty Yearbook 2016, published by Diversified Communications UK and hosted by organic beauty brand Melvita at Carousel in Marylebone, London.
Waitrose, Debenhams, Neal’s Yard Remedies, LoveLula, and Content Beauty/Wellbeing all took home Natural Beauty Retail Awards, while Sonia White, LovaLula’s founder, also landed the top spot in this year’s prestigious Natural Beauty Yearbook hotlist.
Voted for by the natural and organic beauty industry, the hotlist – also known as the ‘Who’s who in natural beauty Top 25’ – provides an essential snapshot of the leading personalities driving the newest trends and products on the market.
This year’s number one, Sonia White, has appeared in the Natural Beauty Yearbook’s top 25 for the past three years. As managing director of LoveLula, her mission has been to unite natural and organic brands from around the globe, making them accessible to all. With the launch of the Boutique, ManOrganic and the Real Beauty Manifesto, and also the recent addition of Balm Balm, she continues to push boundaries and is an inspirational figure in the world of natural beauty.
Broadcaster and natural beauty advocate Janey Lee Grace, founder of Imperfectlynatural.com (winner in 2013 and 2014), was voted number two, closely followed by Kim and Alexander Barani, founders of Kinetic Enterprises, who have retained their number three position for the fourth year running.
Kirstie Sherriff, co-founder of Pinks Boutique (last year’s winner), was voted fourth, and Francesca Morgante, label manager at NATRUE, was fifth favourite overall.
Accepting her award, Sonia White said: “There are so many fantastic brands and personalities here who have done great things for the market, and we are all so passionate about what we do, that I’m hugely surprised but extremely delighted to have won.
“The natural beauty industry is a growing market and it’s very positive to see everyone here involved in helping to develop it forward. Natural beauty isn’t yet mainstream, and there’s still a way to go, but awards like this help to promote and reward these great retailers and brands who are doing great work for the industry.”
The 2016 Who’s who in natural beauty top 25 personalities (as voted for by the industry) are:
1. Sonia White – LoveLula
2. Janey Lee Grace – Imperfectlynatural.com
3. Kim & Alexander Barani – Kinetic Enterprises
4. Kirstie Sherriff – Pinks Boutique
5. Francesca Morgante – NATRUE (new entry)
6. Graeme Hume – Pravera
7. Jayn Sterland – Weleda
8. Emma Reinhold – Soil Association (new entry)
9. Tracey Robinson – Vert PR
10. Ben Wigley – Big Green Smile (new entry)
11. Fiona Klonarides – The Beauty Shortlist
12. Lorraine Dallmeier – Formula Botanica (new entry)
13. Olivia Crighton – The Glasshouse (new entry)
14. Simon Golding – Australis Distribution
15. Rebecca Goodyear – Biteablebeauty.com
16. Ailish Lucas – The Glow Getter (new entry)
17. Kim Allan – Botanical Brands (new entry)
18. Wendy Stirling – Botanicals
19. Simon Ford – L’Occitane Group
20. Catkin Wemyss-Bodmer – BRYT Skincare (new entry)
21. Jo Fairley – Beauty Bible
22. Dr Mariano Spiezia – Inlight Organic Skincare
23. Abi & Margaret Weeds – Odylique
24. Emma Coleman – Inner-Soul Organics
25. Elijah Choo – Bodhi and Birch
Natural Beauty Retail Awards 2015
The new Natural Beauty Retail Awards were launched this year to highlight the valuable contribution and support of retailers to the growth of the vibrant natural and organic beauty market. The awards recognise and celebrate the industry’s dedication and innovation in offering their customers a great retail experience, as well as promoting natural and organic beauty for all.
Awards’ organiser Diversified UK received a raft of high-quality entries from across the UK, with the final winners decided by a panel of leading industry experts.
Simon Duffy, co-founder of leading men’s skincare range Bulldog, Emma Reinhold, trade relations manager at the Soil Association, award-winning beauty journalists Sarah Stacey and Jo Fairley, and numerous ‘Who’s who’ top 25 personalities (past and present) were among this year’s 14 judges. The full list is available at www.naturalbeautyyearbook.co.uk/judging-panel-2015.
The first ever Natural Beauty Retail Awards winners are:
· Best Department Store – Debenhams
Judges’ comments: “We weren’t expecting an exclusively natural or organic offering with this category – we were looking at retail environment, having a credible natural offering and, ultimately, reach. With 240 stores, Debenhams is giving brands like Korres, Balance Me, Trilogy and Nourish the platform to reach the mass market.”
· Best Branded Store – Neal’s Yard Remedies
Judges’ comments: “With their reach, ethos, campaigning and overall retail experience Neal’s Yard Remedies really sets the benchmark for great beauty retailing.”
Highly commended Branded Store – The Organic Pharmacy
· Best Supermarket – Waitrose
Judges’ comments: “The ‘Waitrose Way’ prioritises treading lightly on the environment – an ethos in harmony with natural and organic brands. Having increased their proportion of natural and organic brands within all of their beauty categories they have been rewarded with strong sales growth.”
“It’s really brilliant to win this award,” said Waitrose beauty buyer Mark Steele. “We are trying to promote our natural products ranges within our seasonal campaigns, and in our stores, so it’s great to receive this recognition for our hard work here today. The natural industry has come a long way in terms of availability and performance. It’s slowly punching its way above non-natural brands – especially with the support of larger retailers and brands that are here. We are extremely happy to be a part of it.”
Highly commended Supermarket – Ocado
· Best Online Retailer – LoveLula
Judges’ comments: “LoveLula has a clean, sophisticated e-commerce site and a great range of brands, but most impressive is their dedication to the organic beauty field, both in growing it and establishing trust with their Real Beauty Manifesto.”
Highly commended Online Retailer – Naturisimo
· Best Independent Retailer – Content Beauty/Wellbeing
Judges’ comments: “Content Beauty retails natural beauty like no other store, managing to meld the best aspects of an upmarket department store vibe with all the individuality, personality and personability of an independent. Distinctive, cohesive styling and shop-fitting, a unique tone of voice and with a finger on the pulse of the latest trends and brands before anyone else, Content has done a great deal to raise the profile of natural beauty amongst mainstream beauty influencers and does an incredible job of bringing the customer closer to the brand via ‘Meet the maker’ events.”
Highly commended Independent Retailer – Amaranth
Highly commended Independent Retailer – Earth Mother Soul Sister
Natural Beauty Yearbook 2016
The Natural Beauty Yearbook 2016, the definitive trade guide to the natural and organic beauty industry, is packed full of trend features, company profiles and an exclusive directory showcasing the best of this successful sector. The yearbook also includes a full profile of everyone who’s made this year’s hotlist.
Looking ahead to 2016, the Natural Beauty Yearbook will become Natural Beauty News, with a printed publication and digital edition published in March and October. It will cover the best in seasonal trends whilst retaining the Yearbook’s most popular elements, such as Retailers Choice, the Beauty Round Table and the Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. The spring and autumn editions will also be supported by a news-driven website and monthly e-news.
For further information about the Natural Beauty Yearbook or Natural Beauty Retail Awards, please contact Dominic Roberjot, on 01273 645128 or [email protected].
