Things change quickly in the world of beauty. Take the nail polish market, for example. For years, it seemed unstoppable, growing at extraordinary rates. Suddenly, in what seemed like an overnight reversal of fortune to many, the category showed some shrinkage. Beauty Packaging first reported on this trend in our June 2013 issue (nitesh_bp.rodpub.com/articles/2013/06/color-cosmetics-packaging-follows-fashion), in which Victoria Gustafson, principal of strategic insights, SymphonyIRI, pointed out: “With couture clothing popping out in vibrant colors on the runway, models have been following a trend of nude nails…which could cause pale faces in the cosmetics industry.” The same trend was evident at last month’s Fashion Week, and was also called out by Coty CEO Michele Scannavini, in an earnings report issued early this Fall.

But the beauty industry is a resourceful bunch and most companies never keep all their products in one category. Innovation and consumer preference continue their strength in the larger Color Cosmetics channel, particularly in Prestige. One noticeable trend has been the emergence of a multitude of fashion designer makeup lines, including those from Michael Kors, Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs. Now, there’s a rumor that LVMH may be shopping about for a colorful partner. According to the NPD Group, prestige makeup has become a $4 billion market. (For more on this NPD report. And now, out of left field, Amazon has taken on a penchant for Prestige Beauty, with a new dedicated site.

A quick resilience in following consumer trends also holds true with beauty companies around the world, as you’ll note when reading our annual report on the Top 20 Global Beauty Companies. When interest or economic wealth in one country wanes, brand manufacturers must be prepared to do an about-face and shift to another more profitable region or product line. Key to success often lies in the right management team, and this year’s results prove the fact, with many of our Top 20 replacing top corporate executives.

In addition to an update on top tier changes at The Top 20, you’ll find lots on global market strategies, the role of packaging and healthy categories that contributed to annual sales totaling more than$154 billion in fiscal 2013.

Whether in beauty products or corporate leadership, success often relies on quick, about-face turnarounds.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Jamie Matusow
[email protected]