The beauty retail business presents an endless arc of challenges, but for Bluemercury, Inc., innovation, agility, and a healthy measure of perseverance clearly have their rewards. There was a lot to celebrate on June 11, 2019, as Marla and Barry Beck, founders of Bluemercury, marked the 20^th anniversary of their company, at their flagship store at the New York Hilton midtown. The success of the luxury beauty retailer, which is known for its ability to identify trends in beauty and recognize the newest brand entries, is a testament to innovative retail, as well as an enduring partnership.
     In Marla Beck’s toast on the special occasion, she noted that each of her children arrived at various milestones in the company’s growth, and she thanked her family and friends for all the support they have given over the course of the company’s history. “We want to thank our vendor partners and the Bluemercury family. We couldn’t have done it without you. There are so many meaningful faces here. Thanks to our families, too, and all of our friends, who have gone through all of our ups and downs with us. Cheers to twenty years,” said Marla Beck.
     Her husband and partner, Barry Beck, remarked on the history of the company. “Marla and I both have incredible gratitude for the memorable journeys that we have shared together, with our wonderful teams, and fabulous vendor partners, and everyone who has been along for the ride with us. We couldn’t have done it without you. I came here late last night and saw the team setting up and they asked me what was wrong, because I seemed so sad. And I went and looked along the time line along the wall of all of the momentous occasions, we came all the way through. It was really an amazing nostalgia and we know we couldn’t have done it alone. Thank you to all our family and friends for being here. We love you, this drink is for you, and for the love of my life, Marla,” said Barry Beck.
      Guests celebrating at the event along with the Becks, represented a wide-ranging and diverse roster of beauty brands, including Kiehl’s, Tom Ford, Chanel, Mario Badescu, Darphin, Trish McEvoy, Lune+Aster, Lafco, M-61 Powerful Skin Care, and many others. Guests included industry luminaries John Demsey, Laura Slatkin and others.
 
Bluemercury Timeline
Bluemercury’s growth from its beginnings as an e-commerce site in 1999, through the founding of its first retail store in Georgetown, Washington, DC, in 2000, its acquisition by Macy’s Inc. in 2015 for $210 million, and its current nationwide fleet of 184 stores, represents a distinctive trajectory during an often, unpredictable time in retail history.
     They are known for creating accessible and on-trend retail in the neighborhoods where their customers live and work; and along the way have added their own skincare and makeup brands, including M-61 Powerful Skincare and Lune+Aster cosmetics, which were launched in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
 
Here is a timeline for the company’s expansion:
 
1999 – Barry and Marla Beck open Bluemercury as an e-commerce site
 
2000 – Store #1 opens in Georgetown, Washington, DC
 
2001 – Store #3 opens in Philadelphia, PA
 
2004 – Bluemercury serves its millionth customer
 
2005 – Bluemercury partners with private equity investor, the Invus Group
 
2005 – Store #10 opens in Westfield, NJ
 
2007 – Bluemercury sells its one millionth lipstick
 
2007 – Bluemercury opens its first California store in Corte Madera
 
2008 – First NYC store opens on the Upper West Side
 
2010 – Bluemercury acquires US operations of Douglas Parfümerie chain
 
2012 – M-61 Powerful Skincare is born
 
2012 – M-61 sets world record with the first ever serum to successfully ascend Mount Everest
 
2013 – M-61 launches best-selling PowerGlow Peel, a 1-minute, 1-step exfoliating peel pad
 
2014 – Bluemercury celebrates 15^th anniversary with first official Bluemercury Day in Washington, DC
 
2015 – Lune+Aster is born
 
2015 – Bluemercury is acquired by Macy’s Inc. for $210 Million
 
2016 – Store #100 opens in Savannah, GA
 
2017 – NYC Flagship Store opens at the Hilton Midtown
 
2018 – Barry and Marla Beck honored for lifetime achievement in the beauty industry at the New York City Dreamball presented by Leonard Lauder
 
2018 – M-61 Powerglow Peel hits selling pace of one pad every 2.4 seconds
 
2019 – Bluemercury celebrates its 20^th anniversary in NYC
 
PHOTO: Marla and Barry Beck, founders of Bluemercury, attend the Bluemercury 20^th Anniversary event in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images for Bluemercury, Inc.)
 
 
 
 Read Beauty Packaging’s 2012 interview with Marla Beck here.