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We are the leading omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. Our company was founded more than 200 years ago, and beauty has been deeply rooted in its history and DNA this entire time. With our unique assortment, available online and in our around 1,900 stores, it's our mission to inspire our customers to express their own interpretation of beauty – whatever that might be. As an international beauty group consisting of four brands, to us, ‘variety’ is more than just a word; it is a statement that inspires all that we do, every day.
When it comes to brands, we are the partner of choice thanks to our unique assortment of exclusive labels and our high-performing own brands. Our assortment spans fragrance, color cosmetics, skincare, haircare, accessories and beauty treatments. Offering the best brands, as well as an optimal customer experience, are our priorities.
For more than two centuries, the name DOUGLAS has been associated with more than just beauty and inspiration. We’re an international Beauty Group and an emblem of premium-quality, omnichannel retail.
At the DOUGLAS Group, we make life more beautiful, every day. For us, it’s simple: Being beautiful is all about feeling beautiful. A passion for people and helping them feel beautiful in their own skin is what unites the around 19,200 people who work for the DOUGLAS Group. These are the principles that guide our business.
Düsseldorf, 13 February, 2025 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, started with a solid first quarter into the financial year 2024/25 – despite a persistently weak consumer sentiment especially in Germany and France, and compared to a very strong first quarter of the previous year. At the same time, the company continued to grow profitably with a significantly improved net income.
The DOUGLAS Group grew sales by 5.8% to 1.65 billion euros in the period from 1 October to 31 December 2024 (Q1 2023/24: 1.56 billion euros), with contributions from both sales channels: Store sales went up 5.7% (lfl: +3.8%) and E-Com grew 6.2% (lfl: +8.2%), reconfirming the strength of the Group’s omnichannel model as a winning formula for beauty retail. Following a strong start to the first quarter in October and November with Singles’ Day and Beauty Friday, sales momentum slowed down in December and remained soft into the first weeks of the new calendar year. This development was mainly due to muted store sales in Germany and France also in the wake of a very late Black Friday, which was almost a week closer to Christmas than in 2023.
Sander van der Laan, CEO of the DOUGLAS Group, said: “We kicked off the new financial year with a solid performance and continued to grow – not just against a very strong prior-year quarter, but also a challenging economic environment, with consumer sentiment across wide parts of Europe notably softening. At the same time, we are making good progress with our expansion as well as the execution of our strategy ‘Let it Bloom’, and have made great improvements in our quarterly net income and deleveraging. Therefore, in spite of the market pressure, our full-year targets remain unchanged, yet we may end up at the lower end of our adj. EBITDA guidance.”
Sales growth driven by all segments
On a like-for-like basis, Group sales increased by 5.3%, with price inflation clearly below Q1 2023/24. Excluding the sold-off online pharmacy business Disapo, Group sales growth for the first quarter of 2024/25 stood at 6.5% and E-Com growth at 8.3%. Sales growth in Q1 2024/25 was driven by all segments: CEE (Central Eastern Europe) continued to lead the growth development with a double-digit sales increase of 13.2%, followed by PD/NB (Parfumdreams / Niche Beauty) at 9.8% and DACHNL (Germany / Austria / Switzerland / The Netherlands / Belgium) at 6.2%. As a result of a growing E-Com share in all segments – in particular with CEE improving E-Com sales by 16.5% -, the online business accounted for around a third of total Group sales in the first quarter.
Profitable growth in a challenging market environment
The company continued to grow profitably: Adj. EBITDA reached 353.5 million euros, reflecting a 1.5% increase from the prior year and corresponding to an adj. EBITDA margin of 21.5% (PY: 22.4%). Reported EBITDA grew 9.9% to 350.1 million euros, with an improved margin of 21.3% (PY: 20.5%).
EBITDA adjustments decreased by 88.5% compared to the previous year, as 2023/24 one-off effects in relation to, among others, the IPO in spring of 2024 and strategic projects did not re-occur. The DOUGLAS Group expects a notable decrease in one-off effects going forward and thus anticipates adjustments to remain low in the foreseeable future. Combined with the significantly reduced interest expenses, this development leads to a further improved net income.
Quarterly net income saw a significant improvement, rising to 163.0 million euros – a 30.2% increase from 125.2 million euros last year – primarily driven by a strong operational performance and the aforementioned decreased interest expenses. Free Cash Flow (FCF) climbed 7.6% to 494.5 million euros (PY: 459.4 million euros). With a resulting leverage ratio of 2.3x as of 31 December 2024, the company is on track to deleverage its balance sheet and to achieve a leverage ratio of around 2.0x at the end of the calendar year 2025. The company also improved its operational efficiency: Average Net Working Capital (NWC) on an LTM basis per 31 December 2024 amounted to 5.4% (-0.1ppts) of Group sales, a slight improvement from 5.5% a year ago.
Progress in network development and strategy execution
The DOUGLAS Group continues to develop its store network and has opened 20 new own stores between October and December 2024, including a new Flagship store in Zagreb, Croatia, and a total of 14 stores in CEE. The company opened its 5th store in Belgium after it entered the market in 2023, with more openings to follow in the financial year 2024/25. Another 34 existing own stores were refurbished (including relocations). Two franchise stores were closed in the same period. As a result of its store network development initiative, the DOUGLAS Group now operates more than 1,900 stores in 22 omnichannel countries across Europe, all of which also offer online shops.
The Group’s omnichannel model – proven again to be highly attractive for customers and a winning formula in beauty retail – continues to be at the heart of the growth strategy “Let it Bloom”. Recently, the company has made further progress in its implementation across various strategic pillars.
Underscoring its ambition to offer the most relevant and distinctive range of brands, the DOUGLAS Group is further developing its assortment strategy, with a key launch set for next week: The Group will exclusively distribute TYPEBEA by renowned singer Rita Ora, the first exclusive brand launch in the strongly growing haircare category. The brand will be rolled out simultaneously across all 22 omnichannel countries and marks one of the most important launches in the financial year 2024/25.
The DOUGLAS Group has furthermore achieved major progress in the development of its supply chain and the rollout of its successful OWAC model (OWAC = One Warehouse, All Channels) across Europe. The company has made the strategic decision to establish a network of seven omnichannel warehouses, four of which are already in operations: Hamm (DACH), Lille (France), Illescas (Spain) and Bologna (Italy). Three additional warehouses will be implemented in Warsaw (Poland), the Netherlands and Romania. In France, the DOUGLAS Group has recently successfully merged its previous two warehouses into a single OWAC (Lille). In addition, logistics in Bologna, Italy, are currently being moved into a brand new OWAC, which will be operated by long-term industry partner Arvato. The Go-live is currently planned for Summer 2025. The new Italian OWAC will in the future also serve two more Southern Europe markets: Slovenia and Croatia.
Moreover, the DOUGLAS Group has recently signed a lease contract for its Polish warehouse, which offers more than 46,200m² of space to serve the strongly growing CEE market and is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2025. The facility, operated by Arvato, will also entail a dedicated warehouse for the DOUGLAS Group Corporate Brands supplying all Group-wide OWACs.
Full year guidance remains unchanged
The company’s full year guidance remains unchanged with sales to increase to 4.7 billion euros to 4.8 billion euros in the financial year 2024/25. Adj. EBITDA can be expected at the lower end of the range of 855 to 885 million euros. Average Net Working Capital is expected to amount to less than 5% of total Group sales in 2024/25.
Overview Financial Results
Sales per channel
Q1 FY 2024/25 | Q1 2023/24 | Q1 2024/25 | Change | Change |
Group Sales | €1,555.5m | €1,646.4m | +5.8% | +5.3% |
Stores | €1,041.9m | €1,101.0m | +5.7% | +3.8% |
E-Commerce | €513.6m | €545.3m | +6.2% | +8.2% |
E-Commerce % of sales | 33.0% | 33.1% | +0.1ppts |
|
Sales per segment
Q1 FY 2024/25 | Q1 2023/24 | Q1 2024/25 | Change (reported) | Change (lfl) |
Group Sales | €1,555.5m | €1,646.4m | +5.8% | +5.3% |
| €688.0m | €730.8m | +6.2% | +5.2% |
| €335.3m | €342.2m | +2.1% | +0.9% |
| €234.2m | €248.7m | +6.2% | +6.1% |
| €225.6m | €255.4m | +13.2% | +10.2% |
| €63.2m | €69.4m | +9.8% | +9.3% |
Key financial figures
Q1 FY 2024/25 | Q1 2023/24 | Q1 2024/25 | Change (reported) |
Group Sales | €1,555.5m | €1,646.4m | +5.8% |
Adjusted EBITDA | €348.3m | €353.3m | +1.5% |
Reported EBITDA | €318.4m | €350.1m | +9.9% |
Net Income | €125.2m | €163.0m | +30.2% |
Free Cash Flow (FCF) | €459.4m | €494.5m | +7.6% |
NWC % of sales (Ø LTM) | 5.5% | 5.4% | -0.1ppts |
Segment Overview: DACHNL (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands), France (France, Monaco), SE / Southern Europe (Andorra, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain), CEE / Central Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia), PD/NB (Parfumdreams, Niche Beauty)
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,900 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2023/24, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales of 4.45 billion euros and employed around 19,200 people across Europe. It was named the World’s Top Company for Women in 2025 among all retail and wholesale companies by Forbes. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Peter Wübben
SVP Group Communications & Sustainability
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: newsroom@douglas.de
Stefanie Steiner
Director Investor Relations and M&A
Tel: +49 211 16847 8594
Mail: ir@douglas.de
Düsseldorf, 6 February 2025 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, today announced a change in the leadership team of its brands parfumdreams & Niche Beauty: After more than six years in different functions at the DOUGLAS Group, Steven Mattwig, currently Senior Vice President (SVP) / CEO parfumdreams & Niche Beauty, will leave the DOUGLAS Group to pursue a new challenge outside the company. As of 1 March 2025, Nina Pütz will take over as SVP / CEO of parfumdreams & Niche Beauty.
Nina Pütz brings more than 20 years of experience in various leading positions in e-commerce and retail. Most recently, she served as the CEO & Managing Director of Ratepay, an online payment provider, where she successfully transformed the company and established a foundation for future growth through technical scaling and automation. Before her tenure at Ratepay, Nina Pütz was the CEO of the online shopping club brands4friends. She also held multiple roles in general management, business development, strategy, and category management at eBay. Nina Pütz began her career in offline retail with Peek & Cloppenburg, giving her a comprehensive understanding of both online and offline business environments. In addition to her strong leadership skills, she is also a passionate public speaker and the author of the book "Die Macherinnen – So geht Unternehmen!"
“We are really happy to have won Nina for our team. Her experience in e-commerce and retail, combined with her entrepreneurial mindset and strong hands-on mentality will be a great asset to parfumdreams and Niche Beauty,” said Philipp Andrée, CCO DOUGLAS Group and responsible for the two brands. “We are looking forward to her growing parfumdreams and Niche Beauty even further and implementing our strategy ‘Let it Bloom’. We look forward to our future collaboration and wish Nina a great start.”
Steven Mattwig joined DOUGLAS in October 2018 as Director E-Commerce International & Marketplace and was decisive in establishing and developing the partner program and accelerating DOUGLAS’ E-Commerce growth. Early 2021, Steven Mattwig took over the position of SVP / CEO of parfumdreams and as of January 2023 as SVP / CEO for parfumdreams & Niche Beauty. Under his leadership, parfumdreams, Akzente and Niche Beauty have made significant progress including the repositioning of parfumdreams as important part of the dual brand strategy with DOUGLAS. At the same time, Niche Beauty has been revitalized as a strong growing luxury player with a unique assortment.
“We would like to thank Steven for his commitment and his invaluable contribution to the growth of parfumdreams and Niche Beauty. With his strategic mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, Steven has not only successfully driven the business over the past years but has also built a strong team. We wish him continued success for the future”, said Philipp Andrée.
The commercial brands parfumdreams and Niche Beauty both belong to the DOUGLAS Group. Parfumdreams offers its customers a wider selection of beauty products at attractive prices through their online shop and across several stores under the brand Akzente in Germany. Headquartered in Hamburg, the luxury subsidiary company, Niche Beauty, has dedicated itself fully to crafting an online shop that offers the world’s most exciting and sophisticated cosmetics brands. In carefully curated collections, customers can find premium and niche products, some of which are only known to insiders.
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,880 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2023/24, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales of around 4.5 billion euros and employed around 19,200 people across Europe. It was named the World’s Top Company for Women in 2025 among all retail and wholesale companies by Forbes. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Peter Wübben
SVP Group Communications & Sustainability
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: newsroom@douglas.de
Düsseldorf, 19 December, 2024 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, has successfully concluded the financial year 2023/24 with strong results. In the financial year that marked the company’s IPO, the DOUGLAS Group has made steady progress in implementing its growth strategy “Let it Bloom”, significantly deleveraged its balance sheet and sharpened its profile as a leading premium beauty retailer.
In the period from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024, the DOUGLAS Group grew sales by 8.7% to 4.45 billion euros (FY 22/23: 4.1 billion euros). Both store sales with 8.2% (lfl: +7.5%) and E-Com with +9.8% (lfl: +12.1%) contributed to overall growth. Adj. EBITDA amounted to 808.6 million euros – an increase of 11.4% compared to the prior financial year, and corresponding to an adj. EBITDA margin of 18.2% (FY 22/23: 17.7%). The Group achieved a significantly improved positive net income of 84.0 million euros (FY 22/23: 16.7 million euros). Free Cash Flow (FCF) increased to 524.0 million euros (FY 2022/23: 480.6 million euros).
The DOUGLAS Group therefore exceeded both its initial sales guidance of around 7% growth for the financial year as well as its revised guidance of around 8.5% after it got upgraded in July 2024 following strong first nine months of the financial year. The Group steadily moves towards achieving its mid-term earnings guidance of an expected adj. EBITDA margin of around 18.5%.
Sander van der Laan, CEO of the DOUGLAS Group, said: “I am very happy that we not only delivered yet another year of excellent results, but also managed to exceed our upgraded guidance. At the same time, we accomplished good progress in implementing our growth strategy and sustainability initiatives. Together with our significantly improved financial profile, this provides us with a strong tailwind and robust foundation to further reinforce our leading market position – now and in the years to come. As a result, we have entered the new financial year from a position of strength. Congratulations to the entire team and our four retail brands – you have truly excelled in 2023/24.”
Strong finish to 2023/24 provides momentum for financial year 2024/25
From July to September 2024, the DOUGLAS Group continued to record strong omnichannel growth. Group sales improved by 8.7% (reported) to 959.9 million euros (lfl: +9.4%), to which stores contributed 8.3% and E-Com 9.5%. On a like-for-like base, store sales increased by 7.8% and E-Com by 12.8% compared to the previous year. Adj. EBITDA was up 10.9% to 151.5 million euros (FY 22/23: 136.7 million euros), corresponding to an adj. EBITDA margin of 15.8% (FY 22/23: 15.5%).
On top of a strong fourth quarter, the Group started well into the first quarter of the new financial year. Based on these results, the DOUGLAS Group expects sales to increase to 4.7 billion euros to 4.8 billion euros in the financial year 2024/25. Growth is expected to be driven by both channels with an anticipated increase of store sales in the mid-single-digit range and an anticipated increase of E‑Com sales in the high-single-digit range. The Group expects an adj. EBITDA of 855 to 885 million euros. Average NWC is expected to amount to less than 5% of total Group sales in 2024/25.
The DOUGLAS Group further expects an increase in the consolidated net income to 225 to 265 million euros in the financial year 2024/25. This assumption is based on an improvement in the above mentioned adj. EBITDA and in the financial result due to the completed refinancing in the wake of the successful IPO, as well as depreciation and a tax rate at the average level of previous years. The expected strong increase in the consolidated net income and a continued healthy free cash flow development should result in further deleveraging. Therefore, the DOUGLAS Group makes steady progress towards achieving a leverage ratio of around 2.0x at the end of the calendar year 2025.
Sustained omnichannel success as ‘Let it Bloom’ strategy unfolds
Sales growth in the financial year 2023/24 resulted from positive developments across all segments, with DACHNL, CEE (Central Eastern Europe) and PD/NB (Parfumdreams / Niche Beauty) growing particularly strongly and double-digit. The online channel continued to gain traction in CEE as E‑Com grew above 20% for the second consecutive year on top of double-digit growth in store sales.
Underlined by sustained strong performance across all channels and in line with the growth strategy “Let it Bloom”, the Group continues to advance its successful omnichannel model both strategically and operationally. In a multi-phase rollout over the next years – starting in early 2025 in the Netherlands –, the customer loyalty program will be fully redesigned and harmonized internationally. The new program will include new Beauty Card tiers, facilitated personalization and omnichannel shopping activation as well as additional benefits rewarding customers for purchases.
At the same time, the company continues to develop its store network: In the financial year 2023/24, the DOUGLAS Group has opened 54 new stores and refurbished 144 existing ones (including relocations). 20 stores were closed in the same period, which included six franchise stores. This November, a new Flagship store opened in a prestige location in Zagreb, Croatia. Further upcoming strategic openings in the financial year 2024/25 include Antwerp, Salzburg and Berlin.
Major progress in ESG initiatives
The company has achieved major milestones in all three fields of action of its sustainability strategy on its path to become a leading premium beauty retailer in sustainability:
Start of the financial year 2024/25
The DOUGLAS Group started well into the new financial year 2024/25 with the important pre-Christmas sales period including additional sales highlights Singles’ Day and Beauty Friday.
Overview Financial Results
Q4 FY 2023/24 | Q4 2022/23 | Q4 2023/24 | Change | Change |
Sales | €883.1m | €959.9m | +8.7% | +9.4% |
Stores | €615.4m | €666.6m | +8.3% | +7.8% |
E-Commerce | €267.8m | €293.2m | +9.5% | +12.8% |
E-Commerce % of sales | 30.3% | 30.6% | +0.2ppts |
|
Segment DACHNL | €410.4m | €460.5m | +12.2% | +12.7% |
Segment France | €161.0m | €160.1m | -0.6% | -1.0% |
Segment SE | €130.2m | €143.5m | +10.2% | +9.7% |
Segment CEE | €127.5m | €146.4m | +14.8% | +11.6% |
| Segment PD/NB | €40.1m | €43.1m | +7.4% | +7.4% |
Adjusted EBITDA | €136.7m | €151.5m | +10.9% |
|
Net Income | -€28.2m | €71.8m | Pos. |
|
FY 2023/24 | FY 2022/23 | FY 2023/24 | Change | Change |
Sales | €4,093.9m | €4,451.0m | +8.7% | +9.1% |
Stores | €2,771.4m | €2,999.5m | +8.2% | +7.5% |
E-Commerce | €1,322.4m | €1,451.4m | +9.8% | +12.1% |
E-Commerce % of sales | 32.3% | 32.6% | +0.3ppts |
|
Segment DACHNL | €1,871.9m | €2,073.1m | +10.7% | +11.0% |
Segment France | €813.5m | €838.2m | +3.0% | +2.5% |
Segment SE | €625.6m | €665.8m | +6.4% | +5.7% |
Segment CEE | €556.4m | €652.1m | +17.2% | +14.6% |
| Segment PD/NB | €171.6m | €190.2m | +10.8% | +11.1% |
Adjusted EBITDA | €725.9m | €808.6m | +11.4% |
|
Liquidity (30 September) | €262.3m | €98.9m | -62.3% |
|
Net Income | €16.7m | €84.0m | +404.2% |
|
Segment Overview: DACHNL (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands), France (France, Monaco), SE / Southern Europe (Andorra, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain), CEE / Central Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia), PD/NB (Parfumdreams, Niche Beauty)
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,880 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2023/24, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales of around 4.5 billion euros and employed around 19,200 people across Europe. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Peter Wübben
SVP Group Communications & Sustainability
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: newsroom@douglas.de
Stefanie Steiner
Director Investor Relations and M&A
Tel: +49 211 16847 8594
Mail: ir@douglas.de
Düsseldorf, 5 December 2024 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, significantly expands the range of its Retail Media solutions with the upcoming launch of a new self-service platform and an initial phase of enhanced industry partnerships. Leveraging its data capabilities and leading market position, the company thereby offers brands – both existing partners and brands beyond the DOUGLAS Group network – unparalleled insights and access to high-quality audiences within the beauty industry.
Retail Media is the fastest-growing area in digital advertising (Source: IAB Europe) and an important part of the DOUGLAS Group’s growth strategy "Let It Bloom". By utilizing the company’s own digital and physical channels, Retail Media enables brands to use data-driven advertising to directly reach consumers at pivotal decision points. With third-party cookies gradually phasing out, Retail Media is often referred to as the “third wave” of digital advertising by leveraging valuable first-party data from customer shopping behaviour, such as browsing patterns and purchase history. With its strong business unit DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions, the DOUGLAS Group is at the forefront of the Retail Media development and is now expanding its offering for clients with much-requested new services.
New self-service platform with increased autonomy and control
Launching in the first quarter of 2025 across nine countries including Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy, a new self-service platform will give media partners direct access to on-site booking placements across DOUGLAS Group channels – catering to the growing demand for flexibility and precision targeting. The tool will offer partners autonomy to tailor their campaigns and respond swiftly to market needs without relying on account managers. The DOUGLAS Group therefore streamlines campaign management for brands, further establishing itself as a convenient and efficient partner for media planning and execution. Brand partners can join a waiting list now for exclusive early access in the soft launch phase.
Enhanced industry partnerships for offsite media activation and unique insights
In addition to the self-service platform and in an initial phase, the DOUGLAS Group further leverages its data capabilities through enhanced partnerships with TheTradeDesk and cmmrcl.ly, which serve clients with advanced tools for precise digital advertising and analytics. These collaborations will allow brands both within and beyond the DOUGLAS Group network to take advantage of first-party data from Europe’s leading omnichannel destination for premium beauty for their own marketing efforts. This strategic pilot enables brands to access high-value audience segments within beauty, from purchase intent to category interest even outside the DOUGLAS Group websites, expanding advertising possibilities into the open web and across a range of digital channels, including Digital Out of Home (DOOH), Connected TV (CTV), Social Media, mobile and audio.
Jessica Wegner, Senior Vice President Group Retail Media & Managing Director of DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions, said: “We are a media powerhouse within beauty, and our expanded Retail Media offering marks a transformative step in the industry's digital advertising landscape. With our new self-service platform and data collaborations, we are listening to the feedback from our brand partners and agencies and are now enabling them to engage with audiences in a more direct and insightful manner than ever before. These advancements reflect our dedication to driving value through responsible and high-quality data usage. As Retail Media enters a new era, the DOUGLAS Group will continue to set the standard for impactful, consumer-centred advertising solutions.”
DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions: Rapid growth and success
Since its launch five years ago, the DOUGLAS Group's Retail Media division, DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions, has rapidly expanded across nine markets and now counts up to 40 experts. Through its use of consumer insights and personalized omnichannel media strategies – including data-driven off- and on-site advertising solutions and product testing campaigns –, the DOUGLAS Group has established itself as a pioneering force in Retail Media. Over the past five years, DOUGLAS Marketing Solutions achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 60% in sales and has become a high-margin revenue stream and important pillar in the Group's "Let it Bloom" strategy.
As a leader in Retail Media, the DOUGLAS Group rigorously ensures that customer information is handled with the utmost care and in full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data privacy laws. The data-driven solutions prioritize customer privacy by exclusively utilizing aggregated and anonymized data insights. Robust security protocols are in place to protect data at every stage, safeguarding both customer trust and data integrity.
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,870 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom – DOUGLAS 2026”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2022/23, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales (net) of 4.1 billion euros and employed around 18,000 people across Europe. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Katharina Lessenich
CvD Group Communications
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: newsroom@douglas.de
Düsseldorf, 3 December 2024 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, kicks off the festive season with an international 360-degree Christmas campaign with the motto "GIFT THE DOUGLAS FEELING”. Through beauty gifting-inspired narratives, DOUGLAS celebrates the magic of gifting and receiving, emotional connections, and cherished moments. The campaign – developed in cooperation with the creative agency Jung von Matt and shot by photographer Esther Haase and film director Giada Bossi – launches today and will be activated internationally across all online and offline channels.
“We all know the joy about receiving thoughtful gifts and the beautiful feeling of fulfilling that special wish – this is what we call the ‘DOUGLAS feeling’”, says Anke Menkhorst, SVP Group Marketing at the DOUGLAS Group. “With this year’s Christmas campaign, we focus on the intimate moments of love and appreciation between people at Christmas – and how a thoughtful, personal beauty gift makes a wonderful expression of love. With a wealth of gift ideas available in our stores, online shop, and app, DOUGLAS offers an inspirational shopping experience for everyone looking for the perfect Christmas gift.”
Mint-colored gifts
In the campaign, DOUGLAS puts renewed focus on the brand color mint – a distinctive color with rejuvenating and premium associations that are strongly associated with DOUGLAS. Mint-colored gifts act as a recurring element in all visuals, creating a memorable and recognizable campaign. In line with the DOUGLAS Group's omnichannel model, the campaign will be activated internationally across all channels – including TV, print, out-of-home, online, and stores – for a consistent and cohesive brand experience.
Experiential local events bring the “DOUGLAS feeling” to customers
The international campaign activation will be complemented by local, innovative event concepts. In Düsseldorf, Germany, customers can experience the “DOUGLAS feeling” at various spots across the city throughout December, including a DOUGLAS booth at the Christmas market with special activations by different brand partners. In addition, DOUGLAS hosts a hot chocolate pop-up in cooperation with Café Buur at the Königsallee. Customers can look forward to special hot chocolate creations by luxury brand partners and gift vouchers that can be redeemed at nearby DOUGLAS stores. Furthermore, at the beginning of December, influencers will be invited to an exclusive Christmas event with DOUGLAS and share the spirit of giving with their communities.
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,870 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom – DOUGLAS 2026”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2022/23, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales (net) of 4.1 billion euros and employed around 18,000 people across Europe. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and has been named a Top Company for Women in a global ranking by Forbes.
Katharina Lessenich
CvD Group Communications
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: newsroom@douglas.de
Düsseldorf, 19 November 2024 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, has been named a Top Company for Women in a global ranking by Forbes. In collaboration with the market research company Statista, the renowned business magazine has published its list of the world's best employers for women in 2024, and the DOUGLAS Group ranks first among global retail and wholesale companies, third in the comprehensive global cross-industry list, and first among all companies in Germany. The award recognizes the Group's ongoing commitment to creating a work environment that empowers and inspires women.
“Supporting female entrepreneurship is core to the DOUGLAS Group's identity. We are proud that our efforts to empower women in every possible way are reflected in the experience and perception of the women surveyed”, said Mareike Mende-Ratnam, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of the DOUGLAS Group. “We are absolutely committed to continue on this path and to further boost our actions to inspire and support women so that they can evolve according to their individual vision.”
Ranking based on individual experiences of respondents and their outside image of companies
The survey conducted by Forbes and Statista was carried out among 100,000 women employed in multinational corporations in 37 countries. The respondents, who were recruited via a panel, were asked to score companies on their general assessment of workplace conditions as well as gender-specific matters, including aspects such as gender pay equality, promotion opportunities, management’s responses to female discrimination concerns, and the perception of industry competitors. The responses were aggregated to create an “employer brand score”, a “public opinion score” and a “leadership score”, and subsequently combined with survey data collected over the past three years. The top 400 international companies – including the DOUGLAS Group on third place globally – were awarded a certificate as World’s Top Company for Women 2024. A requirement was that they were operating in at least two major regions, such as Central and Eastern Europe.
Female empowerment at the DOUGLAS Group
Supporting women is an integral part of the DOUGLAS Group’s DNA: DOUGLAS was born and grew out of the vision of two sisters, and since then many courageous, passionate and entrepreneurial women have driven the continuous growth of the company. The above-average proportion of female employees (Financial Year 2022/23: around 97% in stores and around 70% in HQs) and women in management positions (FY 2022/23: 89%) are testament to the DOUGLAS Group’s commitment to empower, inspire and motivate women to develop their full potential. At the same time, the Group is advocating for true inclusion and gender equality in line with its purpose to make life more beautiful for its employees, its customers and the world. This includes prioritizing equal opportunities, ensuring the representation of women and driving initiatives to attract and develop talent – such as mentoring programs and trainings to prepare women for future leadership roles.
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,870 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom – DOUGLAS 2026”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2022/23, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales (net) of 4.1 billion euros and employed around 18,000 people across Europe. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Katharina Lessenich
CvD Group Communications
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: newsroom@douglas.de
Düsseldorf, 7 October, 2024 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, has rolled out a major redesign of its websites, online shops and apps for a further improved customer experience and enhanced brand positioning aligned with the premium appeal and identity of the DOUGLAS brand. The upgraded design aims to create an emotionally engaging beauty shopping experience and closely interlinks the online channels with the around 1,870 DOUGLAS and NOCIBÉ stores for a true omnichannel journey.
Philipp Andrée, Chief Commercial Officer of the DOUGLAS Group, said: “We know that our customers want more than just being able to do beauty shopping online in addition to visiting the store – they expect a holistic and coherent experience across all channels. At the DOUGLAS Group, we have been following this credo for years. With the redesign, we are now taking the omnichannel experience to a new level while at the same time further elevating the premium appeal of our brand. The team has done a great job and the feedback from our customers clearly shows that we have delivered on their expectations.”
True omnichannel shopping and improved user experience
In line with the growth strategy “Let it Bloom”, the redesign closely interconnects the digital channels with the on-site store experience by e.g. featuring prominent placements of the store finder, dedicated in-store services and omnichannel offerings such as Click & Collect or Click & Collect Express (available in select countries). To further facilitate cross-channel shopping, personalized services are now extended with a new “Favorite Store” function: After selecting a favorite or nearby DOUGLAS or NOCIBÉ store, users can enjoy additional benefits like information on in-store product availability, pre-filled data for e.g. Click & Collect orders, and notifications about upcoming events.
Beyond the increased omnichannel activation and a greatly enhanced, uniform look and feel with expanded space for brand showcases and clutter-free high-quality visuals, the new websites, online shops and apps also include a wide range of UX & UI updates to assist customers in quickly finding the information or product they are looking for. Customer centricity is a key success factor for the DOUGLAS Group: As part of the development process, the project team has conducted numerous User Tests and A/B Tests to ensure the highest degree of customer satisfaction.
App as a key performance driver
The online business is an important pillar of the DOUGLAS Group strategy and accounts for around one third of total Group sales. In the third quarter of the financial year 2023/24, E-Com contributed 9.8% growth in sales (net). The app in particular is a strong growth driver: It recorded more than 125 million visits in the last full financial year, drives loyalty and customer activation, and acts as an omnichannel hyperconnector with around 24% of DOUGLAS Group customers also using the app.
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,870 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom – DOUGLAS 2026”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2022/23, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales (net) of 4.1 billion euros and employed around 18,000 people across Europe. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Katharina Lessenich
CvD Group Communications
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: newsroom@douglas.de
Düsseldorf, 14 August, 2024 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel destination for premium beauty, continued its strong financial and business performance in the third quarter of the financial year 2023/24 (April to June 2024) as it successfully further implements its “Let it Bloom” strategy. Since going public in March 2024, the company significantly deleveraged its balance sheet and strategically sharpened its profile as a customer-centric premium beauty retailer.
In the third quarter of the financial year 2023/24, the DOUGLAS Group grew sales (net) by 7.3% to 977.1 million euros (Q3 22/23: 910.5 million euros), confirming preliminary numbers published 17 July 2024. Store sales (net) grew by 7.2% (lfl: +6.3%) and E-Com sales (net) 7.5% year-on-year (lfl: +9.8%) – underlining the Group’s uniquely positioned omnichannel business model.
Sander van der Laan, CEO of the DOUGLAS Group, said: “Our sustained strong performance and continued growth – even above our expectations – demonstrate the resilience of our business model. Fully focusing on premium beauty is the right course for us, and this strategy strongly resonates with our customers. We’ll continue to build on this success and our strong brand.”
High demand for on-site shopping and personal beauty advice
DOUGLAS stores across Europe recorded a strong uplift in both visitors (+16.9%) and customers (+8.1%), emphasizing the important on-site experience and personal advice in beauty retail. The online business – which accounted for around one third of total Group sales – developed particularly well in DACHNL and CEE.
The DOUGLAS Group has successfully completed the integration of parfumdreams logistics into the OWAC (OWAC = One Warehouse, All Channels) in Hamm, Germany. As a result of temporary operational challenges directly related to the integration, segment sales (net) of PD/NB decreased by -10.2%. For the future, the DOUGLAS Group anticipates a significant positive impact on cost efficiency, profitability and ultimately the customer experience due to the streamlined supply chain.
From April to June 2024, the DOUGLAS Group achieved an adj. EBITDA of 162.9 million euros (Q3 22/23: 154.3 million euros), an improvement of 5.6% over the previous year. This corresponds to an adj. EBITDA margin of 16.7% (Q3 22/23: 16.9%).
The financial result was impacted by negative one-off effects of around 85 million euros – around 31 million euros of which are cash effective – related to the redemption of secured notes and senior unsecured notes in April following the company’s IPO. Net income thus came in at -71.6 million euros (Q3 22/23: -26.1 million euros).
Full-year sales guidance raised due to strong performance in the first nine months
In the first nine months of the financial year (October 2023 to June 2024), Group sales (net) increased by 8.7% to around 3.5 billion euros (9M 22/23: around 3.2 billion euros). Growth was driven by both store sales (net) which rose by 8.2% (lfl: +7.4%) and E-Com which grew even stronger at 9.8% (lfl: +11.9%). In the same period, the Group generated an adj. EBITDA of 657.1 million euros, up 11.5% compared to the previous year and corresponding to an adj. EBITDA margin of 18.8% (9M 22/23: 18.4%). Free cash flow rose to 465.2 million euros.
Following the sustained positive business development and strong sales (net) numbers for the third quarter and first nine months, the DOUGLAS Group has raised its outlook for the financial year 2023/24 on 17 July 2024. The company now expects net sales to grow around 8.5% (previously: around 7%). The Group is well on track to deliver its mid-term earnings guidance of an expected adj. EBITDA margin of around 18.5%, after 17.7% in the financial year 2022/23.
Continuous development of store network – grand reopening in Vienna
The store business is a key pillar and growth driver for the DOUGLAS Group; just recently it celebrated the reopening of its “House of Beauty” luxury flagship store in Vienna with a grand ceremony and a visit by Hollywood star and DOUGLAS Group testimonial Diane Kruger. The luxury store offers a strong and curated selection of brands and products as well as individual beauty services on two floors with a sales area of 795m².
The company is on track to achieve its target of more than 200 store openings (net) and more than 400 store refurbishments by the end of 2026: In the first nine months of the financial year, it has opened 38 new stores and refurbished 69 existing ones (including relocations). 19 stores were closed in the same period, which included six franchise stores.
Truly Beauty, truly Premium: DOUGLAS Group refines its profile
In line with its growth strategy “Let it Bloom”, the DOUGLAS Group further sharpened its profile. With the sale of online pharmacy Disapo to Dutch MYA Health completed at the end of July, the Group now fully focusses on its resilient and fast-growing core premium beauty business where it strives to provide the best omnichannel shopping experience for its customers.
To further enhance the DOUGLAS Group’s premium positioning across all channels and along all customer touchpoints, the Group websites including the online shop and apps will receive a new look and feel starting in early September, aligned with the premium appeal and identity of the DOUGLAS brand. The redesign aims to create an emotionally engaging and inspiring beauty experience for customers – no matter on which device they prefer to shop. Alongside the new interface and a standardized infrastructure, the online channels will be more closely interlinked with the DOUGLAS and NOCIBÉ stores, offering customers a true omnichannel shopping experience.
Overview Financial Results
Q3 FY 2023/24 | Q3 2022/23 | Q3 2023/24 | Change | Change |
Sales (net) | €910.5m | €977.1m | +7.3% | +7.4% |
Stores | €619.3m | €664.1m | +7.2% | +6.3% |
E-Commerce | €291.2m | €313.0m | +7.5% | +9.8% |
E-Commerce % of sales (net) | 32.0% | 32.0% | +0.1ppt |
|
Segment DACHNL | €423.2m | €465.2m | +9.9% | +10.6% |
Segment France | €166.3m | €174.3m | +4.8% | +3.8% |
Segment Southern Europe | €139.3m | €146.2m | +4.9% | +3.7% |
Segment Central Eastern Europe | €124.8m | €144.0 | +15.3% | +12.2% |
| Segment PD/NB | €44.8m | €40.3m | -10.2% | -10.2% |
Adjusted EBITDA | €154.3m | €162.9m | +5.6% |
|
Net Income | -€26.1m | -€71.6m | -173.9% |
|
9M FY 2023/24 | 9M 2022/23 | 9M 2023/24 | Change | Change |
Sales (net) | €3,210.8m | €3,491.1m | +8.7% | +8.9% |
Stores | €2,156.1m | €2,332.9m | +8.2% | +7.4% |
E-Commerce | €1,054.7m | €1,158.2m | +9.8% | +11.9% |
E-Commerce % of sales (net) | 32.8% | 33.2% | +0.3ppt |
|
Segment DACHNL | €1,461.5m | €1,612.6m | +10.3% | +10.4% |
Segment France | €652.5m | €678.1m | +3.9% | +3.4% |
Segment Southern Europe | €495.5m | €522.3m | +5.4% | +4.8% |
Segment Central Eastern Europe | €428.9m | €505.8m | +17.9% | +15.2% |
| Segment PD/NB | €131.5m | €147.1m | +11.9% | +12.3% |
Adjusted EBITDA | €589.2m | €657.1m | +11.5% |
|
Liquidity (30 June) | €239.4m | €106.2m |
|
|
Net Income | €44.9m | €12.2m | -72.7% |
|
Segment Overview: DACHNL (Germany / Austria / Switzerland, The Netherlands / Belgium), France (France, Monaco), Southern Europe (Croatia / Slovenia, Italy, Portugal, Spain / Andorra), Central Eastern Europe / CEE (Bulgaria / Romania, Czech Republic / Slovakia / Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland), PD/NB (Parfumdreams / Niche Beauty)
The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBÉ, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,870 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom – DOUGLAS 2026”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2022/23, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales (net) of 4.1 billion euros and employed around 18,000 people across Europe. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Peter Wübben
SVP Group Communications & Sustainability
Tel: +49 211 16847 6644
Mail: pr@douglas.de
Stefanie Steiner
Director Investor Relations and M&A
Tel: +49 211 16847 8594
Mail: ir@douglas.de
