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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, 20 March 2025 – In light of a slowdown in the European premium beauty market – most notably in Germany and France – the DOUGLAS Group is adjusting its guidance for the current financial year. The already weak customer sentiment, burdened by global macroeconomic and political uncertainties, has continued to deteriorate since February, leading to a decline in footfall in stores and traffic online. The Group is also assessing its mid-term guidance including the expected leverage ratio and will inform about this on the occasion of the Q2 reporting on 15 May.
Sander van der Laan, CEO of the DOUGLAS Group, said: “The increasing economic and political global tensions have now also reached the premium beauty sector in Europe. In the past weeks we have seen an accelerating slowdown in consumer traffic and demand in the market, which also impacts the business of the DOUGLAS Group. Hence, our recent sales and gross profit developments have not met our initial expectations. We have to face this current situation and therefore adjust our guidance for this financial year. We already have initiated several countermeasures to stabilize our performance. The DOUGLAS Group is well positioned and our omnichannel strategy continues to be the winning model for premium beauty.”
Markets characterized by uncertainty and lower willingness to spend
The recent deterioration in customer demand has mostly affected the DOUGLAS Group’s two most important beauty markets of Germany and France, where customer traffic has notably decreased. The company attributes this development mainly to a growing uncertainty among consumers regarding macro-economic and geopolitical tensions, the economic and political situation in Germany and looming international trade conflicts which could harm key industries and burden the overall purchasing power in Europe. Growth in most of the other 20 DOUGLAS Group omnichannel countries also slowed down, but still developed relatively robust.
Guidance for 2024/25 adjusted
In light of the overall negative development, the Management Board of the DOUGLAS AG today has adjusted the guidance for the financial year 2024/25:
The guidance on Net Working Capital remains unchanged: on average, Net Working Capital is still expected to amount to <5% of Group sales.
Countermeasures to drive sales and stabilize profitability
The DOUGLAS Group already launched several countermeasures to drive sales, stabilize its gross margin and safeguard profitability, including SG&A (sales, general and administrative) cost reductions, tightening of NWC and capital expenditures as well as a capital re-allocation to adjust to the current market development.
Undeterred by the market situation, the DOUGLAS Group remains fully convinced of the effectiveness and attractiveness of its omnichannel model. The company continues to invest in its growth strategy ‘Let it Bloom’, including, among others, the expansion and refurbishment of its store network across Europe, the E-Com business, and the future-proof transformation of its Supply Chain and Group-wide IT infrastructure.
“These are challenging times and we already took striking decisions,” said van der Laan. “We move every lever in our business to safeguard our sales and profits – as well as our employees and shareholders. We do this very consistently and with highest priority: with targeted investments in growth and with extensive cost savings. We are confident that we will overcome these challenges and that the premium beauty market will recover when the global economic situation improves.”
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 2024 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, 12 March, 2025 – Marco Giorgetta, currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of DOUGLAS Southern Europe and Italy, will take over the position as new DOUGLAS Group CFO from Mark Langer, who decided to leave the company after four successful years. With this thoroughly planned step, the DOUGLAS Group ensures a smooth transition and continuity at the top of its finance organization. The Supervisory Board already confirmed Mark Langer’s resignation and the appointment of Marco Giorgetta as of May 1.
“With Mark Langer, we are losing a valued colleague and financial expert with whom we have shared many successful achievements”, DOUGLAS Group CEO Sander van der Laan said. “Mark Langer made a crucial contribution to the development and implementation of our ‘Let It Bloom’ strategy and created a solid financial foundation for the future of our company including our IPO. I would like to sincerely thank him on behalf of the Management Board and the entire DOUGLAS Group. At the same time, with Marco Giorgetta we gain an experienced finance and retail manager who knows the beauty market and the company inside out. We are very happy to have found this excellent internal successor, who brings strong leadership skills and great expertise in our business and thus ensures consistency in our financial activities and beyond.”
“I‘m thankful for my time at DOUGLAS”, Mark Langer said. “After the IPO in 2024, the first Annual Shareholder Meeting of the DOUGLAS AG this February and most recently the successful closure of the new refinancing, the right time has come for me to initiate my succession. I am happy to hand over my tasks to such an experienced finance manager and business leader as Marco Giorgetta, with whom I’ve worked closely together already in his current position.”
“I appreciate the trust that is placed in me to take on the role of the DOUGLAS Group CFO”, said Marco Giorgetta. “I am very much looking forward to the new tasks and working together with all the colleagues in Düsseldorf and the country clusters as well as with Sander van der Laan and Philipp Andrée in the Management Board. An exciting new chapter is beginning for me, and I am confident that we will continue the successful course of the DOUGLAS Group all together.”
Mark Langer joined DOUGLAS in May 2021 as CFO and did successfully steer and develop the overall finance functions of the Group, but also the Legal Department, Real Estate, Supply Chain, Indirect Procurement, Internal Audit Quality Assurance and the Project Management Office (PMO). Starting his career at McKinsey & Company and Procter & Gamble, Mark Langer worked in leading top-positions at the fashion brand HUGO BOSS from 2003 to 2020, most recently as CEO & Chairman of the Management Board.
Marco Giorgetta joined DOUGLAS Italy as CFO in 2017 and additionally took over the responsibility as CFO Southern Europe in 2021. Prior to that, he was CFO at Limoni, an Italian beauty chain which DOUGLAS acquired in 2017. From 2011 to 2017, Marco Giorgetta worked for the private equity firms Bridgepoint and Orlando Italy, and before he began his career in the Investment Banking division at Morgan Stanley.
Dr. Henning Kreke, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said: “DOUGLAS’ success story in recent years is also due to the strong work of Mark Langer and his teams. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank him for his dedication and ongoing passion for DOUGLAS and to also warmly welcome Marco Giorgetta in his new role as Group CFO. I am happy that we have found a great internal successor in Marco Giorgetta ensuring a smooth transition, long term continuity and sustainable growth for the company. With his profound track record coupled with a passion for omnichannel retail, Marco Giorgetta will further enhance the strong financial position of the DOUGLAS Group. We wish both Mark Langer and Marco Giorgetta all the best for their next steps.”
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
Düsseldorf, 10 March, 2025 – The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one omnichannel premium beauty destination, has secured a partial financing with no in rem security through a German private placement (Schuldscheindarlehen) of 200 million euros. Together with 250 million euros of liquidity from the operational business, the funds will be used to fully repay the bridge facility of 450 million euros set up one year ago after the IPO at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Although the DOUGLAS Group could have extended the bridge twice for six months each, the company repaid the facility at first due, thus reducing interest costs by around 3.3 million euros.
Diversified maturity profile – increasing financial flexibility
Conceived with a marketing volume of 150 million euros, the DOUGLAS Group ultimately achieved a volume of 200 million euros for the private placement. Investors from both Germany and abroad, with a strong commitment from each of the four arranging banks, are participating in the placement. Maturities range from three to seven years. As a result, the company diversified its maturity profile and further reduced costs of debt. The interest cost savings from the private placement can be used to support the Group’s expansion plans.
Mark Langer, CFO of the DOUGLAS Group, said: “This step and the repayment of debt with our own operational liquidity are a clear signal: We shall and will significantly reduce our debt. Our continuously improving financial profile and increasing financial flexibility are key to the further expansion of our successful business model. We believe we are well set for the future.”
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, 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
