CHINA. The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) marked the first day of the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) with a high-profile opening ceremony.
The beauty giant’s attendance reflects the further strengthening of its presence in China and the growth of Hainan’s offshore duty free sector.
The launch started with a grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting hosted by The Estée Lauder Companies China President and CEO Joy Fan and President Commercial, Travel Retail Worldwide Javier Simon.
To officially open the exhibition, ELC Travel Retail China Vice President/General Manager,Maggie Wu was joined by special guests including Standing Member of Hainan Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor Shen Danyang; Deputy Secretary of Haikou Party Committee and Mayor of Haikou, Dinghui; Deputy Secretary General of Hainan Provincial Government Chen Wanxin; Standing member and Vice Mayor of Haikou Lu Min; and Deputy Director of Hainan International Economy Development Bureau Ji Guohui.
Fan said: “This year marks the 30th anniversary of ELC’s presence in China. What began with two of our brands, Estée Lauder and Clinique, serving tens of millions of consumers across the country. ELC will continue to lead and transform the prestige beauty industry. We are proud to continue our story here in Hainan and are committed to deepening our connection with Chinese consumers and delivering superior products and services to them.”
To celebrate the occasion, ELC President and Chief Executive Officer Fabrizio Freda also addressed visitors with a video message. He said: “China is one of the most dynamic markets in the world for prestige beauty, with the most sophisticated and discerning consumers, and Hainan is a critical market to help drive the next generation of growth.
“We at ELC look forward to continuing to deliver our superior products and high-touch services and experiences to the Chinese consumer, as well as invest in the market and in the broader community. I offer my sincere congratulations to the Ministry of Commerce and the Government of Hainan Province on the 3rd annual China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan.”
ELC Global President, Travel Retail Israel Assa also expressed his support and commitment to the event and to the Hainan market via a video message.
He said: “The Estée Lauder Companies is thrilled to continue to choose Hainan as the destination to inspire travellers with our brands’ innovation, experiences and high-quality, transformative products. This market is and will remain a strategic focus for us and as we look ahead, ELC remains excited, optimistic and committed to the endless opportunities provided by Hainan.
“We are grateful for the partnership of CICPE, which as an exhibition and trading platform for China’s Hainan Free Trade Port, offers unparalleled opportunities for all parties to enrich and consolidate partnerships while supporting growth in Hainan.”
Simon highlighted ELC Travel Retail’s key activations and achievements in Hainan over the past year. He also stressed his confidence in the long-term development of the group’s travel retail business in Hainan.
He commented: “With this growth, we are looking forward to further fostering and strengthening relationships with consumers as well as with our business partners locally. China will continue to play a hugely important role for The Estée Lauder Companies and we are proud to showcase our commitment and support to the Hainan International Tourism Consumption Center and the Hainan Free Trade Port.”
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, ELC welcomed guests into the specially designed pavilion that symbolises the natural beauty of Hainan Island. Striking visuals were seen upon entry featuring eight arches intricately decorated with wave patterns, leading guests into an open, circular exhibition area, showcasing ELC’s brands.
The group is highlighting its powerful portfolio in the fragrance, makeup and skincare categories. These include Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Darphin, Dr. Jart+, Estée Lauder, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, Jo Malone London, Kilian Paris, La Mer, Lab Series, MAC, Origins and Tom Ford Beauty.
Immersive interactive experiences are featured within the exhibition space, where visitors can learn more about the brands’ heritage and innovation. It also displays a range of trial hero products and unique brand offerings within Hainan.
Designed with sustainability in mind, every element of the pavilion from its architecture to the curated product selection reflects ELC’s commitment to Hainan, the group said.
To mark its further expansion in Hainan, the group opened Aveda’s first two travel retail brand boutiques in Hainan at CDF Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex and CDF Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in January. 2023 also marks the brand’s debut at the Hainan Expo.
And in celebration of the group’s 30 years of operations in China, ELC also welcomed media partners, KOLs and customers into ELC’s world of prestige beauty during the five-day event.
China’s strong recovery offers the company more opportunities for growth – most recently with the opening of a new office in Haikou in March on the back of increasing consumer demand within the island’s travel retail channel.
The group marked another milestone in October 2022 with the opening of 13 new brand boutiques. These include global flagship boutiques from Estée Lauder and La Mer, in China Duty Free Group’s CDF Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex.
Assa added: “Hainan continues to go from strength to strength. This is truly a beautiful place, home to countless possibilities, where, with the help of our partners, ELC will only continue to create new journeys for many years to come.” ✈
