You may spend hours shopping the shelves and perusing Ulta’s site, but how much do you really know about the beauty behemoth? We picked the company’s collective skin-care-makeup-fragrance brain to find out the most interesting facts to leave you feeling “in the know” next time you make a product run.
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The Numbers
While Ulta won’t tell us its number-one, top-selling product (“it’s like asking us to pick our favorite child!”) they do share that they currently offer a whooping 20,000-plus products from 500 different brands.
Mega Mix
Ulta’s goal is to constantly add new brands and products to the assortment, but the recent additions of MAC, Morphe, Bumble and bumble, Dose of Colors and Memebox take the cake for the five specific ones customers have recently been loving.
On the Regular
IT Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Tarte, Maybelline, NYX, Dermalogica, OPI, Redken, Living Proof, and Drybar round out the list of the most popular “tried and true” brands customers continue to shop for.
Grand Opening
The first Ulta store opened its doors in the suburbs of Chicago in 1990.
Measuring Up
Each of the stores are similar in size at approximately 10,000 square feet—including a full-service salon that is approximately 950-square-feet—with the “biggest” openings recently popping up in urban locations on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and Manhattan’s first outpost on the Upper East Side of the city.
Worker Perks
Yes, the associates get first dibs to try and explore the newest brands and latest in product innovation. They also receive a discount on purchases and services to further test out for themselves and be fully immersed in the Ulta Beauty experience.
Beauty Army
More than 31,000 employees work across the corporate office, distribution centers and 1,000-plus stores nationwide.
Online Boost
The brand has seen continued growth in e-commerce as they enhance the assortment and site experience for guests. Last quarter, e-commerce sales grew 62.9 percent.
Frequent Fliers
As for the million-dollar question: Are there any hidden perks customers don’t know about? Ulta’s official answer: “Guests who sign up for Ultamate Rewards accumulate points to redeem on future purchases, and points can be redeemed on any product. For example, guests who earn 2,000 points are able to spend $125 on their future purchase. Members receive access to top-secret offers through our magazine and email, a free gift during their birthday month and 2X, 3X or up to 5X bonus points on specific purchases.”
All-Access
There’s 26 million members enrolled in the Ultamate Rewards loyalty program (it’s free!) but you have to spend $450 in a calendar year reach to Platinum status. Once you do, you’ll earn points 25 percent faster and be eligible for special exclusive offers and—the big one—early access to new product launches.
