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Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
Perfume and cosmetic wholesalers face a rapidly changing environment. Social media's seismic impact on the industry has disrupted traditional advertising channels and created a range of new trends. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are revolutionising marketing strategies, with short, engaging campaigns replacing traditional endeavours. As high street and department stores face a drop in foot traffic, wholesalers increasingly rely on social media partnerships to boost brand visibility and sales. However, hurdles persist, including fierce price competition and demands for high performance at lower costs. Heightened challenges will shrink revenue at a compound annual growth rate of 1.4% to just over £8.6 billion through the end of 2024-25. Large wholesalers dominate, but niche market segments offer opportunities, notably the multi-ethnic market, creeping revenue upward by 1.5% in 2024-25.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2014-2029. The most recent publication was released October 2024.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code G46.450. Companies in this industry wholesale and distribute perfumes, cosmetic products, soaps and other toiletries. A range of distribution channels are used in order to target different consumer groups. Related terms covered in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include cosmetics, perfumes, toiletries, cosmeceutical and travel retail.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include Skincare products, Cosmetics and Fragrances and perfumes .
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include L'Oreal (UK) Ltd, Estee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd and Beiersdorf UK Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is £8.7bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2024?
There are 2,158 businesses in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
How may import tariffs affect the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom are L'Oreal (UK) Ltd, Estee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd and Beiersdorf UK Ltd
What does the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include?
Skincare products and Toiletries are part of the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is L'Oreal (UK) Ltd.
How competitive is the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Perfume & Cosmetics Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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