Introduction to The Very Group's Beauty Initiative

In a bold move to enhance its digital retail capabilities, The Very Group has launched a groundbreaking Beauty Inspiration Hub. This platform is designed to revolutionize the way customers interact with beauty products online, leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide an immersive shopping experience. The hub is part of a larger tech transformation driven by Very's new cloud-based system, Skyscape.

The Power of Skyscape

Skyscape marks the biggest technology overhaul in Very's history, featuring a comprehensive re-platforming of all systems powering the customer experience. This strategic initiative aims to provide customers with easier navigation, better access to a wide range of beauty brands, and more informative content about the products they desire. By integrating responsive, reusable, and fully accessible design components from The Very Group's Fuse design system, the Beauty Inspiration Hub is poised to transform the digital shopping landscape.

Enhancing Customer Engagement

The Beauty Inspiration Hub is centered around engaging blog-style content, expert tips, and trend spotlighting. These features equip customers with the knowledge they need to make informed purchasing decisions, closely replicating the in-store experience in the digital world. This approach not only seeks to educate customers about the beauty products available but also aims to increase confidence in their online purchasing processes.

Key Features of the Beauty Inspiration Hub

• Educational Content: Through blog-style articles, customers gain insights into beauty trends, ingredients, and product usage, ensuring they are well-informed during their shopping journey.
• Aspirational Content: Inspirational stories and looks help customers explore new beauty routines and products, aligning with current trends in the industry.
• Expert Tips: Expert advice provided in the hub helps customers optimize their beauty regimens, ensuring they get the most from their purchases.
• Trend Spotlighting: The hub highlights current beauty trends, offering customers an inside look at what’s new and popular in the beauty world.

Building on Previous Successes

This launch follows the introduction of Very's Beauty Studio earlier in the year. The Beauty Studio revolutionized how customers navigate and experience Very's beauty range by allowing them to shop by trend, ingredient, and brand. This strategic move has helped streamline the shopping process, making it easier for customers to find products tailored to their needs and preferences.

Driving Sales and Engagement

The Very Group has seen significant growth in its beauty category, with a 6.3% increase year-over-year in the first half of FY25. This growth is attributed to the company's strategic focus on expanding and diversifying its beauty offerings to include a broader range of brands and products at competitive prices. The new Beauty Inspiration Hub is designed to build on this success by educating more customers about the extensive beauty ranges available at Very.

According to Sam Wright, Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer at The Very Group, "The vast majority of our customers who buy from our beauty ranges also buy from other categories. However, even though brand consideration for our beauty category is up, just one in seven fashion customers shop Very’s beauty ranges. We hope that the launch of the inspiration hub will educate our fashion-first customers on the wonderful beauty ranges we have available."

Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Experience

The integration with the Skyscape system and the Amplience content management system ensures that the Beauty Inspiration Hub is not only visually appealing but also responsive and easily updated. This technological backbone supports the creation of a seamless and personalized shopping experience, setting a new standard in digital retail.

Future Prospects

As the Beauty Inspiration Hub continues to roll out, with completion expected by this summer, it represents a significant step forward in Very's mission to create a more inclusive and engaging online shopping environment. By bridging the gap between digital and in-store experiences, Very is well-positioned to capture a larger share of the expanding online beauty market.

Conclusion

The Very Group's innovative approach to digital retail, spearheaded by the Beauty Inspiration Hub and supported by the Skyscape system, underscores a strategic commitment to integrating technology with customer-centric design. This fusion is poised to redefine how beauty products are marketed and consumed online, making Very a leader in the evolving e-commerce landscape.