The Secret Recipe Behind Typology’s Market Domination

Typology, a french skincare brand, has revolutionised the clean beauty market with its commitment to transparency, simplicity, and innovation. 

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The brand has sold over 3.2 million products annually and is now expanding into traditional retail, blending its strong online presence with a strategic corner store. 

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This article explores Typology’s successful transition from a pure Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) model to an omnichannel retail strategy.

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1. The rise of Typology: Clean beauty for all

1.1 The visionary founding by serial entrepreneur Ning Li

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In 2019, Ning Li launched Typology, following his success with the furniture e-commerce platform Made.com.

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Within a year of their launch, they raised $10 million in seed funding and shipped hundreds of thousands of products.

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Ning Li was inspired to create Typology out of a desire to find clean, natural products for his newborn daughter, which he couldn't find on the market.

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He aimed to disrupt the beauty industry by focusing on transparency, simplicity, and high-quality natural ingredients. 

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"We launched Typology [...] with one mission in mind: to demystify a complex and opaque skincare industry,” says Ning Li

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This vision helped Typology quickly establish itself in a competitive market.

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Typology focuses on minimalism, unlike many beauty brands that use lengthy and complex ingredient lists. Each product contains only the essential components necessary for efficacy.

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^{The company is certified as a B Corp and PETA vegan-approved.} 

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The brand offers a wide range of skincare, haircare, and body care products, all made with at least 80% natural ingredients.

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This approach appeals to consumers who are increasingly aware and cautious about the ingredients in their skincare products.

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1.2 Building strong brand loyalty with DTC success

^{Typology has achieved phenomenal success, becoming France's top-selling online skincare brand by 2023—only four years after its launch!}

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A key part of its success lies in selling directly to consumers online.

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By skipping traditional stores, Typology kept costs low and focused on making the online shopping experience as smooth as possible. They achieved this by:

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• User-friendly website: A simple design that makes shopping easy and that matches really well with their brand identity. 
• Skin diagnostic tool: An online quiz that helps customers find the best products for their skin and create the best skincare routine for their needs. 
• Transparent ingredients: Clear information about what’s in each product, building trust with shoppers. They also provide educational content about the benefits of ingredients and how they work. 
• Sustainable practices: Clean, natural ingredients and recyclable/reusable packaging. Their products are free from harmful chemicals, relying instead on botanical extracts and active ingredients.

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2. Typology’s omnichannel retail strategy to conquer new markets

2.1 Testing market fit with pop-ups

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After achieving strong online sales, Typology strategically entered physical retail to expand its customer base while staying true to its clean beauty values. 

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To test this new approach, Typology hosted a three-day pop-up event called "La Serre Typology" in November 2023. 

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The pop-up offered two unique experiences, where booking was required for:

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• During the daytime: Personalised skin advice and custom skincare routines with Typology experts.
• During the evening: Intimate dinners with experts to provide a deeper connection to the brand.

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The event was fully booked out in minutes, showing a real demand for Typology's in-person approach.

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La Serre Typology's success showed them a few things:

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• People love personalised experiences: Customers appreciate connecting with a brand face-to-face and getting help tailored to their needs.
• Pop-ups build loyalty: These events create a sense of exclusivity and excitement, making existing customers love the brand even more.
• Testing the market: Pop-ups are a low-risk way to see if people will be receptive to in-store shopping. 

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The pop-up store format allowed Typology to engage with customers in a new way, offering a tactile and immersive brand experience. 

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It also provided a platform for direct customer feedback, which was invaluable for refining product offerings and improving customer satisfaction.

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2.2 Taking the next step with a permanent corner store

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Based on the pop-up's success, Typology opened its first permanent corner store in April 2024, inside Printemps Haussmann, a famous Parisian department store.

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This move into physical retail shows Typology’s commitment to an omnichannel approach, blending online and offline strategies. 

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The physical presence in such a prestigious location as Printemps Haussmann increases brand visibility and reinforces Typology's image as a premium brand. 

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This strategic placement helps attract a new segment of customers who value the ability to see and feel products before purchasing.

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The design of the corner store reflects Typology's core values of being simple and eco-friendly. 

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They use aluminium elements that look just like their packaging, creating a stylish and responsible shopping experience. 

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They seamlessly blend physical retail with their existing brand identity.

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Typology’s journey highlights the importance of innovation, customer focus, and sustainability in the beauty industry. 

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Typology has built a strong foundation for growth by embracing digital channels and an omnichannel strategy. 

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The key lessons for brands looking to replicate this success are clear: build a robust online presence, test new markets with pop-ups, and maintain consistent branding.

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How will Typology’s next steps shape the future of clean beauty?

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