London’s luxury retail icon, Liberty, is strategically capitalizing on the success of its own-label beauty products to fuel substantial growth. CEO Adil Mehboob-Khan envisions expansive business growth, hinting at the potential establishment of standalone stores, drawing parallels with Harrods’ flourishing H Beauty venture.
In an exclusive interview with The Financial Times, Mehboob-Khan expressed confidence in the widespread appeal of Liberty’s own-label beauty range, notably the LBTY beauty brand. Launched with five high-end fragrances inspired by Liberty’s signature prints, these fragrances have surpassed expectations, creating an unprecedented demand.
Liberty’s strategic roadmap includes an extension of its beauty offerings, seamlessly complementing its existing portfolio of own-brand accessories, womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and homewares. Mehboob-Khan emphasized the stellar performance of Liberty’s in-house products, citing the overwhelming success of the new fragrances.
As demand for Liberty’s brand transcends e-commerce boundaries, the prospect of opening new stores is actively under consideration, potentially marking a historic move for the brand. International expansion is also on the horizon, reflecting the global allure of Liberty’s offerings.
Highlighting the priorities for the upcoming year, Mehboob-Khan affirmed, «We will definitely be pushing beauty. The fashion market remains uncertain, but we anticipate robust performance in beauty and accessories.»
The Liberty group, comprising its flagship London store, fabric division, and Liberty Brand, celebrated a remarkable 23% surge in revenues, reaching £185 million for the year ending January 28, 2023. Notably, the group reported a positive pre-tax profit of £712,000, a significant turnaround from the preceding year’s £7.1 million loss. This resilient performance underscores Liberty’s adept navigation of challenges posed by the pandemic.
