LaserAway is exploring a sale that could value the chain north of $2 billion. Consumer Edge consumer transaction data points to why a buyer would look: among shoppers aged 25-34, LaserAway is gaining beauty-services spend share faster than any brand we track.
Bath & Body Works lands in Ulta Beauty July 12. The CEO calls it an evolution “from a specialty retailer to a category-leading global brand.” Consumer spending data shows why the move matters now.
In CE data, consumer spending at BBW has been soft for several quarters. The specialty-store model has stalled.
Ulta gives it something its stores haven’t been reaching: a younger, higher-income shopper. Among the Ulta customers BBW doesn’t have today, 35% are under 35 (vs. 29% of BBW’s base) and 53% earn $100K+ (vs. 46%). At the top end the gap is widest: 31% earn $150K+, vs. 24% of BBW shoppers.
So this isn’t just more distribution. It’s access to the exact customer profile that drives premium beauty growth, the growth BBW’s own channel hasn’t delivered.
The number to watch after July 12: whether BBW can convert that audience, and whether its soft patch finally turns.
