Beauty products keep cash registers ringing at Dept stores

KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Sale of cosmetic products at department stores has picked up in recent days.



According to an estimate, more than 85 percent of cosmetic and skin care products available in the market are duplicate versions of the original ones. Leading cosmetic brands have started marketing their products through department stores around the valley and they are witnessing a surge in the number of people turning up at department stores for purchasing original products.[break]



“Cosmetic stores in major places such as Mahaboudha, Makhan Tole, Kichapokhari and New Road are selling duplicate versions of various cosmetic brands. This is a major reason why people are turning up at department stores where leading companies have stationed sales executives to sell original products,” said Antim Ranjit, marketing and branding officer at Bigmart Department Store at CityCentre.



Leading department stores of the valley such as Bhatbhateni Department Store, Bigmart, BlueBird Mart and Saleways among others have started giving space to cosmetic companies so that customers do not fall prey to duplicate products.



United Distributors, authorized dealer of Olay and VLCC beauty products, Unilever Nepal Limited, marketer of Lakme cosmetic and Ekta Trading, authorized distributor of Revlon cosmetics for Nepal, have deputed their representatives at leading stores and are planning to open sales units at various places.



Pragya Karki, sales executive of United Distributors, said the company produces more than 150 items and only 30 items have been introduced in Asia.



“United Distributors currently sells only 25 varieties of Olay beauty products in Nepal but stores around the valley are selling more than 25 varieties of Olay products which are actually the duplicate ones. By setting up special sales units in department stores, the company aims at educating the customers,” Karki told Republica.







Karki explained Olay is completely focused on skin care products but many different cosmetics such as eyeliner, kajal, lip gloss, nail polish in Olay brand name are available in the market which are actually duplicate. According to Karki, average daily turnover from the sale of Olay products at Bhatbhateni is around Rs 7,000.



“Be it purchasing edible commodities or beauty products, customers today have become more conscious. After edible commodities, beauty products are the highest selling commodities at our store,” said Sachet Shakya of Bluebird Mart.

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