Ulta Beauty

Ulta Beauty is the largest beauty retailer in the United States. It offers a wide range of products, including cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, haircare, nail products, bath and body products, and beauty tools from both high-end and low-end brands. Ulta Beauty also offers its own private-label products.

Short history of Ulta

Ulta Beauty, formerly known as Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc., is a leading American beauty retailer headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Richard E. George, the former President of Osco Drug, Inc., and Terry Hanson co-founded Ulta Beauty in 1990. George left Osco in 1989 to develop a business plan for a retailer offering beauty products at various price levels.

Ulta began as “Ulta3” and started with five stores in the Chicago suburbs, with the first store opening at High Point Centre in Lombard, Illinois in early October 1990. The company changed its name to Ulta at the end of 1999 and has grown to operate over 1,385 stores across the U.S., with a significant presence in all 50 states, including locations within Target stores.

What is Ulta all about?

Ulta Beauty’s mission is centred around using the power of beauty to inspire and enable customers to reach their full potential.

The brand aims to deliver comprehensive beauty experiences across multiple product categories and customer segments, serving over 41 million loyalty program members.

The company strives to be the most loved beauty destination for customers and the most admired retailer by associates, communities, partners, and investors.

Ulta offers products catering to diverse beauty needs, with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability. Each Ulta store features a full-service salon offering hair, skin, and brow services. Ulta Beauty continues to innovate with digital technologies, enhancing customer experiences through virtual try-ons and personalized marketing.

The company is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility, supporting causes like mental health and well-being through the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation, which supports the holistic comfort of women and teens through partnerships with nonprofit organizations.

What do they have to offer?

Ulta offers a wide variety of beauty products, including high-end and low-end cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, haircare, and nail products.

They also feature their own brands alongside popular brands like MAC Cosmetics, Kylie Cosmetics, and ColourPop.

Lip products include lip balms, glosses, and lip oils from brands like Clinique, Buxom, and Fenty Beauty, and the Face Makeup collection offers a variety of foundations, blushes, and highlighters from top brands.

The Skin Care section features products for different skin types and concerns, including moisturizers, serums, and face masks.

A vast selection of shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and hair tools for various hair types are available in the Hair Care section, and Body Care includes bath and shower gels, body moisturizers, self-tanners, and exfoliating scrubs. Products for curly, straight, and wavy hair, as well as treatments for damaged hair are also available, as are products like body butters, mists, and loofahs for a comprehensive self-care routine.

Fragrances feature a variety of perfumes and colognes from popular brands, including discovery sets for sampling different scents, and the Nail Care section offers nail polishes, nail care tools, and nail art supplies. Conscious Beauty initiative helps guests identify clean, cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainably packaged brands, and the Wellness Shop focuses on self-care by offering supplements, home spa goods, and intimate wellness products.

Ulta regularly updates its inventory with new beauty products across all categories, ensuring customers can stay up-to-date with the latest trends and releases.

What is the user experience like?

Ulta Beauty’s website allows customers to browse and purchase products online, access exclusive deals, and manage their loyalty program benefits.

Ulta has a robust e-commerce platform and mobile app, offering features like virtual try-on tools and personalized product recommendations using AI and data analytics.

Ulta.com is designed to provide a seamless and intuitive shopping experience for customers. The website features a menu on the top left, represented by three stacked lines, which allows users to browse by category, brand, and more.

Users can search for products by name, keyword, SKU, or brand at the top of the screen. Once a product is selected, users can choose the shade, colour, or size and adjust the quantity before adding it to their bag.

The website and app offer virtual try-on features like GLAMlab, allowing users to see how products would look on them before purchasing.

Features like Foundation Shade Matcher and Skin Analysis help users find personalized beauty recommendations.

What are the prices like?

Ulta.com offers a wide range of beauty products at various price points. A variety of products, including kits and individual items from brands like NYX and Each & Every can be found under $25, the $25-$75 range includes a large selection of products, such as skincare sets and makeup kits, and $75-$100 range features items like the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Refreshing Tingle Liter Set. LUSH Best Of Bath Bombs Bath Bomb Duo is $18, Coco & Eve Ultimate Glow 2 Piece Kit is $41, ICONIC LONDON Multi-Use Sculpting Palette is $49, DIME Serum Set is $61, BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium XL Spring Curling Iron is $79.99, and OSEA Golden Glow Body Set is $90.

Ulta often offers sales and discounts on various products, including kits and individual items, so customers should check the site for the latest price updates.

What are their shipping options?

Ulta offers several shipping options to cater to different needs and preferences but doesn’t ship internationally.

Standard shipping costs $6.95 and typically takes 3 to 8 business days for delivery. It covers the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. Expedited shipping is priced at $12.95 and takes 3 to 4 business days, Premium shipping costs $19.95 and takes 2 to 3 business days, but there are also free shipping options in some periods and for some members. For those, you must check directly at the site. Customers can track their orders using their email and order number on Ulta’s website.

Conclusion!

Ulta Beauty is known for offering a wide range of beauty products and services, including high-end and drug store cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, and its own branded products.

Ulta.com is designed to be user-friendly, offering a variety of tools, features and a broad selection of beauty products to enhance the shopping experience.

The brand is strong, they have many positive sides, and they are already aiming to provide better experiences that encourage customer loyalty beyond immediate purchases.