Birchbox Goes Brick-and-Mortar in NYC

By Nina Zipkin | Mar 24, 2014

Digital beauty subscription service Birchbox, which lets users test drive samples of high-end cosmetics for each month before settling on their favorite brands, will soon be able to connect with their customers IRL (in real life).

Co-founders and CEOs Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp The New York Times that they plan to open up a brick-and-mortar store later this spring in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.

The company has organized several in New York in the past, setting up shop in places like Chelsea Market and , a retail space that has a revolving door of exhibitions similar to a gallery.

Related: Google May Open a Retail Store in NYC

The 4,500-square-foot space will house 2,000 products from as many as 250 brands. Customers will also be able to assemble samples to build their own Birchbox — B.Y.O.B — for $15. The company’s online subscriber base, (800,000 and counting) have monthly boxes sent to their homes for $10.There will also be touch screens throughout the store so customers can have access to online reviews, and a floor dedicated to how-to beauty tutorials.

While Barna and Beauchamp do not expect the store to be a profit center in the near futureBeauchamp said to the Times, “we like the idea of building a store along with the business.”

Related: How Cherishing Mistakes, Being Clueless and Stress Fests Helped Birchbox’s Success

Digital beauty subscription service Birchbox, which lets users test drive samples of high-end cosmetics for each month before settling on their favorite brands, will soon be able to connect with their customers IRL (in real life).

Co-founders and CEOs Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp The New York Times that they plan to open up a brick-and-mortar store later this spring in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.

The company has organized several in New York in the past, setting up shop in places like Chelsea Market and , a retail space that has a revolving door of exhibitions similar to a gallery.

Related: Google May Open a Retail Store in NYC

The 4,500-square-foot space will house 2,000 products from as many as 250 brands. Customers will also be able to assemble samples to build their own Birchbox — B.Y.O.B — for $15. The company’s online subscriber base, (800,000 and counting) have monthly boxes sent to their homes for $10.There will also be touch screens throughout the store so customers can have access to online reviews, and a floor dedicated to how-to beauty tutorials.

While Barna and Beauchamp do not expect the store to be a profit center in the near futureBeauchamp said to the Times, “we like the idea of building a store along with the business.”

Related: How Cherishing Mistakes, Being Clueless and Stress Fests Helped Birchbox’s Success

Nina Zipkin • Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Âé¶¹Éç Staff
Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Âé¶¹Éç.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups,... Read more

Related Content