Spray Patterns AVA CARIDAD
Editorial Director
Beauty care retailer The L’OCCITANE Group opened a new
L’OCCITANE en Provence concept store on New York City’s iconic Fifth
Avenue. The 1,870 square foot store is an immersive destination that aims
to communicate the brand’s signature pillars through a range of interactive
customer touch points. Designed by L’OCCITANE’s International
Artistic Director Daniel Contorni and Paul Blackburn, VP Concept Design,
Construction & Merchandising, 555 Fifth Avenue, hopes to be an evolutive
space continuously changing to highlight seasonal campaigns. The store
includes a “rain-shower” sink, an interactive skin care consultation area,
a curved communal bench beneath a Mediterranean olive tree and an
enhanced fulfillment services counter or “comptoir.”
54 Spray October 2018
Online shopping is nearly universal in Germany, according to new research
from market research firm Mintel. Ninety-two percent of German internet users
have made an online purchase in the past 12 months. What’s more, almost all
demographics have made the shift to buying online, as even 89% of internet
users over the age of 65 have shopped online in the past year.
In Germany, online pureplays (companies that invest resources
in only one line of business) dominate as 96% of online shoppers
in the country purchased from a retailer without a store
network in the past year.
Free postal returns appear to be the most important factor
for German online shoppers, as 52% rate this as “extremely
important,” more than any other feature. While Germans of
all ages seem to appreciate free returns, other factors of the
online shopping experience see more of a generational divide. Younger online
shoppers are more concerned about flexibility of delivery options, with express
delivery being described as “extremely important” by 20% of 16–24-year-olds,
significantly more than the national average of 11%. Younger consumers also
value a wide range of collection points, more so than their older counterparts.
An easy-to-use mobile website is even more important to young consumers, as
49% of those aged 16–24 rate this as extremely important, compared to 30% of
consumers overall.
Kao Corp. recently announced its 2020 FSC certified procurement
declaration at the Post 2020 Procurement of Sustainable
Forest Resources Press Conference, sponsored by Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC) Japan. The announcement promised that the
company would procure FSC certified materials as part of its efforts
to procure sustainable forest resources in collaboration with six other
Japanese companies. Kao said it is committed to changing the paper
and pulp used in its consumer products, packaging and office paper to
recycled or sustainably sourced versions by 2020. In March 2016,
Kao introduced the use of Japan’s first corrugated boxes
certified by FSC3. By the end of 2017, 80% of the
corrugated boxes Kao used globally were changed
to FSC-certified paper.
Another group of 10 start-ups and chemical researchers
will see their ideas move a step closer to commercialization
after being named winners of the 2018 edition
of AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals’ Imagine
Chemistry Challenge. Imagine Chemistry was
launched to help solve real-life chemistry-related challenges
and uncover sustainable business opportunities.
The 2018 edition generated no less than 150 innovative
ideas from startups, scale-ups, scientists and others.
Four overall winners received joint development
awards with AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals to help
bring their ideas to market. In addition, further groups
were awarded prizes including expert advice and support
at AkzoNobel’s S/park open innovation center in
Deventer, The Netherlands.
Bioré UV Perfect Spray
from Kao with
cardboard base
Croda International Plc recently won the Low Carbon Award at the
Chemical Industry Awards, held this year in Newcastle, UK. It received this
award for its carbon emission intensity reduction target, which is underpinned
by its continuing investment to increase energy efficiency. Projects include solar
panel installations at three of its global locations, onsite bio-gas generation in
The Netherlands, a wind turbine at its Hull, UK site (pictured) and heat and
power from landfill gas in North America. Spray