Australian hair and beauty retailer, Oz Hair and Beauty has announced it will open 10 new stores across the country this year, in a multi-million-dollar investment.
The news aligns with a significant shift in e-commerce trends, as shoppers allocate spending across both online and physical stores.
Recent reports have indicated that retailers with integrated online and physical stores, known as 'bricks and clicks' retailers, have outperformed marketplaces and pure e-commerce stores, and experienced a 7 per cent increase in online sales when comparing to 2019 (report here).
Oz Hair and Beauty was founded in 2012 by Anthony Nappa, whose parents have owned and operated hairdressing salons in Sydney for years, including their flagship OZ Hair salon in Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building since 1986.
By 2019, Oz Hair and Beauty was turning over $2 million a month, and doubled its revenue to $40 million by 2021. In the same year, a consortium of investors, including Edison Growth Fund Accent Group, the CEO of Accent Group, Daniel Agostinelli, and billionaire businessman Brett Blundy bought a stake in the business for an undisclosed amount.
Today, the business has six physical stores and salons, and employees more than 120 people.
Oz Hair and Beauty will expand its stores to 15 by the end of the year, increasing its employee count to 165.
It’s latest store opening, this month, is in Macquarie Centre shopping centre in Sydney’s Macquarie Park. Three additional stores are earmarked for Sydney, including Rouse Hill, and one each for Canberra Centra, Green Hill in NSW’s Maitland, and prime locations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
While the rising costs of running an online store has shifted the company’s focus to physical stores, Anthony says the expansion is about more than just the bottom dollar: it is helping Oz Hair and Beauty give customers the personalised experience they crave.
"In the hair sector, particularly, our customers consistently seek advice, tips and support from specialist sales staff who help them find the best products, as they are qualified hair and beauty specialists," he said.
"So, we’re taking that feedback and not just expanding across Sydney, but in other cities where we have a large and loyal customer base,"
"With hair products making up most of our sales, we strive to ramp up the personalised and expert-led experience our customers love," said Anthony.
Accent Group CEO Daniel Agostinelli added that Oz Hair and Beauty has grown and pivoted in tune with changing retail trends and that has helped it emerge as one of Australia’s leading hair and beauty retailers.
"Its physical move into customer strongholds across the country showcases a savvy and customer-centric approach," he said.
"I believe the next two years will be exciting as it takes its omnichannel retail model to the next level."
