Publications

29 Apr 2015
Blog Post

2+2: Challenging Conceptions of Business

seven semesters and pursue my core passion to improve cosmetic safety. Where did you work before coming to HBS?I spent the two years before HBS working for S.W. Basics, a truly all-natural skincare company based in Brooklyn that... View Details

16 Jun 2003
Research & Ideas

Peeling Back the Global Brand

served no purpose at all beyond cosmetic appeal. Yet, silly as it seemed, the effect was real in terms of consumer preferences, he said. We talked about brand more and more as a hierarchy of persuasive elements.— Hans-Willi Schroiff... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace; Consumer Products; Retail

13 Sep 2012
Working Paper Summaries

Entrepreneurship in the Natural Food and Beauty Categories Before 2000: Global Visions and Local Expressions

Keywords: by Geoffrey Jones; Beauty & Cosmetics; Beauty & Cosmetics

January 2025
Case

Olive Young: Formulating Beauty Innovation

By: Rebecca Karp and Shu Lin

Sun-jung Lee, CEO of Olive Young, South Korea's largest beauty and health retailer, saw significant potential in the U.S. market and considered three pathways: replicating Korea's omnichannel model, adopting a digital-native approach with curated products, or relying... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Market Entry and Exit; Business Strategy; Distribution Channels; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; South Korea; East Asia; United States

August 2002
Teaching Note

Sa Sa Cosmetics, TN

By: David E. Bell

Teaching Note for (9-502-085). View Details

Keywords: Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

February 2021 (Revised July 2022)
Case

Sarah Breedlove: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Max Saffer

This case describes the rise of Sarah Breedlove, who later called herself Madam C.J. Walker, from the cotton fields of Louisiana to the head of a successful, nationwide beauty company providing opportunity and hair care products to Black women. The case describes how... View Details

Keywords: Brands; African-american Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Values and Beliefs; Personal Characteristics; Success; Work-Life Balance; Business Startups; Brands and Branding; Marketing; Personal Development and Career; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; United States

Other Article

#HerImpact: Leading the Innovation Lifecycle

By: Lynda M. Applegate

This blog post describes how entrepreneurs can scale their leadership and organization as they scale their business. View Details

Keywords: Innovation ＆ Entrepreneurship; Life-cycle; Innovation and Management; Entrepreneurship; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; United States

Read Now

December 2011
Case

Roger Caracappa: Package Deals for the Estée Lauder Companies

By: James K. Sebenius

Roger Caracappa must negotiate a cost-saving, innovative proposal from a potential French supplier that could displace the otherwise satisfactory, long-time incumbent supplier. Shortly after being promoted to executive vice president of the Estée Lauder Companies with... View Details

Keywords: Operations; Supply Chain Management; Change; Innovation and Invention; Cost vs Benefits; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

September 2011
Module Note

Orientation to Leadership Intelligence Days, 2011

By: Joshua D. Margolis and Anthony J. Mayo

Julie Bornstein, senior vice president of Sephora Direct, is seeking to double her budget for social media and other digital marketing initiatives for 2011. A number of digital efforts implemented in the past two years seem to be bearing fruit and there is a desire to... View Details

Keywords: Budgets and Budgeting; Borrowing and Debt; Investment Return; Resource Allocation; Marketing Communications; Marketing Strategy; Consumer Behavior; Online Technology; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

April 2011
Teaching Note

Leasing Decision at Magnet Beauty Products, Inc. (TN)

By: Krishna G. Palepu and George Serafeim

Teaching Note for 111039. View Details

Keywords: Leasing; Financial Statements; Accounting; Standards; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

March 2011 (Revised February 2012)
Supplement

Cosmeticos de Espana, S.A. (E)

By: David F. Hawkins

Spanish parent company must decide on the Euro/BsF exchange rate to translate its Venezuelan subsidiary's financial statements into Euros. View Details

Keywords: Financial Statements; Business Subsidiaries; Decision Choices and Conditions; Currency Exchange Rate; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Spain; Venezuela

August 2010 (Revised November 2010)
Supplement

Cosmeticos de Espana, S.A. (C)

By: David F. Hawkins

The third case in the Cosmeticos de Espana case series. What should management's accounting response be to a further devaluation of the Bolivar? View Details

Keywords: Financial Statements; Decision Choices and Conditions; Inflation and Deflation; Currency Exchange Rate; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Spain; Venezuela