Publications

January 1989 (Revised February 1989)
Case

Bella Beauty Products, Inc. (G)

By: Benson P. Shapiro

Keywords: Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

Find at Harvard

October 1988 (Revised February 1990)
Case

Bella Beauty Products, Inc. (F)

By: Benson P. Shapiro

Keywords: Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

Find at Harvard

01 Oct 2001
News

HBS Alumnae Chart Career Choices and Transitions

discussion, Hart presented principles of entrepreneurship, and Nancy Koehn shared insights from her research on the life of cosmetics entrepreneur Estée Lauder. Hart noted that the positive response to the seminar suggested the... View Details

Keywords: Laura Singleton; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services; Professional Services

25 Mar 2014
First Look

First Look: March 25

describes the efforts of Beiersdorf, a worldwide leader in the cosmetics and skin care industries, to generate and commercialize new R&D through open innovation using external crowds and "netnographic" analysis. Beiersdorf,... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

September 2010 (Revised September 2011)
Case

Leasing Decision at Magnet Beauty Products, Inc.

By: Krishna G. Palepu and George Serafeim

A fast-growing retailer is facing two different leasing options for its stores. In choosing between the two options, management is considering the potential impact of the two options on the company's financial statements, in light of the proposed new accounting... View Details

Keywords: Financial Statements; Decision Choices and Conditions; Growth and Development Strategy; Standards; Leasing; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

January 1997
Exercise

Negotiating Corporate Change: Confidential Information, Paul Stokes, VP, Health and Beauty Aids Division

By: James K. Sebenius

This case provides the confidential role information necessary for one person in a four-person negotiation simulation about a major corporate change. Specifically, it describes the role of Paul Stokes as he attempts to negotiate a new uniform corporate information... View Details

Keywords: Business Units; Transformation; Information Management; Negotiation Deal; System; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

2018
Working Paper

Sustainability and Green Business in Latin America During Globalization Waves

By: Geoffrey Jones

This working paper examines the impact of modern business enterprise on the natural environment of Latin America during the globalization waves between the 19th century and the present day. It argues that although global capitalism created much wealth for the region,... View Details

Keywords: Globalization; Natural Environment; Outcome or Result; Business History; Pollutants; Environmental Sustainability; Green Technology Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Tourism Industry; Latin America

SSRN

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May 2025
Teaching Note

Boutiqaat: Influencing Retail in MENA

By: Juan Alcacer and Noor Al Qadhi

Boutiqaat, a Kuwait-based e-commerce platform, scaled an influencer-driven beauty retail model across MENA and now faces critical strategic choices about offline expansion and globalization. Founded in 2015, Boutiqaat combined social commerce, localized logistics, and... View Details

Keywords: Emerging Markets; Digital Strategy; Growth and Development; Expansion; Global Strategy; Distribution Channels; Business Model; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Kuwait; Saudi Arabia; Middle East; North Africa

February 2006
Case

Bumble and bumble: Building a Successful Business in Beauty and Fashion

By: Nancy F. Koehn and Erica Helms

Explores the creation and subsequent rise of Bumble and bumble, a trend-setting hair-care company. Analyzes the vision and achievements of the founding entrepreneur, Michael Gordon, and charts the evolution of the company within the $230 billion global beauty industry.... View Details

Keywords: Corporate Entrepreneurship; Brands and Branding; Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Strategy; Financial Condition; Business Growth and Maturation; Success; Distribution; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

June 1995
Supplement

Dow Corning and the Breast Implant Controversy (B)

By: Willis M. Emmons III, Monica Brand and Greg Keller

Provides an update to the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

04 May 2009
Research & Ideas

What’s Next for the Big Financial Brands

(Editor's note: Harvard Business School professor John Quelch writes a blog on marketing issues, called Marketing Know: How, for Harvard Business. It is reprinted on HBS Working Knowledge.) Recent news coverage of the cosmetic name change... View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch; Banking; Financial Services

04 Sep 2001
Lessons from the Classroom

Getting Back on Course

executive at Nickelodeon, the children's TV channel, who successfully managed her career while coping with a high-risk pregnancy. The other was Estée Lauder, founder of the cosmetics empire that bears her name. While the traditional HBS... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

02 Aug 2006
Research & Ideas

Investor Protection: The Czech Experience

drama behind the scenes, however, ultimately eclipsed the programming at TV Nova. Despite the eventual 99-percent stake held in the channel by Central European Media Enterprises (CME), the holding company of Ronald Lauder (one of the heirs to the Estée Lauder View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace; Media & Broadcasting; Entertainment & Recreation

24 Oct 2012
Research & Ideas

Want People to Save More? Send a Text

experience planted a seed for Pomeranz's future research: how to promote financial savings among "microentrepreneurs" such as food cart owners, street vendors, and cosmetics saleswomen, whose income is low and often fluctuates.... View Details

Keywords: by Kim Girard

June 2020
Teaching Note

Shiseido Acquires Drunk Elephant

By: Jill Avery

On October 7, 2019, the Shiseido Group announced that it would acquire clean skincare brand Drunk Elephant for $845 million, a valuation of 8.5 times sales. Did Shiseido pay too much or too little for this brand asset? How much was the Drunk Elephant brand worth and... View Details

May 2020
Teaching Note

Shiseido: Reinvesting in Brand

By: Jill Avery

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 519-026. Shiseido was in the midst of a six year corporate turnaround, trying to reverse the effects of decades of under-investment in R&D and marketing that had led to a vicious cycle of declining customer support and brand value. Would... View Details

Keywords: Brand Management; Marketing ROI; Brand Portfolio Strategy; Growth Strategy; Marketing; Marketing Strategy; Brands and Branding; Growth and Development Strategy; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Japan; Asia

May 1981 (Revised December 1992)
Case

Chesebrough-Pond's, Inc.: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

By: John A. Quelch

The product manager for Vaseline Petroleum Jelly has to prepare the 1978 brand budget and determine expenditure levels for advertising, trade promotion, and consumer promotion. View Details

Keywords: Advertising; Budgets and Budgeting; Product Marketing; Brands and Branding; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

September 1990 (Revised June 1994)
Supplement

Procter & Gamble Japan (D)

By: Michael Y. Yoshino

1990 update of the P&G Japanese business. View Details

Keywords: Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Japan

September 1990 (Revised November 1991)
Supplement

Procter & Gamble Japan (C)

By: Michael Y. Yoshino

Updates the (A) case. The issues facing P&G were two-fold. 1) General manager, Japan--how to keep both the business and organization growing; 2) President, international--what role should the Japanese operation play in the P&G worldwide business? View Details

Keywords: Business Offices; Business Growth and Maturation; Globalization; Growth and Development Strategy; Organizations; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Japan