Virgin ready for cosmetic launch

Virgin has brought in Ros Simmons as marketing director for its

soon-to-be-launched cosmetics business, in preparation for its major

assault on the UK retail market.

Simmons was previously brand manager for Colourings, the cosmetics

division of The Body Shop, where she had global responsibility for the

brand’s relaunch in 1992.

While at The Body Shop, she worked with Liz Warom, who was has been

brought in by Virgin to help develop the venture with husband Mark

Warom. They are both joint managing directors of the new business.

Virgin has ambitious plans for the business and intends to open 100

stores over the next five years. It has taken on property developer

Weatherall Green & Smith to find appropriate sites around the UK.

The company is going to aim its products primarily at women, who are

brand aware but do not restrict themselves to purely branded

products.

The UK retail market for cosmetics and toiletries was worth about pounds

4.1bn in 1995.

This article was first published on Marketing