08.02.21
Japan
www.kose.co.jp
Sales: $2.6 billion
Key personnel
Kazutoshi Kobayashi, president and chief executive officer; Shinichi Mochizuki, senior executive officer and chief financial officer
Major products
Skin care, cosmetics and toiletries sold under several brand names in different sectors. High Prestige: Decorte, Jill Stuart, Sekkisei MYV, Infinity, Predia, Addiction, Paul Stuart, Awake, Tarte. Prestige: Sekkisei, One by Kosé, Shirosumi, Hadakiwami, Astablanc, Esprique, Carté Clinity, Crie, Phil Naturant, Formule, Maihada. Cosmetaries: Visée, Fasio, Elsia, Nature & Co, SportsBeauty, Nailholic, Stephen Knoll New York, Softymo, Je l’aime, Clear Turn, Suncut, Kokutousei, Grace One
New products
Cosme Decorté: AQ hair care, Albion: Excia Brightening line, Sekkisei Clear Wellness: Tint cream; Fasio (relaunch)

The Kosé cosmetic counter at CentralPlaza Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Comments: Corporate sales fell 14.7% last year, which the company blamed on COVID-19. Cosmetics sales fell 13.3% last year, while sales of “cosmetaries” dropped 18.7%. While Decorté sales were strong in China, Albion and Cosmeport sales were severely impacted by a decline in consumer spending in Japan. Lockdowns held down consumer spending last year, but Kosé noted that the overall market is slowly recovering. Specifically, in fiscal Q4, Decorté and Albion posted big gains in sales.
Outside Japan results were mixed. Rapid e-commerce growth in China lifted sales in Asia by more than 27%. However, sales in North America, Europe and other regions fell nearly 27%, but Kosé noted that there were signs of recovery in the US. Sales of Tarte rose 35%, excluding results in Ulta and Sephora.
This year, Kosé expects sales in China to grow 20%. Tarte is expanding its European and US sales networks, and will start international e-commerce activities in China. Elsewhere, Kosé predicts a 10% gain in South Korea, and mid-single-digit increases in Japan, Europe and the US.
www.kose.co.jp
Sales: $2.6 billion
Key personnel
Kazutoshi Kobayashi, president and chief executive officer; Shinichi Mochizuki, senior executive officer and chief financial officer
Major products
Skin care, cosmetics and toiletries sold under several brand names in different sectors. High Prestige: Decorte, Jill Stuart, Sekkisei MYV, Infinity, Predia, Addiction, Paul Stuart, Awake, Tarte. Prestige: Sekkisei, One by Kosé, Shirosumi, Hadakiwami, Astablanc, Esprique, Carté Clinity, Crie, Phil Naturant, Formule, Maihada. Cosmetaries: Visée, Fasio, Elsia, Nature & Co, SportsBeauty, Nailholic, Stephen Knoll New York, Softymo, Je l’aime, Clear Turn, Suncut, Kokutousei, Grace One
New products
Cosme Decorté: AQ hair care, Albion: Excia Brightening line, Sekkisei Clear Wellness: Tint cream; Fasio (relaunch)

The Kosé cosmetic counter at CentralPlaza Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Outside Japan results were mixed. Rapid e-commerce growth in China lifted sales in Asia by more than 27%. However, sales in North America, Europe and other regions fell nearly 27%, but Kosé noted that there were signs of recovery in the US. Sales of Tarte rose 35%, excluding results in Ulta and Sephora.
This year, Kosé expects sales in China to grow 20%. Tarte is expanding its European and US sales networks, and will start international e-commerce activities in China. Elsewhere, Kosé predicts a 10% gain in South Korea, and mid-single-digit increases in Japan, Europe and the US.