With new beauty launches surfacing every day, it is easy for quality products and start-ups to fall under the radar. Sometimes businesses, whether independent or corporate level, need a helping hand to get their creations successfully shared with their target audience. To help with this process, Douglas, the European e-commerce platform for beauty and health, has launched its fourth annual Beauty Futures innovation pitch competition after a successful past few years. With its combined perfumery, decorative cosmetics, and skin and hair care sales totalling 3.1 billion euros in 2020/2021 alone, Douglas is no stranger to what true innovation means, with solid knowledge of how to get there. The company aims to inspire customers to live their own beauty in life by offering what they call “a previously unparalleled assortment of beauty products.” Therefore, they are on the hunt once again for revolutionary products.
This year, entrants can submit for three new categories: Beauty & Health Product Innovation, Beauty & Health Digital Solution, and Sustainability Innovation. The Beauty & Health Product Innovation category will focus on new and innovative products and applications that have the ability to strongly complement the sales already being racked up by Douglas. Examples for this category include skincare, makeup, fragrance, haircare, nutritional supplements, and health. The Beauty & Health Digital Solution category primarily targets apps and other digital platforms based on the continuously evolving idea of augmented reality and artificial intelligence that could be used as solutions to enhance the consumer experience with Douglas. The final category, Sustainability Innovation, has been created to honor a start-up that looks toward futuristic ideas and solutions for sustainability within the beauty supply chain. This category also expands to entries regarding ingredients, packaging, and delivery of products.
“Our startup competition Beauty Futures is now a permanent member of the Douglas family and has been a complete success—I can’t wait to set off on our next search for trend-setting ideas,” says Tina Müller, CEO of the Douglas Group. “We want to give a boost to innovations and new developments and be a driving force behind the evolution of the beauty and the health market of the future. Promoting vibrant entrepreneurs is one of my personal passions.”
Müller will be part of the highly respected jury members, who will judge the competition entrants alongside other members of the Douglas management team, as well as leading external experts such as Lea-Sophie Cramer, entrepreneur and angel investor; Philipp Westermeyer, founder of OMR; ESG expert and founder Sara Nuru; and entrepreneur, investor, and author Tijen Onaran. Douglas will be represented on the jury by Tina Müller along with Isabell Hendrichs, Chief Assortment and Purchasing Officer of the Douglas Group; Susanne Cornelius, CEO of Douglas Brands; and Caroline Schmitt, CMO of the Douglas Group.
“Promoting innovative ideas—especially when it is done by established companies like Douglas—creates a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs,” says Cramer. “This is why I am so excited about being part of the jury once again this year.”
Winners of the competition will have the opportunity to join the Douglas product assortment, offered to their 50 million customers in physical stores and online shops, with the opportunity for further collaboration of stocking products. Finalists will also have the chance to compete for an extensive branding package offered by the agency Jung von Matt Start as part of their prize.
“When you start a business on your own, you face the challenging job of attracting the attention of a broad audience and bringing on board major investors,” Westermeyer says. “The Douglas competition Beauty Futures serves as a perfect platform, showcases ideas and provides the momentum that innovations need to keep moving forward.”
Business founders and start-ups can enter the competition until September 19. Finals will be held on November 8 at the Douglas headquarters in Düsseldorf.
