Birchbox Hits Europe: U.S. Discovery Commerce Market Leader Acquires Joliebox to Expand Internationally

LONDON and NEW YORK, September 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Birchbox, the U.S.-based discovery commerce company changing the way people shop for beauty, grooming and lifestyle products, announced today its acquisition of Paris-based JolieBox. The acquisition expands the company's footprint, distribution and partnerships and establishes Birchbox as a global lifestyle brand.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120913/562434 )

"The delight of discovery extends across any border and to any culture," said Katia Beauchamp, Co-founder of Birchbox. "JolieBox, with their like-minded team and brand ethos, is the absolute perfect partner to build relationships with new customers and brand partners internationally while simultaneously improving distribution as we scale."

Birchbox's robust retail platform, which started with personalized monthly beauty sample subscription boxes, also features a handpicked online shop and expert editorial content. The acquisition of JolieBox and its business units in France, Spain and the UK now extends Birchbox's current brand partners to more than 400 internationally.

"Birchbox's approach to retail starts with the box, but goes much deeper. The magic is in each element working together, from custom editorial content to data-driven personalization and a tightly curated online store," said Quentin Vacher, CEO of JolieBox. "We recognized the opportunity to provide JolieBox customers with an even better service that changes how they shop, and ultimately the way brands interact with European consumers."

Birchbox's trademark "try, learn, buy" approach to retail has proven successful for more than just beauty retail. The company debuted a new men's vertical, featuring grooming and lifestyle products, earlier this year.

About Birchbox

Initialised at Harvard Business School and launched in 2010, by Co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp, Birchbox is the leading discovery commerce platform redefining the retail process by offering consumers a unique and personalized way to discover, sample, shop and learn about the best beauty and lifestyle products, and brands available.

With a monthly subscriber base of more than 100,000 in the US, Birchbox members have first-touch experiences with products each month and exclusive access to expert educational editorial content to help them get the most from their products.  Additionally customers are able to buy goods through the company's commerce platform with over 200 top brands such as Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Laura Mercier, Kiehl's, Benefit, Stila, Caudalie, Payot, L'Occitane, Bourjois, and L'Oreal now Birchbox partners.

In 2012, Birchbox acquired Paris-based JolieBox gaining business units in France, Spain and the UK in addition to the USA, taking the company global to become the international market leader in discovery commerce.

In April 2012 the group widened their outreach in the US, through the launch of Birchbox Man.

To learn more about Birchbox, visit http://www.birchbox.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter and YouTube as well as our blog.

About JolieBox

JolieBox is the leading player of the discovery commerce in Europe. JolieBox was founded in June 2011 in Paris by Quentin Vacher and Mathilde Lacombe who wanted to offer a new experience to beauty consumers by helping them discover products from the best brands before they buy it.  After raising their its first round with Alven Capital, a leading Venture Capitalist in Europe, JolieBox quickly expanded to the United Kingdom and Spain to offer the beauty discovery service to most consumers in Europe.  JolieBox is today collaborating with over 200 French and international cosmetic brands such as Lancôme,  Yves Saint Laurent, Laura Mercier,  Caudalie,  Payot,  L'Occitane,  Bourjois,  L'Oreal.

http://www.joliebox.com , http://www.joliebox.co.uk, http://www.joliebox.es

For more information please contact:
Mary Proto  |  DDA PR for Birchbox
+44-207-932-9800
birchbox@ddapr.com

SOURCE Birchbox