WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has begun deploying special nail care kiosks, called Nail HQ, in more than 2,000 stores.
The drug chain said Thursday that the nail cosmetics stations showcase the hottest nail trends and product innovation, providing convenient access to nail care advances, including drug store firsts such as at-home gel kits and on-trend shades from former salon-exclusive essie.
CVS noted that Nail HQ will premiere a former salon-exclusive — gel nail technology — with new products from SensatioNail and Sally Hansen. The kiosks will also feature an array of new shade options and enable shoppers to view polish shades via nail color strip displays.
Nuance Salma Hayek, a CVS-exclusive beauty care brand developed with actress Salma Hayek, also will be introducing the 32-SKU Nail Lacquer collection at Nail HQ, and leading nail brand essie will debut its newest collections at Nail HQ each month.
CVS reported that nail care sales have risen 40% since 2011 and grown by double-digits annually since 2008.
"With nail care sales booming, it’s clear that customers are looking to CVS/pharmacy to find the latest innovation that the category has to offer," according to Cheryl Mahoney, vice president of beauty for CVS/pharmacy. "With the launch of the CVS/pharmacy Nail HQ, we are able to feature a wide variety of the best new nail trends and technologies that she can experience in our stores and then apply for herself at home — all with the added convenience of shopping at her local CVS/pharmacy."
Earlier this fall, Mahoney reported that fast-growing beauty segments such as nail care stand to get more play in CVS stores. "In 2013, we will be expanding the space in our top beauty stores for cosmetics, which is exciting. We’re seeing an opportunity to capitalize on the biggest trends within cosmetics by dedicating more space to them, like the nail category and eyelashes," she said in an e-mail interview.
CVS said Wednesday that in addition to Nail HQ, it will continue to stock its shelves with trend-setting nail launches and will be providing exclusive CVS Beauty Club nail content on Facebook and Twitter, including inspirational nail art all during the month.
"We are thrilled to partner with CVS/pharmacy on this amazing collaboration," commented Essie Weingarten, founder and global director of essie. "It’s very exciting to see the nail category take its well-deserved center stage across the country."
