NEW YORK — A new beauty care concept is being tested by Rite Aid Corp. at some of the drug chain’s "wellness store" locations.
 |
At the Rite Aid on Hudson Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, fashion magazine-style photo signage is prominent throughout the beauty section. |
Called Beauty Vision, the concept brings an enhanced presentation, broader product mix and more upscale offerings to the beauty department, as well as a new service associate called the Beauty Adviser.
Rite Aid declined to disclose how many stores had the Beauty Vision concept but said the program is being piloted in more than one market.
"In select Rite Aid stores, we’re offering a greater selection of beauty products, featuring premium brands like Senna Cosmetics, Alison Raffaele Cosmetics and Eddie Funkhouser," said Judy Wray, category manager for cosmetics and fragrance at Rite Aid.
"With our core customer being the female, we felt an expansion and an enhancement of our beauty department made sense," she explained. "We believe our customers will enjoy learning about and trying new products. Additionally, we believe an enhanced customer experience adds to our customers well-being."
 |
Beauty Vision builds on some of the beauty care enhancements brought by the wellness store format. |
Beauty Vision builds on Rite Aid’s wellness format. Introduced in 2011, the wellness stores feature an enhanced layout and presentation, a wider selection of wellness products and resources, expanded clinical pharmacy services and personalized customer product guidance from "wellness ambassadors."
As part of the wellness remodels, Rite Aid also has been sharpening the look and feel of the beauty department. The second version of the wellness store, unveiled in October 2012, ushered in the Nail Bar, a freestanding nail care display that showcases top brands and the latest polish colors.
Beauty Vision incorporates some of those enhancements, according to Wray. "You’ll see the illuminated displays and an enhanced version of our Nail Bar. We’ve also added special, eye-catching illuminated beauty graphics that add light and visual interest to the department."
And while the wellness ambassador focuses on customers’ health, , bridging the front end and pharmacy, the Beauty Adviser assists customers with their beauty needs.
 |
Along with more premium brands, Beauty Vision features the Beauty Adviser, who’s on hand to assist shoppers with their beauty needs. |
"Beauty Advisers are specially trained Rite Aid associates that can help shoppers learn about the new brands as well as others across the department," Wray said. "They can also demonstrate how to use products and educate customers on beauty-related topics like color-matching and current trends."
One of the Beauty Vision stores, on Hudson Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, has the beauty area located near the entrance just past checkout, where it’s immediately visible to shoppers. Most prominent are the tall, circular Nail Bar with colorful graphics; an illuminated cosmetics display highlighting such brands as Senna, Eddie Funkhouser, POP Beauty and Girlactik Beauty; and fashion magazine-style photo signage throughout the department, including on endcap displays.
"The product mix is unique to each store but will offer premium brands, as well as the tried-and-true brands available in all Rite Aid stores," Wray said.
