The history of SEPHORA.

"To build the most knowledgeable and professional team of product consultants in the beauty industry, Sephora developed 'Science of Sephora."

Sephora was founded in France by Dominique Mandonnaud in 1969. Sephora was orginally called Shop 8, but Dominique Mandonnaud re-named Shop 8. In 1993 Mandonnaud merged the Biblical name, Zipporah (Moses' wife), with the ancient Greek word "Sephos" which means pretty. Sephora stores specialize in selling cosmetic and beauty care products. Sephora was founded in 1969. That one store later expanded to about 750 stores and 21 different countries. In 1996 Sephoras' perfume outlet was opened in Paris. That outlet is the biggest perfume outlet in the world. In 1997 Sephora was acquired by LVMH a well established conglomerate based in Paris. Though Sephoras' perfume store was opened in 1996, the first official Sephora store was opened in New York in 1997. The marketing branches of this store were also located in New York City.

A LOOK IN TIME:

• 1969: Dominique Mandonnaud founded Shop 8
• 1993: Dominique Mandonnaud re-named Shop 8 to "Sephora"
• 1996: Sephora opened the biggest perfumery in the world. In Paris, on Champs-Elyseès
• 1997: Sephora, was included by LVMH group and it included Marie-Jeanne Godard sign.
• 1998: Sephora inaugurated the international business development plan in New York, in Soho
• 1999: Sephora landed on Internet and began selling on-line on the site www.Sephora.com, available in the USA.
• 2000: Sephora received the prestigous Retailing Innovator of the Year award.
• 2009: Sephora’s success keeps on spreading all over the world, with 560 stores in Europe, 226 of which located in France, 216 in North America, 110 in Italy. Sephora is the most innovative beauty chain in the world.