Fashion brands drive prestige nail market

Fashion brands are driving the thriving prestige nail polish market in the UK, according to global information provider the NPD Group. 

Sales of prestige nails polishes were up 1.4% between 2012 and 2013, with 767,044 polishes sold last year – to a value of £10.1 million (US$16.9m). 

The seasonal nail collections released by fashion brands are, the NPD Group states, instrumental in setting the trends for the prestige nail market. 

June Jensen, Director for The NPD Group Beauty UK, said: “These colours dictate the colour themes for the season and influence the trends for the mass market.

Prestige nail brands have raised the bar for trend-led high-fashion nail polish in the last five years. Brands consistently launch innovative colour collections that drive demand across the UK.”

Previous years saw an even stronger growth for the prestige nail polish sector, with the segment increasing by 17.3% between 2011 and 2012. Nail polishes constitute 1.9% of the overall prestige makeup market in the UK. 

Overall nail polish unit sales in the UK increased by 14% in 2012 and by 5.4% in 2013, demonstrating the segment’s resilience in the though economic climate of the recession. 

Among the best selling brands in the nail sector in 2013 were Chanel, Estée Lauder, Nails Inc and OPI.