Colorlab launches first U.S. retail outlets in Chicago

February 8th, 2008 at 03:20am Deborah Austin

Rockford-based Colorlab Custom Cosmetics is holding the official launch of its first U.S. retail stores — in Chicago — on Feb. 12.  This includes its flagship store at 857  W. Armitage, as well as the cosmetics counter at Macy’s at 111 N. State St.  The company also has a cosmetics counter at Macy’s in San Francisco at Union Square.

The U.S. retail locations opened in December 2007, but this month marks the official launch event, said Justine Markese, senior brand manager for Colorlab.

The company, founded in 1996 by Mary  Swaab, launched retail cosmetics counters in Paris in 2005, and in London in 2006.

Colorlab cosmetics are customized at the counter for each individual customer, by hue and formulation, like a cosmetics lab at the counter.  Because they’re customized on-site with the customer, they’re not available online but only by purchasing them in person, said Markese.

Before the Chicago and San Francisco stores, the only other way people could get the cosmetics in the U.S. was by appointment at the company’s headquarters in Rockford at 1112 5th Ave.  They still can do that by calling 815-965-2001 to to make an appointment.

While the company has plans to roll out retail locations in other markets as well, “we were very happy we got to start in our own backyard in Chicago,” said Markese. “It was important to start (the U.S. retail enterprise) in Chicago, because it was close, and we could hold its hand.”

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