Sephora UK managing director Sarah Boyd has said that the UK high street “is far from dead” as the beauty retailer continues its store opening expansion.
Speaking at LIVE: Retail Week x The Grocer 2026, Boyd explained that the group’s return to the UK market three years ago was met with a lot of concern from other retailers who thought it wouldn’t work.
She recalled some saying: “You’ll never make it work, it’s so hard, rents are so high, rates are a disaster, nobody’s got any money,” but Boyd said she saw something different.
“The UK high street is far from dead. I think it’s incredibly vibrant,” she said.
“There’s some retailers in the UK that are doing incredible things and deserve a standing ovation. What I would say is that boring retail is in the death throes.
“Coming out of covid, people expected and wanted a physical experience and with the data we have available, we should be able to create this experience which is absolutely critical.”
She doubled down on her belief that the UK is a great market to be in, but acknowledged that it is expensive and hard work.
“If someone from the government was here, I would complain to them about business rates, but at the same time we are dealt the cards we have and so far we’re really happy with the progress of the business in the UK.”
Sephora has now signed off more stores for the year, including Bristol and two in London due to open later this year, with one being a new boutique format. It opened its first Northern Ireland store in Belfast two weeks ago.
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