Susan Anderson's questions to Ulta Beauty (ULTA) leadership • Q2 2025
Question
Susan Anderson inquired about the rationale for acquiring retailer Space NK for international expansion instead of opening Ulta-branded stores, and asked for details on the differences between the two retail concepts.
Answer
President and CEO Kecia Steelman explained the acquisition was a unique, less capital-intensive strategy to enter the UK market with an established player. She described Space NK as a standalone, prestige-focused retailer with smaller, high-street stores and a high-touch service model, which offers valuable learnings for the core US business.