Fashion

How Do We Love Thee, Ulta? Let Us Count The Ways

by Tyler Atwood

Whereas other beauty companies offer salon services or essential beauty products, 25-year-old ULTA Beauty is a one-stop shop for cosmetic loot. Whether you're craving fresh, face-framing highlights or a bottle of bubble bath and a new lipgloss, ULTA covers each and every one of your beauty bases. Aside from a frankly brilliant business model, ULTA offers consumers a plethora of experience-enhancing features that making shopping for beauty — and receiving in-house services — a truly zen-like experience. Where else can consumers find two-for-one deals on the most coveted beauty products, or decide after an hour of browsing through the store that their brows need aesthetic attention, and schedule a consult with the on-site grooming expert? On the eve of its twenty-fifth birthday, Ulta deserves significant recognition for its contributions to the beauty industry.

According to ULTA CEO Mary Dillon, the company has only just grazed the surface of all it has to accomplish. "What we are all about is creating a differentiated environment, understanding the guest, where she shops and what she wants. We are always going to have competition, but nobody does what we do on the scale we do it. We’ve got all these categories, price points and services. It’s the notion of all things beauty in one place," Dillon explained to Women's Wear Daily. It seems the future of ULTA will be replete with even more consumer-focused endeavors designed to elevate the shopping experience. For now, however, here are seven reasons to adore ULTA.

1. The Beauty Consultations Are Beyond Helpful

Unlike those offered in department stores, ULTA's beauty consults are consumer-driven and aim to leave shoppers feeling at ease instead of demeaned.

2. The Beauty Deals Are Unparalleled

ULTA's offerings are aces in terms of price regardless of your financial limitations. In addition, the store's sales allow consumers to snap up items that might be out of their price range as part of affordable package deals.

3. Its Makeup Tutorials Are Actually Doable — And Produce Beautiful Results

If you prefer simple, streamlined cosmetics tutorials to complex regimens designed for makeup maestros only, ULTA's video seminars are unsurpassed in serviceability.

4. ULTAmate Rewards Points Are Beauty Gold

It stands to reason that if frozen yogurt and latte stamp cards allow loyal consumers a gratis treat now and then, beauty vendors should offer the same benefits.

5. The Store Doubles As A Salon

When scoring a scarce appointment slot at your five-star salon isn't an option at the last minute, ULTA's in-house salon is a beauty blessing.

6. ULTA Works With The Breast Cancer Research Foundation To Eradicate The Disease

ULTA's crusade to beautify the world is also philanthropic, thanks to a partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

7. You Can Replenish Your Entire Supply Of Luxe Bath, Body, And Cosmetic Products In One Convenient Location

Perhaps ULTA's greatest boon is its ability to satisfy the entirety of their consumers' beautification needs within one visit to the store. As Dillon elaborated to Women's Wear Daily, "We are always going to have competition, but nobody does what we do on the scale we do it. We’ve got all these categories, price points and services. It’s the notion of all things beauty in one place."

Images: ultabeauty/Instagram