L’Occitane CEO says Asia expansion continues despite 'key issues'

The news comes just as L’Occitane opens its’ third store in the area in the last six months and president of the Asia-Pacific region, André Hoffmann indicates the company has no plans of slowing down.

At the launch of the store Hoffmann revealed to the Business Daily that although the company was paying “very, very high rent​”, the Senado Square shop was turning a profit and had helped the company increase its sales in Macau by 124% so far this year.

The president then moved on to say that human resources is a key, key issue and that Macau’s “very tight labour market​” had surprised him. “The casinos have sucked a lot of people out of the labour pool. So finding qualified retail and café staff is a challenge,​” he told the publication.

“Hopefully, the government can review their policies and perhaps make the law a little bit more flexible, a little bit easier to bring labour here,” ​he added.

Unique in store experience also contributing to success...​

Hoffman also attributes in store cafés in Tokyo and Taipei as part of the brand's success there.

“Customers get to know L’Occitane often through the café. The café is drawing customers into the shop​,” he told the BD.

The brand has also launched Erborian, a French-Korean brand of skin therapy products, in the mainland last year and now intends to launch it in Macau as well.

The CEO also intends to introduce its smaller brands in the region, starting with its Melvita organic skincare products.

The French company is present all over Europe and the US and has been operating for approximately 30 years.