Korean beauty retailer sets up shop in the United States with more stores to come

Photo: Aritaum, H-Mart, Ridgefield, New Jersey

A newcomer to the U.S. retail scene is leveraging one of the hottest trends in beauty right now — Korean skincare — by opening up stores nationwide.



Aritaum, a division of South Korean skincare and beauty giant AmorePacific, has been flying under the radar since it opened its first U.S. store in 2014. The company currently operates some 70 locations in the United States and Canada, including freestanding stores as well as in-store shops at such diverse retailers as Bloomingdale’s and H-Mart supermarket. It expects to open 20 locations in 2016.



Aritaum is positioned as one-stop shopping destinations for Korean beauty products. The stores carry a curated collection of premium beauty and skincare items from leading Korean brands, along with bath & body and hair care products.



As to the brand's name, Aritaum (pronounced "ar-ree-ta-um") is derived from the Korean words for “beauty” and “place.”



"Interest in Korean skincare products is at an all-time high for one simple reason: they work," said Jay Yim, director of marketing, Aritaum AmorePacific. "Aritaum provides a convenient destination for these incredible products and offers our customers a chance to experience the fantastic world of K-beauty."



Initially, Aritaum’s U.S. locations operated under the Amore banner. But they are currently being rebranded as Aritaum. The new stores will not only have the new banner, but also feature a sleeker and more modern look.