health beauty and wellbeing

Health Beauty and Wellbeing Market Overview

You can’t walk down the street these days without seeing at least one advert for a product designed to enhance your appearance, boost your health or in some way contribute positively to your sense of wellbeing and happiness. This shouldn’t be surprising, though, as the health and beauty industry in the UK is enormous: it employs over one million people and is worth £17 billion. The popularity of its range of products – from skincare and toiletries to make-up and bath products – enabled the industry to thrive during the recession, not merely hang on by a thread. Sales in the UK beauty market shot up 15.5% between 2008 and 2013, from £6.1 billion to estimated £7.1 billion. Retailers who tap into this robust, indeed recession-proof, market can definitely expect healthy returns.

In times of economic hardship, people look for less expensive ways to feel good about themselves, so it was nail polish, with its accessible price point, that was the biggest hit with women during the recession. In fact, cosmetics as a whole is, in many ways, the beating heart of the health and beauty industry, with UK shoppers spending a whopping £8.9 billion on beauty and personal care products in 2013. A particularly important demographic is women over 45, who spend £2 billion every year on cosmetics and toiletries. With the 50+ population predicted to increase by 38% between 2015 and 2035, this market may well prove a treasure trove of profit to UK beauty retailers.

To help you navigate your way around the Aladdin’s Cave of goodies available in this space, we’ve split our listings up into several key categories; so whether you’re after wholesale aromatherapy products or perfume, eCigarettes or  salon supplies, baby care or  bath products, you’ll find wholesalers here ready to supply you.