The Modern Retail Podcast Ulta buys Space NK and Cassey Ho talks fighting dupes
Jul 19, 2025
Lexy Lebsack is a West Coast correspondent for Glossy, specializing in beauty trends and M&A. She discusses Ulta's recent acquisition of Space NK and its implications for the beauty landscape. Cassey Ho, founder of Popflex Active, shares her experiences with fashion design theft, including her patented skort worn by Taylor Swift. They dive into the rise of lawsuits over beauty dupes and the complexities of protecting intellectual property in a world driven by imitation, exploring the emotional challenges creators face amidst such struggles.
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Ulta's Smart UK Expansion
- Ulta's acquisition of UK’s Space NK aligns with its plan to scale new businesses and expand internationally.
- This move offers Ulta local market knowledge and brand curation power without directly entering UK retail.
Beauty IP Challenges
- Beauty products often lack strong IP protections, making legal action to stop dupes difficult and costly.
- Brands need patents and trademarks but even then enforcement is challenging due to the nature of product copying.
Purpose of Dupe Lawsuits
- Dupe lawsuits mainly serve as warnings to stop copycats and prevent them from gaining market share.
- Allowing dupes to grow unchecked weakens a brand's future ability to enforce intellectual property rights.