 | |
| Formerly | Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (1990–2017) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| Founded | 1990; 35 years ago (1990) (as Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc.) |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Number of locations | 1,445 (2025) |
Key people | Kecia Steelman (CEO) |
| Revenue |  US$11.3 billion (2024) |
 US$1.6 billion (2024) | |
| US$1.2 billion (2024) | |
| Total assets | US$6.0 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$2.5 billion (2024) |
Number of employees | 58,000 (2025) |
| Subsidiaries | Space NK |
| Website | ulta |
| Footnotes / references Financials as of February 1, 2025[update].[1] | |
Ulta Beauty, Inc., formerly known asUlta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. and before 2000 asUlta3, is an American chain of cosmetic stores headquartered inBolingbrook, Illinois.[2] Ulta Beauty carries both high- and low-endcosmetics,fragrances,nail products,bath and body products, beauty tools andhaircare products. Each location has abeauty salon available to the public.
Ulta was founded by Richard E. George, the former president ofOsco Drug, Inc., and Terry Hanson. George left Osco in 1989 to develop a business plan for a retailer that would offer beauty products at different price levels.[3] Other Osco executives joined George and Hanson in the business and raised $11.5 million inventure capital. The company, initially called Ulta3,[why?] was launched in 1990, with five stores in the suburbs ofChicago. The first of these opened at High Point Centre inLombard, Illinois in early October 1990.[4] The name was changed from Ulta3 to Ulta at the end of 1999.[3][5]
George left Ulta in 1995, and Hanson became the company'schief executive officer (CEO).[5] In December 1999, Lyn Kirby became the president and CEO and Charles "Rick" Weber became senior executive vice president,chief operating and CEO. On October 25, 2007, the company became publicly traded on theNASDAQ.[6]
In 2008, Ulta also opened a second distribution center inPhoenix, Arizona. In 2010, Carl "Chuck" Rubin was appointed as chief operating officer, president, and as a member of the board of directors.[7]
On June 24, 2013, it was announced thatMary Dillon would be appointed as CEO and a member of the board of directors, effective July 1, 2013.[8] Dillon was previously the chief ofU.S. Cellular and a senior executive atMcDonald's andPepsiCo.[9]
In 2020, before theCOVID-19 pandemic there were 44,000 employees.[10] As of 2021, Ulta employs approximately 37,000 people.[11]
On January 6th, 2025, Dave Kimbell announced his retirement as CEO of Ulta Beauty effective immediately. Dave Kimbell was succeeded as CEO byKecia Steelman, who was previously the company’s chief operating officer.
Ulta Beauty only operates in the United States of America. As of January 28, 2023, Ulta had some 1,355 stores across all 50 states, with about 250 of those stores located insideTarget stores.[12] Ulta Beauty had 168 retail locations across California, the highest number of any state.[13] Ulta Beauty has a total of 7 distribution centers in 7 different states.
In 2025, Ulta Beauty announced its expansion into the Mexican market through a joint venture with the retail group Axo, marking its first international operation outside the United States. This decision was part of the company's long-term growth strategy, following an evaluation that identified Mexico's beauty market as a sector with significant growth potential. The initial phase of this expansion includes plans to open stores in Mexico City and Guadalajara, aiming to introduce the brand to key urban centers.[14][15]
Ulta Beauty offers both high-end and drugstore cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances, in addition to its own brands of beauty products and fragrances. They sell brands such asMAC Cosmetics,[16]Kylie Cosmetics,[17] andColourPop cosmetics[clarification needed].[18]
Ulta Beauty sales were $713.8 million for the first quarter ending in May 2014.[19] At the end of the second quarter ending in August 2014, Ulta Beauty reported that total sales increased by 22.2% and comparable store sales increased 9.8%.[20][21]
As of 2019, Ulta had stores in 48 states.[22] A majority of Ulta Beauty stores are located in theEast Coast region and in California.[23]
In August 2021, the retail chainTarget started selling Ulta's products.[24]
The same year, Ulta joined the15 Percent Pledge, which dedicated more store shelf space to Black-owned businesses.[25][26]
In 2022, Ulta collaborated withAllure, bringing a collection of 25,000 products toAllure’s online and brick-and-mortar stores. The collaboration ran from July to September 2022 and included brands such asFenty Beauty, Drybar, Olaplex, Tula, The Ordinary, Peter Thomas Roth, CosRX, NYX, Morphe, and Beekman 1802 selected by Ulta's merchandising team.[27][28]
On January 1, 2024, Ulta Beauty began construction to move out from their original distribution center located inRomeoville, IL 888-FFC to their newBolingbrook, IL 871-MFC building & began operations on August 5, 2024.
In August 2025, Ulta Beauty and Target Corporation formally announced that they were ending their partnership. The two companies mutually agreed to not renew their agreement for the coming year, meaning the Ulta Beauty at Target experience will end in August 2026. Ulta Beauty products will still be available in Target stores and online until then.[29]
