Online sales of hand soap increase by 199%

In-store and online sales of prestige hand soaps have increased significantly in the UK amidst the COVID-19 epidemic, according to The NPD Group. 

In the week beginning 8th March, sales increased 102% compared to the same period in 2019.

As people were asked to stay at home, consumer purchases shifted online where sales increased by 199% compared to the same period last year, perhaps due to low stock availability via supermarket deliveries.

Commenting on the increase in sales of prestige hand soap, Emma Fishwick, account manager at NPD UK Beauty, says:

“As the UK public follow government guidelines on hand washing, we have seen the sales of prestige and luxury hand soaps grow dramatically, week-on-week. 

“The beauty industry is responding to the situation in many ways. L'Occitane has donated 10,000 hand creams to the NHS and multinational luxury brands such as  LVMH, Clarins, L'Oréal and Coty are switching production to products such as hand sanitiser.”