Estee Lauder 2007 Annual Report Download - page 11

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A better-informed and engaged employee is a more productive employee. We strive to keep their passion
alive through professional development. More than 2,000 people attended at least one of the 40-plus training
courses we provide during the year for all levels of employees.
Communicating our citizenship values and the impact we have on the communities we touch is as important to
us as our economic reporting. We produced our first Corporate Social Responsibility report, The Beauty of
Sustainability. To view the report, please go to www.elcompanies.com. We value our reputation and are eager
to share the commitment we have to Bringing the Best To Everyone We Touch on all levels. Every year, our Breast
Cancer Awareness Campaign raises millions of dollars for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This year,
13 of our brands participated in October Breast Cancer Awareness events.
We need the sharp, keen instincts of a small merchant to stay close to our consumers. Constant listening and
observing how they shop remain key touchstones. To ensure that our brands remain fresh in the consumer’s
mind, we pursue innovation at all levels—from new formulas to the latest technology and the most environmentally
friendly packaging — keeping the new product excitement high. We have research centers in Asia, Europe,
Canada and the United States that focus on the specific needs of the many faces of global beauty.
The global prestige cosmetics business is a $37 billion sector. Every year, hundreds of new brands are launched
to lure shoppers and compete for their attention. The Estée Lauder Companies is built on the success of its
27 unique brands. This year, four new brands joined our portfolio — Daisy Fuentes with two fragrances at
Kohl’s, Tom Ford Beauty, Coach and Mustang. Each represents a new approach to reaching the consumer.
Tom Ford joins La Mer, Jo Malone and Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv in defining the ultraluxe niche. Coach is our first
foray into creating a fragrance exclusively for distribution in the highly successful Coach free-standing fashion
stores. Mustang, a collaboration with the Ford Motor Company, interprets the iconic image of the famed
Mustang car in a fragrance targeted to the mid-tier retail channel.
As has been the pattern in other years, more than one-third of our revenues come from products that have
been launched in the last three years.
M.A.C and Bobbi Brown continue to color our world with outstanding launches in the makeup-artist category,
like the best-selling M.A.C Plushglass and Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow. Clinique’s consumer tells
us she trusts a brand with authority and depends on the brand’s expertise at counter. The newly re-vamped
Clinique 3-Step Skin Care System reflects the Clinique loyalist’s preferences and is a global best seller.
at the estée lauder companies,
our single focus is to remain
the preeminent leader in global
prestige cosmetics.
The just-launched Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, designed by Aerin Lauder for Estée Lauder, focuses
on the aspirational and elegant heritage that is so much a part of the brand’s roots. Unforgivable by Sean John
is a best seller in the men’s lifestyle fragrance arena. Aveda and Bumble and bumble are leading the prestige
salon business — each in its own way. As men become more interested in treatment and grooming products,
Lab Series Skincare for Men and Clinique Skin Supplies for Men are both poised to capture a larger share of this
growing category.