Lipstick and the recession. What’s the link?

In one of our previous blogs concerning the strategy papers and the importance of being aware of current issues we highlighted the impact of the recession on the number of people that went to cinemas (the number increased as it was seen as a relatively cheaper form of entertainment compared to eating out at restaurants or attending theater).

I was recently buying some cosmetics and got talking to the department manager. She told me about another somewhat unexpected sales success in the current recession.

Namely, that sales of cosmetics have increased. Whilst many women are reducing expenditure on most fashion products the sales of cosmetics has increased significantly. Cosmetics have shown the highest growth in the British beauty market with reports of a 7% rise to £1.2 billion.

Apparently, this scenario is called the “lipstick factor” and originated in the Great Depression of the 1930s when women were eager to look their best to land a scarce job. Reports say that the average woman in the UK in 2010 now has over £70 of cosmetics in her handbag.

So, despite there being a recession on, should the advice be “keep smiling”?