Ethnic beauty care a top market for up-and-coming players

NEW YORK Niche marketers are increasingly extending the ethnic health and beauty market to include products for Hispanics, Asian, Arab, Native American, South Asian and other multicultural backgrounds, according to a recent Packaged Facts report.

The report, dubbed “Ethnic Hair, Beauty and Cosmetics Products in the U.S., 6th Edition,” estimates that the U.S. retail market for ethnic-specific hair care, makeup and skin care products is continuing to experience robust growth in 2008 at nearly 7 percent.

The market, according to Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research Group, is expected to finish the year at nearly $2.6 billion. By 2012, U.S. retail sales of ethnic-specific HBC products are expected to surpass $3.3 billion.

“Traditionally, marketers active in HBC products have sold some of the most chemically harsh items available, but today manufacturers are taking simple yet significant steps by adding a degree of natural or organic content to their products. This appeals to U.S. minorities who are widely regarded to favor not only gentler and safer HBC products, but greener ones as well,” Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts, said.