The DOUGLAS Group, Europe's leading omnichannel premium beauty destination, has revised its financial guidance for the 2025/26 fiscal year following weaker-than-expected Q3 performance. The company cited ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties and heightened price sensitivity among consumers, which have significantly dampened customer confidence and willingness to buy. In response, DOUGLAS is shifting its strategic focus to reallocate investments, enhance differentiation and exclusivity, adjust pricing, and accelerate digital initiatives.
The adjusted guidance now projects net sales growth of 0-1%, corresponding to a range of 4.58 to 4.63 billion euros, down from the previous forecast of “at the lower end of 4.65 - 4.80 billion euros.” The adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be around 15.0%, compared to the earlier expectation of “around 16.0%.” Additionally, net leverage is anticipated to be between 3.0x and 3.5x as of September 30, 2026, versus the prior outlook of “at the upper end of 2.5x to 3.0x.”
“Consumer behavior and market dynamics have changed significantly,” said Sander van der Laan, CEO of the DOUGLAS Group. “In this challenging environment, we fully focus on our strategic priorities: we shift investments from our store to our online business; we are investing in competitive pricing, while further strengthening our differentiation and exclusivity; and we are continuing to drive digitalization forward. Some of these measures will deliver short-term benefits, while others will take longer to materialize. We act swiftly, with focus and purpose – we are guided by a sustainable medium- to long-term approach.”
The European premium beauty market is undergoing a shift driven by changes in customer behavior and consumer spending. Ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty has led many customers to remain price-sensitive, often delaying purchases in anticipation of promotions. E-commerce is growing faster than stores and maintaining solid profitability at the EBIT level, while like-for-like store sales are developing negatively. Channel mix, category mix, and overall spending patterns vary across markets, but cross-channel services such as Click-and-Collect are performing very strongly.
Despite these headwinds, the DOUGLAS Group remains well-positioned due to its leading omnichannel business model, strong brand, and trusted partnerships with premium beauty suppliers. The company has already addressed many current challenges through its transformation into a true omnichannel retailer in recent years, giving it a clear head start and a healthy financial profile that provides flexibility to act.
“In the current market environment, both differentiation and pricing matter more than ever,” van der Laan added. “Our omnichannel model, our curated premium assortment, an attractive pricing and our excellent brand name give us a clear competitive edge and we are executing on this with focus and discipline. The management and all colleagues in the company are highly motivated and firmly committed to take on these challenges. We have a clear plan of action, and we are confident that this will put our company on the path to profitable growth.”
Further details and an update on strategic measures will be published at the DOUGLAS Group quarterly reporting on August 12, 2026. For more information, visit the DOUGLAS Group Website.
