Ulta buys Space NK and Cassey Ho talks fighting dupes

In this episode of The Modern Retail Podcast, hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels, along with Glossy's Lexy Lebsack, discuss Ulta's acquisition of Space NK and the increasing prevalence of beauty product dupes. Lexy provides insights into the Space NK acquisition, highlighting Ulta's international expansion strategy and the challenges Space NK faced in the US market. The conversation shifts to beauty dupes, with a focus on recent lawsuits and the difficulties in proving consumer confusion. Melissa then interviews Cassey Ho, founder of Popflex Active, about her experiences with design dupes, particularly the pirouette skort. Cassey shares her challenges in protecting her designs, the manual process of policing infringements, and her approach to educating consumers about the value of original designs versus dupes. She emphasizes the importance of community and integrity in building a brand that dupes cannot replicate, and the ethical concerns surrounding the low prices of duped items.