Harding Brothers and Ocean Trading in beauty push

Gavin Lipsith

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UK-based cruise concessionaire Harding Brothers has earmarked fragrances and cosmetics for strong growth in 2005, aided by closer ties with distributor Ocean Trading

Harding Brothers and The Nuance Group's distribution arm Ocean Trading are seeking to develop closer ties in order to drive beauty sales at Harding Bros' cruise concessions next year. The move comes as part of recently appointed director of buying Alyson Reilly's strategy for reorganising buying functions and will build on the existing relationship whereby Harding Bros buys key beauty brands through Ocean Trading.

Harding Bros director Richard Goldstein told RavenFox.com that the company had set ambitious targets for the performance of the beauty category next year, and that reinforcing ties with Ocean Trading was key to its goals. The companies are in the early stages of strategic talks and will be holding meetings with partners at TFWA World Exhibition next week in order to explore ways of developing their business.

Said Goldstein: ?We are examining how to tighten our warehousing and logistics operations, which will help us keep in stock of key lines, and we will be working closer with Ocean Trading on forecasting. We also want to work more with them and the beauty houses on promotional opportunities, which we feel we are not maximising at the moment.?

Harding Brothers runs several spa and retail concessions on cruise and ferry lines including Cunard, P&O, Fred Olsen and Seabourn. Ocean Trading is the main distribution function within Nuance's European business, and serves marine operators and airlines with a range of supply-related services including stock supply, staff training, range planning and merchandising support.