Tracee Ellis Ross is no stranger to mega beauty retailer Ulta Beauty. After her 2019 launch of her hair care brand, Pattern, she has developed skills that will contribute to the success in her new role. According to The Zoe Report, Ross will “lend her expertise and experience as a CEO to help support current and future Black-owned brands that are a part of the Ulta assortment.” 2021 will be a year of rebuilding and diversity for the Ulta brand and the continuously growing world of all things beauty.
“I look forward to formalizing an already existing dialogue and partnership around diversity and inclusion with [CEO] Mary Dillon and the Ulta Beauty team,” Ross said in a statement. The partnership will be a great form of representation on behalf of Black beauty brands who are making a profound name for themselves in the industry. Ulta has committed $4 million in marketing support for popular brands like Black Opal, Mented Cosmetics, Key Soulcare, Black Girl Sunscreen, and more. Ulta will also spend $2 million on inclusivity and unconscious bias training for store and salon employees.
“As the country’s beauty retail leader, we believe we have the power to shape how the world sees beauty, and as such, we have a responsibility to inspire positive change and drive greater diversity, inclusivity and equity,” CEO Mary Dillon said. “This work requires commitment and accountability from Ulta Beauty to ensure measurable goals are achieved. I am hopeful and optimistic our work together will create foundational change,” Ross said in agreement.
This is a big move for Ulta as the statistics state that adding Black-owned brands could increase the percentage of those brands in Ulta’s inventory to just more than 4%, given the 627 brands the company sells now.
This talented daughter of Diana Ross is not only a model, actress, singer, director, and producer, but now she is adding adviser to her resumé. In her position Ross will join executive diversity and inclusion council summits quarterly. We can expect positive changes for years to come.
