‘Amazon of Beauty’ founder explores return

Tuesday 12 February 2019

The Jerseyman who founded and later sold what has been dubbed the ‘Amazon of Beauty’ is considering buying the company back, it has been reported.

Aaron Chatterley, who created online beauty product retailer FeelUnique, alongside Richard Schiessl in 2005 before selling it to private equity company, Palamon Capital, seven years later.

Since the £26million sale, Mr Chatterley has remained a non-executive director of the internet giant amid a turbulent few years, making a loss of £5.4m in the year to March.

But now, according to The Times, he is looking to make a return. 

Pictured: Aaron Chatterley, founder of FeelUnique.

The newspaper reports that he is considering a full acquisition of the e-tailer or a co-investment set-up with Palamon Capital, and is said to be seeking financing to do so.

The news comes after the company's CEO, Joel Palix, last month announced he would be stepping down from his role after five years earlier this month. He said he would remain an "active and supportive" shareholder, however.

Palamon, under whose ownership the company has posted a loss each year despite growing sales, reportedly explored a sale in December 2017. A spokesperson declined to comment at the time.

Pictured: The FeelUnique website.

Despite being a predominantly online presence, FeelUnique has a number of Jersey stores. Their local workforce was reduced in 2015 following the closure of a warehouse based in the island, and again in 2017 when the company decided to move some of its business out of Jersey citing concerns about finding staff skilled in online retailing. 

FeelUnique is currently one of Europe’s largest beauty retailers, stocking over 500 brands.