Beauty enthusiasts in Canada have long wished for Ulta Beauty, the beloved American cosmetics retailer, to expand northward and open stores in the Great White North. Known for its unparalleled selection of high-end and drugstore makeup, skincare, haircare and more, Ulta is a one-stop shop for all things beauty in the U.S. But is Ulta in Canada or planning to come anytime soon? Here‘s what you need to know about getting your Ulta fix from Canada in [currentyear].
Is Ulta Beauty in Canada?
As of [currentyear], there are unfortunately no Ulta Beauty stores in Canada. The cosmetics retailer has over 1,300 stores across all 50 U.S. states but has not expanded outside of the United States so far. So while American beauty lovers can easily pop into their local Ulta to browse the latest makeup launches or pick up their favorite shampoo, Canadians aren‘t so lucky.
You won‘t find a physical Ulta store whether you‘re in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal or anywhere else in Canada. The Ulta Beauty experience, from its immaculate store design to its salon services and unrivaled brand selection, is simply not available in the Canadian retail landscape – at least not yet.
Why Hasn‘t Ulta Beauty Come to Canada Yet?
It may seem surprising that a major U.S. retailer like Ulta Beauty hasn‘t made the leap to Canada, especially given the relatively close proximity and cultural similarities between the two countries. However, expanding to an international market is a big undertaking for any company, even an established one like Ulta.
There are many factors that Ulta would have to consider before opening stores in Canada, such as:
- Market research to determine if there is sufficient demand for Ulta among Canadian consumers
- Scouting real estate and securing desirable store locations
- Logistical challenges related to inventory, shipping and distribution networks in Canada
- Navigating different regulations, tariffs and tax laws
- Competing with existing players in the Canadian beauty retail space like Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart
- Ensuring a profitable business model after the exchange rate and potentially higher operating costs
All of these hurdles likely explain why Ulta Beauty has not expanded to Canada yet, despite the eagerness of many Canadian beauty enthusiasts. The company seems focused on continuing to grow its U.S. operations for now. In 2022, Ulta Beauty announced plans to open around 50 new stores per year in the U.S. for the next several years.
How to Shop at Ulta Beauty from Canada
So without any Ulta stores in Canada, how can Canadians still get their hands on Ulta‘s covetable selection of beauty goods? Luckily, it‘s not impossible to shop Ulta‘s offerings as a Canadian – it just takes a bit of extra effort and planning. Here are a few ways you can get your Ulta fix from north of the border:
1. Order from Ulta‘s Website and Ship to Canada
The easiest way to shop Ulta Beauty from Canada is to simply place an order on the retailer‘s U.S. website and ship it to your Canadian address. Ulta.com offers international shipping to Canada through a partnership with Borderfree, a cross-border ecommerce provider.
To order from Ulta‘s U.S. site as a Canadian customer, simply add your desired items to your online cart as usual. At checkout, you‘ll be given the option to ship to Canada. You‘ll see the order total inclusive of shipping fees, taxes and duties so there are no surprises. The shipping cost varies depending on your order amount but is generally around $20-$30 USD.
One thing to watch out for is that not every single item on Ulta.com can be shipped to Canada – some brands or products are restricted due to manufacturer limitations. When browsing the site, look for a "Canada" flag on the product details page to see if it can be delivered to Canada.
2. Shop Ulta While Visiting the U.S.
Another option for Canadians to shop at Ulta Beauty is to simply visit a store while traveling to the United States. If you find yourself taking a trip across the border, it‘s worth popping into an Ulta store to stock up on your favorite products or browse the aisles for new discoveries.
You can check Ulta‘s store locator on its website or app to find the closest location to where you‘ll be visiting in the U.S. Just be sure to consider that you‘ll need to pay any applicable duties when declaring your Ulta purchases at customs when returning to Canada. You‘ll also be limited to what you can physically fit in your luggage to bring back home!
3. Use a U.S. Package Forwarder
If you don‘t have any upcoming travel plans to the U.S., you can take advantage of package forwarding services to get Ulta orders delivered to Canada. Essentially, these services provide you with a U.S. address to use when placing orders, which then get forwarded along to your Canadian address.
There are a number of package forwarding companies out there, such as Reship, Stackry and MyMallBox. They each have slightly different processes and pricing models. In general, you‘ll sign up for an account to generate your "virtual" U.S. address to use at checkout. When the package arrives at the U.S. address, it will be sent along to you in Canada for a fee. Some forwarders may also consolidate multiple orders into one package.
While package forwarding opens up more online shopping possibilities, it does come with extra costs like the service‘s handling fee and international shipping charges. The shipping times are also slower than ordering directly from Ulta‘s site. However, this option may allow you to access Ulta items that cannot be shipped directly to Canada.
4. Check for Ulta Items at Other Retailers
Finally, just because an item is sold at Ulta Beauty doesn‘t mean it‘s only available at Ulta stores or website. You may be able to find certain Ulta brands or products through other retailers that do operate in Canada.
For example, if you have your eye on a specific skincare serum or makeup palette, try searching for that item on Sephora.ca or Sephora stores, Well.ca, beautyboutique.ca or other Canadian beauty retailers. Though the selection likely won‘t be as extensive as Ulta‘s, you may luck out and find certain items without having to deal with international shipping or extra fees. Department stores like Nordstrom, Hudson‘s Bay and Holt Renfrew may also carry some higher-end brands found at Ulta Beauty.
Alternatives to Ulta Beauty in Canada
If constantly dealing with exchange rates, customs fees and international shipping sounds like too much of a hassle to shop at Ulta from Canada, don‘t despair. There are plenty of great alternatives for beauty shopping within Canada, including:
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Sephora: The biggest and most comparable alternative to Ulta Beauty, Sephora has a large presence across Canada with the same type of specialty beauty retailer experience. You‘ll find a wide range of luxury and indie makeup, skincare and fragrance brands and well-trained sales associates.
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Shoppers Drug Mart: This ubiquitous drugstore chain has seriously stepped up its beauty game with its "Beauty Boutiques" – a store-within-a-store beauty department with higher-end brands and helpful advisors. They also have a huge selection of mass market and drugstore products.
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Department stores: The beauty sections at Canadian department stores like Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew, Hudson‘s Bay and Quebec-based Simons are worth checking out for luxury and prestige brands, attentive service and nice gifts with purchase.
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Walmart, London Drugs and other drugstores: For more budget-friendly beauty buys, superstores like Walmart and London Drugs still offer a good selection of mass market cosmetics and personal care items. Other drugstore chains like Rexall, Lawtons Drugs and Jean Coutu in Quebec are also solid options.
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Online: Canadian beauty lovers have plenty of online shopping options such as Amazon.ca, Well.ca and Beautyboutique.ca for a wide selection from the convenience of home. There are also specialty Canadian beauty retailers like Etiket (focused on indie brands) or FacialCo (for skincare).
While these stores each provide their own kind of beauty shopping experience, together they can satisfy most Canadian beauty needs without requiring a trip to Ulta Beauty in the U.S.
Will Ulta Beauty Ever Come to Canada?
Only time will tell if Ulta Beauty decides to expand into the Canadian market in the future. It‘s hard to predict a company‘s business plans, especially since entering a new country is such a major move.
On one hand, Canada could present an attractive growth opportunity for Ulta as it reaches saturation in the U.S. market. Canadian beauty enthusiasts have clearly demonstrated an interest in the retailer. On the other hand, Ulta may feel the Canadian beauty space is already well-served between Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart and the like.
Ulta has dipped its toes into international expansion by opening a few stores in Mexico, in partnership with a Mexican retail group, in 2022. Perhaps if this initial foray outside of the U.S. goes well, Ulta will get more serious about globalizing and consider other markets like Canada.
Conclusion
As of [currentyear], Ulta Beauty does not have stores in Canada and has not announced any official plans to expand there. While this is disappointing news for Canadian beauty lovers, there are still ways to shop Ulta‘s selection by ordering from its U.S. website, shopping while visiting the States, or using a package forwarding service.
The lack of Ulta Beauty in Canada also presents an opportunity to explore the many other retailers serving the Canadian beauty market, from Sephora to Shoppers Drug Mart to online specialty stores. With some savvy shopping and a bit of patience for shipping times, Canadians can still experience the joys of Ulta Beauty – even without a local store to browse in person.
