DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - The DOUGLAS Group announced on June 18, 2026, that it is adjusting its guidance for the financial year 2025/26 in light of Q3 business performance falling behind expectations. The company cited significant pressure on customer confidence and willingness to buy due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties and heightened price sensitivity. In response, DOUGLAS is refocusing on strategic priorities, including reallocation of investments, sharper differentiation and exclusivity, competitive pricing, and digital acceleration.
CEO Sander van der Laan stated: “Consumer behavior and market dynamics have changed significantly. In this challenging environment, we fully focus on our strategic priorities: we shift investments from our store to our online business; we are investing in competitive pricing, while further strengthening our differentiation and exclusivity; and we are continuing to drive digitalization forward.” The company expects some measures to deliver short-term benefits, while others will take longer to materialize.
The European premium beauty market is shifting due to geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty, leading to price-sensitive consumers who delay purchases in anticipation of promotions. E-commerce is growing faster than stores with solid profitability at the EBIT level, while like-for-like store sales are negative. Channel mix, category mix, and spending patterns vary across markets, but cross-channel services like Click-and-Collect are performing strongly.
As a result, the DOUGLAS Group has revised its guidance for fiscal year 2025/26. Net sales growth is now expected at 0-1% (corresponding to 4.58-4.63 billion euros), down from the previous forecast of “at the lower end of 4.65-4.80 billion euros.” The adjusted EBITDA margin is projected at around 15.0%, compared to the prior outlook of “around 16.0%.” Net leverage is expected to be between 3.0x and 3.5x as of September 30, 2026, versus the earlier expectation of “at the upper end of 2.5x to 3.0x.”
The company emphasized that its omnichannel business model, strong brand, and partnerships with premium beauty suppliers position it well to navigate the current environment. The transformation into a true omnichannel retailer in recent years provides a head start, and the company benefits from a healthy financial profile that offers flexibility to act.
Van der Laan added: “In the current market environment, both differentiation and pricing matter more than ever. Our omnichannel model, our curated premium assortment, an attractive pricing and our excellent brand name give us a clear competitive edge and we are executing on this with focus and discipline.” The management and employees are committed to the action plan and confident it will put the company on a path to profitable growth.
The DOUGLAS Group will provide further details and an update on strategic measures at its quarterly reporting on August 12, 2026. More information is available on the DOUGLAS Group website at https://www.douglas-group.com. The original press release can be viewed on https://www.newmediawire.com.
