Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann joined executives from ULTA, Inc., the nation’s largest beauty retailer, to announce the company’s plans to locate a cosmetic fulfillment and distribution center in Greenwood, Indiana, creating up to 537 new jobs by 2018.
The Bolingbrook, Ill.-based company, which offers a combination of more than 20,000 prestige and mass beauty products through ULTA Beauty retail stores and Ulta.com, will invest $51.6 million to lease and equip a 670,000 square-foot facility in Greenwood. This will be ULTA’s first Indiana fulfillment center, which is expected to start shipments in summer 2015.
“Indiana is proud to welcome the ULTA distribution facility to our growing list of logistics centers operating throughout our state,” said Ellspermann. “Our central location and transportation infrastructure make us an ideal site for many companies to serve stores and customers in all parts of the U.S. Our business-friendly tax and regulatory policies plus our available workforce help us successfully compete for businesses that are looking to expand or relocate. And all of this means jobs for Hoosiers.”
Founded in 1990, ULTA currently operates 675 retail stores nationally, including 13 in Indiana, that offer one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products, including salon services. The company employs more than 19,000 associates across the country with more than 300 in Indiana. In addition to its new Indiana fulfillment center, ULTA has three other distribution centers located in Illinois, Arizona and Pennsylvania that support both its retail and e-commerce business.
“Everyone at ULTA Beauty is extremely pleased to expand our presence in Indiana and open our newest distribution center in Greenwood,” said Mary Dillon, chief executive officer of ULTA. “The community will be a great fit for us as we build an operation that furthers our ability to meet the needs of our guests and provide a terrific experience. We are thrilled to be a part of Greenwood’s economic growth and look forward to being an active member of the business community.”
ULTA plans to begin hiring warehouse associates, material handlers, warehouse clerks and human resource professionals, as well as managerial positions and a distribution center director, at its new Greenwood location this summer. Interested applicants may apply by attending a direct hiring event with ULTA or by visiting www.ulta.com.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered ULTA, Inc. up to $3,010,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Greenwood approved additional property tax abatement.
“This is great news for Greenwood and will serve as an anchor for development along the Graham Road corridor, and will provide hundreds of jobs,” said Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers. "The infrastructure improvements will enable adjacent parcels to be shovel ready. The city of Greenwood is a good fit for ULTA because we both are known for providing ‘affordable indulgence.’”
About ULTA
Ulta Beauty is the largest beauty retailer that provides one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products and salon services in the United States. Ulta Beauty provides affordable indulgence to its customers by combining the product breadth, value and convenience of a beauty superstore with the distinctive environment and experience of a specialty retailer. Ulta Beauty offers a unique combination of over 20,000 prestige and mass beauty products across the categories of cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, bath and body products and salon styling tools, as well as salon haircare products. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in all of its stores.
As of Feb. 1, 2014 the company operates 675 retail stores across 46 states and also distributes its products through the company’s website: www.ulta.com.
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.
The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.