Is Ulta in Canada in 2024? The Full Scoop
As an industry expert with over 10 years of experience in the retail and beauty spaces, I get asked this question a lot from Canadian readers wanting to know if they can shop at the popular U.S.-based beauty giant Ulta north of the border.
About Ulta
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Illinois, Ulta Beauty has grown to become the largest beauty retailer in the United States. With over 1,300 locations across 50 states and counting, Ulta is a true beauty powerhouse reporting net sales of $8.6 billion in 2021 alone.
The retail chain offers an unparalleled selection of over 500 brands across categories like makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrance, bath and body ranging from classic drugstore staples to high-end niche and luxury. As both a beauty junkie myself and industry insider, I can confidently say Ulta offers an immersive retail experience that‘s hard to beat.
The Short Answer
But does the beauty giant‘s reign extend outside the U.S. borders into Canada? Let‘s start with the brutal honest truth:
No, Ulta does not currently have any retail locations in Canada as of 2023.
But should Canadians lose all hope? Definitely not. While you may need an American vacation to shop the legendary aisles, there are still ways for Canadians to stock up on their favorite Ulta finds.
Ulta‘s International Presence
| Country | Ulta Locations |
|---|---|
| United States | Over 1,300 |
| Canada | 0 |
As this snapshot shows, Ulta focuses exclusively on serving the domestic American market for now. And with so much room left to grow within the U.S., I don‘t foresee international expansion being a priority over the next 3-5 years.
While disappointing for Canadian beauty lovers like myself, from a business perspective, concentrating efforts on thriving in their home court just makes strategic sense. Once market saturation nears across the 50 states, I predict we could start hearing rumors of a Canadian debut.
Ordering Ulta Online in Canada
The next best thing? Canadians can shop the Ulta website and have products shipped internationally.
Ulta leverages a third-party global commerce provider called Borderfree to make this happen. The process includes calculating accurate shipping rates and any applicable duties/taxes during checkout.
However, some limitations exist:
- Not all products qualify for international delivery. Best to verify before purchasing.
- Orders can take up to several weeks to arrive with standard shipping. Splurging on faster service helps cut down wait times.
- Returns get tricky. You must ship items back to the U.S. on your own dime. And timesframes are tighter than normal.
So while not the most convenient, buying certain items online from Ulta remains an option for willing Canadians.
Similar Retailers Available in Canada
Canadians searching for that Ulta shopping rush still have solid alternatives at home including:
| Retailer | Category Focus | # of Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Sephora | Mid-range and luxury cosmetics | Over 300 |
| Shoppers Drug Mart | Mainstream drugstore | Over 1,300 |
| Murale | Luxury and niche cosmetics | Over 60 beautyBOUTIQUES inside Shoppers stores |
This table illustrates how Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale allow Canadians to access many of the same products under their own roofs with convenience and solid expertise.
While nothing quite matches the complete Ulta experience, these chains come impressively close in their own ways. And I should know as I routinely shop all my local options!
The Takeaway
At the end of the day, although Ulta itself remains exclusive to the U.S. for now, Canadians absolutely can still partake through online ordering options direct from Ulta. And solid domestic retailers provide comparable one-stop beauty shopping in Canada.
My prediction as a retail insider? Ulta will turn its attention north eventually as U.S. saturation creeps upward over the next decade. So stay tuned for a potential launch one day pending market conditions.
But in the meantime, with planning and savvy shopping, Canadians absolutely can find paths for bringing home their Ulta faves. It just may require more effort or patience at times. For all my Canadian readers missing out, I encourage you to explore every available workaround!
