The initiative is informed by customer and employee surveys, and other research that has been in progress since 2019, but took on new urgency in last summer. "We recognize that racial bias affects our stores, just as it affects all retailers," said CMO Deborah Yeh, according to the article. "Discrimination and unfair treatment are woven into institutions across America, and retail is not excepted."
As part of the initiative, Sephora is doubling the number of black-owned brands it offers by year’s end. It will reduce the number of third-party security guards and implement new customer-greeting protocols to help ensure all customers at its stores are treated equally.
Yeh also recently spoke about unconscious bias and how it relates to the relationship customers have with brands. Listen to her interview here.
