The encyclopedia · Strategy & Leadership · Strategic decision · 2022–2025
JOVOY, LF's niche fragrance edit, closed all offline stores in 2025
LF shut down all offline stores of its French niche fragrance multi-brand shop JOVOY in 2025 as the 'small luxury' trend reversed.
JOVOY (조보이) · LF · 2025-06
What happened
JOVOY was a French niche fragrance multi-brand shop launched in Korea by LF in 2022, riding the post-pandemic 'small luxury' boom. The concept brought together curated French perfume brands in a premium retail setting, with standalone stores at Hyundai Department Store Pangyo and other premium locations. The brand targeted consumers who sought affordable luxury experiences through high-end scents.
By 2025, the niche fragrance market in Korea contracted sharply. Economic uncertainty, high exchange rates, and changing consumer priorities dampened spending on premium scents. LF withdrew JOVOY's offline operations entirely, closing all physical stores. The brand's physical retail footprint, built during the pandemic-era fragrance boom, was eliminated as LF prioritized channel efficiency and online-platform integration.
The closure reflected a broader contraction in Korea's niche fragrance market, which had expanded rapidly during the pandemic when consumers sought small indulgences. As economic conditions worsened, the 'small luxury' trend reversed, and mid-tier fragrance brands and multi-brand shops faced declining foot traffic and sales.
Why it happened
- The niche fragrance market contracted after the post-pandemic 'small luxury' boom faded, as economic uncertainty and high exchange rates reduced consumer spending on premium scents.
- JOVOY's standalone offline stores carried high rent and operating costs that could not be sustained when foot traffic and conversion rates declined.
- LF prioritized channel efficiency and online-platform integration over maintaining a physical retail network for a niche category with limited scale.
The lesson
A niche category that booms during a 'small luxury' trend can contract just as fast when the economic mood shifts — physical stores opened at the peak become liabilities when the trend reverses.
Aftermath
JOVOY's offline stores in Korea were all closed by end of 2025. LF continued operating its other fashion and retail brands. The closure was part of a broader contraction in Korea's niche fragrance market, which had expanded rapidly during the pandemic but faced headwinds from economic slowdown, high exchange rates, and intensifying K-beauty competition. The offline withdrawal left JOVOY with a reduced online-only presence.
Sources
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