CJ Olive Young Set to Open First U.S. Store in Pasadena

CJ Olive Young is on the verge of opening its first U.S. store, with CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun expected to visit the location. This move underscores the company's emergence as a key subsidiary within the group and highlights Lee's commitment to penetrating the U.S. market.

According to industry sources, Lee plans to attend the PGA Tour's "The CJ Cup at Byron Nelson" in Texas on May 21, before visiting the Pasadena store, which is set to open on May 29. The flight from Dallas, where the tournament is held, to the Los Angeles area takes about three hours. This visit coincides with a major group event, allowing Lee to inspect Olive Young's first overseas store personally.

The Pasadena store represents more than just a new location for CJ Olive Young. The company plans to open a total of four stores in key Los Angeles areas, including Westfield Century City and Torrance Del Amo Mall, starting with Pasadena. Given that the U.S. is the world's largest beauty market, the initial performance of this store will serve as a critical indicator for the company's expansion in North America.

The Pasadena location is situated in a high-traffic area, close to an Apple store and educational institutions like the California Institute of Technology and Pasadena City College. It is also surrounded by global retail and beauty brands such as Abercrombie and Sephora, targeting both local consumers and tourists.
 

Lee's hands-on approach with Olive Young is driven by impressive growth figures. According to CJ's business report, the company's standalone revenue reached 5.8335 trillion won last year, a 21.8% increase from the previous year. Operating profit rose by 22.5% to 744.7 billion won. With annual sales nearing 6 trillion won, Olive Young's contribution to the group's profits has significantly increased. In the first quarter of this year, standalone revenue also grew by 24.5% year-on-year to 1.5372 trillion won, indicating continued expansion.

As a result, Lee has been actively managing Olive Young this year. In January, he visited the first wellness store, Olive Better, in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. In March, he inspected the Olive Young Central Myeongdong Town store, reviewing store layout and key products while making personal purchases.

CJ Olive Young is also accelerating preparations to establish a foothold in the U.S. market. The company plans to launch a U.S.-exclusive e-commerce platform alongside the opening of its first store, moving away from a solely global mall-based sales model to a structure that integrates local stores and online sales.

Additionally, the company has established a logistics base. In March, CJ Olive Young set up a "West Coast Center" in Bloomington, California, covering approximately 3,600 square meters (about 39,000 square feet) to support local distribution for brands entering U.S. stores. The company plans to gradually expand the center in line with increasing shipping volumes and is considering securing additional logistics hubs in the eastern region.

A CJ Olive Young representative stated, "With the simultaneous opening of our first U.S. store and the U.S.-exclusive online mall, we can now offer local delivery through the West Coast Center. We aim to enhance shopping convenience for American consumers and contribute to the growth of the K-beauty industry."