APR to expand U.S. retail network next year, in talks with Walmart, Costco

(APR)

APR, a leading South Korean beauty device maker, is preparing to significantly expand its offline retail presence in the United States next year, holding talks with major retailers including Walmart, Target and Costco.

According to industry sources on Sunday, APR is gearing up to enter a broader range of offline channels after its exclusive U.S. retail agreement with Ulta Beauty ends next year. The company is said to be in discussions not only with Walmart, Target and Costco, but also with newly opening U.S. stores operated by CJ Olive Young.

Ulta Beauty operates about 1,500 stores across the United States, and APR is currently stocked at all of them. Negotiations are under way over how many Ulta locations APR products will continue to be sold in after the exclusive contract expires. If Walmart, Target, Costco and Olive Young’s U.S. outlets are added, APR’s offline expansion is expected to accelerate sharply.

Walmart operates roughly 4,700 stores in the U.S., while Target has more than 2,000 locations. Costco runs about 630 stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Olive Young plans to open four stores in the U.S. next year. Even partial entry into these channels would significantly broaden APR’s U.S. offline sales footprint, industry watchers said.

APR has been posting rapid growth in the U.S. market on the back of beauty devices sold under its Medicube brand. Its U.S. sales for the first three quarters of this year more than doubled to 317.6 billion won ($216 million), from 158.3 billion won a year earlier. The company is also set to participate in CES 2026, scheduled to be held in Las Vegas in January next year.