About Us
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Since our beginnings in 1997, MECCA has redefined the beauty landscape in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand), leading in retail innovation and delivering the ultimate beauty experience.
MECCA was created to demystify beauty – curating, celebrating and educating on the best moisturisers and must-have serums, latest makeup trends (and products) and scene-stealing fragrances. Our goal has remained the same since the beginning of our journey—to help our community look, feel, and be their best. After all, a lipstick is just a lipstick until that very first transformational swipe.
With over 25 years of drive (and beauty obsession), MECCA has become Australia’s largest prestige beauty retailer under the leadership of our enterprising founder, Jo Horgan. Empowered by Jo’s gung-ho spirit, we now captivate over four million customers every year through our network of 100+ stores, our brimming digital content, ecommerce platform (and app!), and our best-in-class Beauty Loop loyalty program with an exclusive curation of over 200 of the best beauty brands in the world, and a high-touch, love-filled approach to customer experience.
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Since our beginnings in 1997, MECCA has redefined the beauty landscape in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand), leading in retail innovation and delivering the ultimate beauty experience.
MECCA was created to demystify beauty – curating, celebrating and educating on the best moisturisers and must-have serums, latest makeup trends (and products) and scene-stealing fragrances. Our goal has remained the same since the beginning of our journey—to help our community look, feel, and be their best. After all, a lipstick is just a lipstick until that very first transformational swipe.
With over 25 years of drive (and beauty obsession), MECCA has become Australia’s largest prestige beauty retailer under the leadership of our enterprising founder, Jo Horgan. Empowered by Jo’s gung-ho spirit, we now captivate over four million customers every year through our network of 100+ stores, our brimming digital content, ecommerce platform (and app!), and our best-in-class Beauty Loop loyalty program with an exclusive curation of over 200 of the best beauty brands in the world, and a high-touch, love-filled approach to customer experience.
How we got here
It all started in the living room of Jo Horgan's Melbourne home, where she hatched a vision to search the world for the most exciting makeup, niche fragrances and cutting-edge skincare, bringing them home for Australians to enjoy. In 1997, the first MECCA Cosmetica store opened in South Yarra, offering an expertly curated selection of seven renowned global beauty brands, that weren’t previously available down under.
By 2001, MECCA was leading the way with online shopping, enabling beauty enthusiasts to browse and buy their favourite products anytime, anywhere at our dot-com. Six years later, MECCA ventured across international waters to open its doors in Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Beyond beauty retail, MECCA’s commitment to providing the best in beauty has extended into three brands: MECCA COSMETICA, launched in 2003 and thoughtfully crafted by beauty enthusiasts for beauty lovers; MECCA MAX – a collection of vibrant pigments and essential makeup and skincare for all – which emerged in 2017; and in 2022, kit:, a reimagining of the Kit: Cosmetics store concept that offers modern skincare and body care solutions made with premium, plant-derived ingredients and sustainable practices.
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How we got here
It all started in the living room of Jo Horgan's Melbourne home, where she hatched a vision to search the world for the most exciting makeup, niche fragrances and cutting-edge skincare, bringing them home for Australians to enjoy. In 1997, the first MECCA Cosmetica store opened in South Yarra, offering an expertly curated selection of seven renowned global beauty brands, that weren’t previously available down under.
By 2001, MECCA was leading the way with online shopping, enabling beauty enthusiasts to browse and buy their favourite products anytime, anywhere at our dot-com. Six years later, MECCA ventured across international waters to open its doors in Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Beyond beauty retail, MECCA’s commitment to providing the best in beauty has extended into three brands: MECCA COSMETICA, launched in 2003 and thoughtfully crafted by beauty enthusiasts for beauty lovers; MECCA MAX – a collection of vibrant pigments and essential makeup and skincare for all – which emerged in 2017; and in 2022, kit:, a reimagining of the Kit: Cosmetics store concept that offers modern skincare and body care solutions made with premium, plant-derived ingredients and sustainable practices.
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The Heart of Beauty
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Making the World Over
We believe that beauty has the power to change lives. That's why in 2017, we launched our social change program, MECCA M-POWER, which aimed to assist 10,000 girls facing social and financial barriers to complete secondary school. Since achieving that goal in 2022, M-POWER now has a new mission: to create a world where women and girls can thrive and achieve their full potential – a world of possibility and opportunity, regardless of gender.
Through M-POWER, we support a group of over 20 incredible organisations dedicated to creating a future where the next generation can thrive. We strive to fight for women by ensuring their access to education, improving their health, safety and well-being, empowering female-led businesses, supporting women to become financially secure and independent and elevating women's voices in politics and public life. Join us, and together we can make the world over.
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More Than Skin Deep
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The Home of Beauty Education
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