Bluemercury Inc. is a retailer of luxury beauty products and spa services. Founded in 1999 by Marla and Barry Beck in Washington, D.C., the company has been a subsidiary of Macy's, Inc. since its acquisition for $210 million in 2015. While founded in the D.C. area, Bluemercury announced in 2023 that it would relocate its headquarters to New York City. The company is privately held as a subsidiary of a public company (NYSE: M), and its size is estimated to be between 500 and 1,000 employees.
Bluemercury operates as an omnichannel specialty retailer with more than 175 brick-and-mortar stores, an e-commerce website, and "shop-in-shop" locations within Macy's department stores. The company sells a curated selection of high-end skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance products from well-known brands like SkinCeuticals, Nars, and Laura Mercier. In addition to third-party products, Bluemercury has developed its own exclusive brands, including the M-61 skincare line and the Lune+Aster makeup line. Many of its physical stores also offer in-house spa services.
As a defendant in one tracked patent case and a plaintiff in none, Bluemercury fits the profile of an operating company defending its business against patent assertions. This litigation posture is common for established retailers, particularly those with significant e-commerce and mobile application operations that may be targeted by non-practicing entities (NPEs).
The company's single tracked case is an appeal in Monticello Enterprises LLC v. Petco Animals Supply Stores Inc et al.. The plaintiff, Monticello Enterprises, is a patent assertion entity that has sued multiple retailers, including Starbucks and Bluemercury's parent, Macy's, over patents related to mobile payment and in-app purchasing systems. Bluemercury's involvement appears to be part of a broader litigation campaign targeting companies that use these common e-commerce technologies. The patent asserted by Monticello has since been challenged in a reexamination proceeding at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.