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The Business of Fashion Podcast

Hailey Bieber on Building Rhode into a Billion-Dollar Beauty Brand

The Business of Fashion Podcast

The Business of Fashion

Fashion & Beauty, Business, Arts

4.6770 Ratings

🗓️ 13 June 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When Hailey Bieber launched her beauty and skincare brand Rhode in 2022, it quickly built a loyal customer base and achieved rapid commercial success. By early 2025, Rhode had generated $212 million in net sales and, in May, was acquired by E.l.f. Beauty in a landmark $1 billion deal.


“Rhode is not just about the product; it's the whole entire world of Rhode. I want people to feel something when they get the products. When they use it, I want them to feel that they are a part of something,” Bieber shared at The Business of Beauty Global Forum 2025. “I really do see us being a legacy brand. Rhode is going to go down as one of the greats.”


In her first public appearance since the acquisition, Bieber joins The Business of Beauty’s executive editor Priya Rao on stage at Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley, California, during The Business of Beauty Global Forum to reflect on her launching her brand, her approach to world building and her vision for the future of Rhode. 



Key Insights: 


  • Rhode is intentionally positioned as more than a skincare brand. “It’s not just about the product, it’s the whole entire world of Rhode,” Bieber said. She envisions the company evolving into a lifestyle brand with editorial flair and cultural relevance beyond just beauty. "I want people to feel something when they get the products, I want them to feel that they are a part of something."


  • Growing Rhode, Bieber rejected traditional beauty incubators and industry insiders in favour of building a close-knit team with a fresh perspective. “I knew I wanted to put my own money into it. I knew I always wanted to be the majority owner,” she said. The result was a brand that felt “super curated and tight” — an intentional strategy to maintain clarity and control.


  • The $1 billion sale to E.l.f. Beauty was not a quick decision. Bieber was deliberate about finding a partner that respected Rhode’s DNA. “Rhode is like my baby; I'm so precious about it. The idea of ever even considering [a sale] was a very big deal to me.” Bieber underscores the importance of personal connection and integrity in building a brand that resonates. “I am Rhode and Rhode is me,” she said, explaining that the brand’s tone, aesthetic and communication all reflect her own sensibilities. “That’s why I always say, Rhode is my world. It doesn't feel like a job to me.” 


  • Rhode is a long game. “I really do see us being a legacy brand,” Bieber said. “Rhode’s going to go down as one of the greats.” Her goal is to build something that endures, rooted in authenticity and longevity rather than trend-chasing. “It’s not just about the product, it’s the whole entire world of Rhode."


Additional Resources:



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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, this is Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Business of Fashion. Welcome to the

0:08.8

POF podcast. It's Friday, June 13th. When Haley Bieber launched her beauty and skincare brand

0:15.8

Road in 2022, she quickly built a loyal customer base and achieved rapid commercial success. By early

0:23.6

2025, Road had generated $212 million in annual sales, and in May was acquired by Elf Beauty in a landmark $1 billion deal.

0:34.6

The thing for me with Road is that it's not just about the product, it's the

0:38.9

whole entire world of Road. It's the way I want people to feel something when they get the

0:43.7

products, when they use them. I want them to feel that they are a part of something. I know we've only

0:48.1

been around for three years and we're still such a baby, but I do see us being a legacy brand.

0:52.3

I said it from the beginning. That is my goal.

0:54.9

Road's going to go down as one of the greats.

0:57.3

In her first public appearance since the acquisition, Haley spoke with the Business of Beauty's

1:02.3

executive editor, Priya Rao about launching her brand, how the deal with Elf transpired, and

1:09.0

her vision for the future of road.

1:11.5

Here's Haley Bieber on the BOF podcast.

1:22.3

Haley, I can't say how excited this crowd is to see you and how excited I am to see you. This is something we've

1:29.2

been talking about for a while now, maybe three years since this forum was launched. So thank you

1:35.6

for being here. Thank you for having me. Haley, you and I met a long time ago. Eight years ago, I think,

1:41.7

and it was for the cover of a male magazine, and we were doing a profile,

1:46.8

and I think you were at the beginning of your modeling career, is that right?

1:50.2

Probably something along those lines. Yeah, I'm like, how old was I eight years ago? I think I was

1:53.8

maybe 20? Yeah, yeah, and you were still kind of figuring out what it is you wanted to do. You were doing

1:59.2

some modeling, you were hosting.

...

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