Iconic Nottingham-based brand Boots is showcasing 80 years of its famous No7 make-up in a new exhibition.
The brand was originally created in Nottingham with the modern woman in mind, eventually becoming a well-known name around the world.
Original archive material and artefacts are being displayed for the first time from the Boots Archives at the display at Lakeside Arts Centre.
“The history of Boots is deeply rooted in Nottingham
Kathryn Steenson, Archivist at Manuscripts and Special Collections at The University of Nottingham, said: “The history of Boots is deeply rooted in Nottingham, where the company was founded and where so many local people have worked and shopped.
“It seems fitting to tell the story of No7 on the University of Nottingham campus that Jesse Boot helped create.”
The name No7 was chosen because at the time when Lenton-based Boots was launching its own brand, the number seven was an indication of perfection.
There are a series of events dedicated to the history of No7 taking place at the University of Nottingham between Friday 15th January to Sunday 17th April.
More information is available on the Manuscript and Special Collections page.
History of No7
- 1935 – Boots launched the No7 brand
- May Day 1935 – First beauty parlour was launched in London’s Regents Street store
- 1949 -No7 was re-introduced and the market saw an increase as wartime factory work gave more money to spend on luxuries
- 1952 – The packaging was re-launched in gold and yellow
- 1960s – No7 accounted for 25 per cent of every £1 spent on Boots own-brand toiletries
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A shipment of No7 lipsticks to Russia caused a sensation among Russian women, who had not previously seen such a variety of shades
- April 16th 1971 – “Tomorrow morning at nine o’clock, something beautiful is happening in every Boots shop in the country!” – it was the first time the brand had been seen on television
- February 1995 – New No7 was launched, with more than 30 new products, 150 new shades, and new packaging
- October 2002 – Intelligent colour foundation and is now the number one selling foundation in the UK with over five million sales.
