By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters

THE SOUTH Korean K-beauty e-commerce platform, which has a viral presence on TikTok, has taken developer Hillwood’s Ark 42 warehouse in Trafford Park, Manchester on what is believed to be a record rent of £14.40 per ft2.

The facility is thought to be the K-beauty distributor’s first in the UK as it has previously supported online sales from its European warehouse based in Poland.

Ark 42 totals 42,593 ft2 and has 10m eaves, two dock and two level access doors with a 50m yard. It has achieved a BREEAM Excellent and EPC A rating. Jooint agents were CBRE and B8 Real Estate.

According to research by beauty industry body, CEW UK, in conjunction with  consumer intelligence companyNielsenIQ, the K-beauty products market has risen to command 8% of total skincare value within UK e-commerce. K-beauty searches in the UK rose 125% in 2025, while TikTok Shop brand value sales surged 430% year-on-year across the UK and Western Europe.

In addition it is thought to have generated a revenue of USD 9,206.2 million in 2025 which is expected to reach USD 19,184.3 million by 2033 according to research by Grand View Horizon.

E-commerce market intelligence from Grips Intelligence noted that StyleKorean.com global storefront saw annual sales of USD $26 million in 2025 with revenue projected to grow 20 – 50% through 2025/2026.