House Of Sephora - March 2026 | Case Study

The Brief

In March 2026, NEXT Printing partnered again with activation agency Darkhorse to deliver display structures for House of Sephora at Walsh Bay in Sydney. Following the August 2025 event, early conversations focused on refining stand variations and supporting updated design directions for the new campaign environment.

The event brought together more than 35 individual brand stands, combining standard, premium, and custom display formats across the space. Many structures shared common components. This allowed parts of the build to begin early while maintaining a consistent look across the wider environment.

NEXT worked closely with Darkhorse as stand requirements developed and new custom elements were introduced. Some structures were designed for storage and reuse after the event. Others were produced specifically for the campaign and scheduled for recycling or disposal depending on material type.

All stands needed to be installed within a single day. Early planning helped keep the installation organised and efficient once the team moved on site.

The Solution

House of Sephora combined standard, premium, and custom display stands across more than 35 brand spaces. The solution needed to balance consistency with flexibility across the environment.

Once quantities and formats were confirmed, NEXT Printing began producing shared structural components ahead of time. Elements such as the striped table legs used across many stands were printed, assembled, and stored in advance. This reduced build time during the bump-in period.

The team built the main structures using 16mm Re-board®. It provided strength, versatility, and reliable repeatability across multiple stand formats. Booth backwalls used 20mm Kapaboard, which delivered a smooth white edge and a clean presentation finish across the display areas.

Several custom features were also introduced. The Haus Labs stand included integrated LED shelf lighting to highlight products. Numerous small Foamboard standees were printed and profile cut to add layered detail and brand-specific touches across the space.

Together, these elements created a cohesive environment while still allowing each brand area to feel distinct.

The Execution

With more than 35 participating brands involved, artwork coordination played a key role in delivery. NEXT Printing prepared artwork templates for Darkhorse to distribute across the brand group. These templates included the Sephora branding strip and allowed brands to place graphics quickly and consistently within each stand layout.

NEXT also supported final artwork setup where required and supplied campaign mock-ups for approval before production began. Several rounds of 3D renders helped confirm finishes, structure, and layout ahead of installation.

Installation took place at Walsh Bay, Sydney, during a single-day bump-in. Experienced Re-board® installers assembled the structures across the event space in a coordinated sequence.

After the event, selected items moved into storage for reuse. Other Re-board® elements were removed for recycling, while non-paper-based items were disposed of as required.

Carbon Savings

By choosing Re-board® over MDF, Sephora reduced their carbon footprint by an amazing 1672kg. This is equivalent to eliminating almost 35 days of carbon emissions for the average Australian household or equivalent to a car travelling over 7,000 km in Australia.

The Takeaway

House of Sephora brought together a wide mix of established and emerging brands. Media and industry guests gained an early look at many products arriving in Sephora stores throughout 2026.

The event generated strong reactions across social media, with influencers describing it as one of the standout beauty preview events of the year.

The scale of the environment and the consistency across more than 35 display zones helped create a flexible showcase for participating brands and supported Sephora’s upcoming launch pipeline.