Ultimate Guide To Develop A Beauty Store App Like Nykaa: From Idea To Launch

Looking to create a beauty store app like Nykaa? This could significantly transform your business, particularly if you operate in the beauty product industry. The beauty and personal care market is progressing, and customers prefer the convenience of online shopping for their favorite beauty products. The global beauty and personal care e-commerce revenue is projected to be $338.9 billion by 2029. Therefore, there are still numerous opportunities to seize in the beauty e-commerce market. 

But creating a successful online store app like Nykaa isn’t just about listing products—it’s about delivering an unparalleled experience that keeps customers coming back to your beauty ecommerce store.

Here we have created a guide for you that will take you through everything you need to know, from understanding Nykaa’s business model to the tech stack, features, and the cost to develop an app like Nykaa. 

Let’s start with the blog!

History of Nykaa: From Launch to Success

Nykaa represents a story of vision and the best examples of hard work by an entrepreneur.  Founded in 2012 by Falguni Nayar, Nykaa started as an online retail store for selling beauty and wellness products. The app quickly gained popularity by offering a wide range of brands, from high-end to affordable, all in one place. What sets it apart from other eCommerce apps for beauty products is the company's focus on the ultimate customer experience. They built a strong online community, offered expert advice, and made shopping for beauty products online easy and enjoyable. This customer-centric approach is something you want to keep in mind while developing a beauty store app like Nykaa.

How Does an App Like Nykaa Work? The Working Model

The foundation of an online store app like Nykaa stands on a stock-based business model. The company has a massive inventory of beauty and personal care products for its customers. With a strategic business presence globally, including the USA, UAE, and other regions, this beauty ecommerce brand serves customers efficiently.
 

In terms of platform, Nykaa offers a website and app to its customers where they can sign up, search, and buy desired beauty products, paying through different payment methods of their choice. One important thing that you need to notice about the working model of a beauty store app like Nykaa is that multiple cosmetics manufacturers supply the products. The company ensures the authenticity of the products through strict measures that show the brand’s commitment to its customers.

In simple terms, the working of Nykaa is like 

• User onboarding 

• Product search through categories 

• Add to cart and checkout 

• Multiple payment modes

• Order fulfillment and shipping 

• Order tracking

• Personalized recommendations

• Product images and videos 

• Sourcing products from different manufacturers

• Customer feedback 

• E-gift cards, rewards, offers, and coupons

• Marketing and promotion 

Now let’s understand the technical in terms of the business model of how an app like Nykaa works. 

Build D2C Ecommerce App Like Nykaa: The Inspiring Business Model    

Nykaa’s business model puts inventory on the center stage. The brand guarantees that its customers must get high-quality products at affordable costs, making them easy to find through leveraging the D2C eCommerce platform app and website. While researching to create an app similar to Nykaa, it is necessary to understand its business model for your business success. 

The brand Nykaa has collaborated with manufacturers, and the company lists its products directly on its platform. Storing the products at warehouses at different locations, the company sells products directly to customers through apps, websites, and offline stores. 

So, the business model of an app like Nykaa works as follows:
 

1. Key Activities: offering high-quality beauty products and educational content related to personal care and beauty products. 

2. Critical Resources: D2C eCommerce platform and app, offline stores at different locations, social media, and advertisements.

3. Customer Relationship Management: customer services, social media, customer ratings, and reviews.  

4. Customer Segments: users looking for specific beauty products, and users shop all beauty products from a single shop. 

5. Cost Composition: Platform and infrastructure maintenance cost, advertising cost, and employee salaries. 

6. Value Proposition: a vast range of authentic beauty products, multi-payment modes, direct sourcing from customers, and revenue generation opportunities for manufacturers.

7. Revenue Generation: sales through the app and website, offline stores, and revenue through Nykaa Fashion and Nykaa Man.

How to Earn Through Beauty App Like Nykaa?

If you’re building an online store app like Nykaa, the motive is clear—you want to establish your business and generate good revenue. So, if your question is how Nykaa generates revenue or makes money, it is like this: 

• Product Sales: Direct sales from the app and website.

• Commission: Third-party sellers pay commissions on their sales through Nykaa’s platform

• Advertisements: Banner advertisement, promotion, and premium listing fees from cosmetic and fashion brands.

• Parallel Ventures: The company earns through parallel ventures such as Nykaa Man,  Nykaa Fashion, and Nykaa Pro. 

• Subscription: With the Nykaa Subscription program, customers can save on their favorite products, and in turn, the company earns through it.  

What Types of Customers You Can Target With An App Like Nykaa?

While going through the working and business model, some readers might have a question—What Are the Different Types of Customers Nykaa Deals With? So they can have an idea of how they can strategize their business. 

The categories of users apps like Nykaa deal with are as follows: 

• Active Product Seekers: The users of demographics 19-25 who want to try personal care products fall into this category. 

• Busy Shoppers: Working professionals aged 25+ fall into this category who search for daily-use beauty products but do not have time to purchase them from offline stores.

• Beauty Enthusiasts: the customers who are conscious about their skin and health, put them into this category.

• Brand Seekers: These customers have strong feelings for specific brands, are already familiar with international labels, and are always on the lookout for them.

• Professional Shoppers: The professionals from the beauty and makeup industry.  

The Steps to Build a Cosmetic Store App Like Nykaa

If you want to build an app like Nykaa, you need a proper development plan. Follow these steps:

1. Market Research and Planning

The first step you need to take is research and planning and that includes

• Research consumer behavior and industry trends. 

• List rivals and their strong points  

• Define the USP of your app.

2. Choose a Business Model

In terms of business model, you can choose any of the following, covering your business needs. 

• D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) Model like Nykaa.

• Marketplace Model.

• Hybrid Model 

3. Select Key Features

Features are directly associated with user experience, and here you need to include some key features that can make the user journey smooth while shopping for cosmetic products from your online beauty store app like Nykaa. 

• User-friendly navigation.

• Advanced search and filters.

• Multiple payment options.

• Personalized recommendations.

• Product reviews and ratings.

• Order tracking and notifications.

• Loyalty programs and discounts.

4. Choose the Right Tech Stack

Here you are going to create a D2C ecommerce app that will serve a good user base for their beauty product requirements, so choose the tech stack carefully. The best idea is to consult with an experienced e-commerce app development company. 

• Frontend: Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android), or cross-platform with Flutter/React Native.
• Backend: Node.js or Django with MongoDB/PostgreSQL for secure storage.
• E-commerce Features: Integrate Stripe, Razorpay, AI-powered search, and cloud hosting (AWS/Google Cloud).
• Security: SSL encryption, OAuth, and GDPR compliance.

5. App Development

The app development process is quite complex, and here you need to hire ecommerce developers who have a proven track record in developing seamless apps. As a brief summary, the process is like: 

• Create UI/UX designs for a better customer experience.

• Develop the front and back ends of the app.

• Integrate third-party APIs for payments and analytics.

6. Testing and Launch

Quality analysis is as crucial as designing and developing an on-demand e-commerce app, so follow a rigorous approach to test your app for bugs, security, and other issues. After eliminating all, make your app available for its users. 

• Test the app for bugs and errors.

• Fix any performance issues.

• Launch the app on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The Top Features to Consider While Developing a Nykaa-like App

To make your beauty store app successful, consider these must-have features:

• Easy Sign-up and Login

Users can access their account effortlessly using their email, phone number, or social media profile.
 

• Smart Search and Filters

Allow your customers to find products quickly with search suggestions and category filters.

• Multiple Payment Options

Incorporate a variety of payment options, including UPI, credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and cash on delivery.

• Wishlist and Favorites

With wishlist features, users can effortlessly save their favorite products for future purchases.

• Product Reviews and Ratings

This feature enhances trust, as the majority of customers consult reviews prior to making a purchase decision.

• Order Tracking and Notifications

The order tracking feature helps users to get real-time updates on their orders.

• Loyalty and Reward Programs

Offer discounts, rewards, and referral bonuses to attract repeat customers.

• Inventory Management

You can use this function to keep track of sold items that you want to put in the back.

• Personalized Recommendations

The AI-powered recommendation feature recommends suggestions about products based on user’s browsing history and preferences. 

• Secure Checkout

Ensure a smooth and secure payment process for your users 

• Customer Support

Offer AI chatbots and live chat support for instant issue resolution. It will create a credibility among users about your brand. 

Develop an Online Store App Like Nykaa: The Tech Stack

To develop an app like Nykaa, you need the right technology stack:

• Frontend Development (User Interface & Experience)

  • Native Apps: Use Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android for the best performance.
  • Cross-Platform: Frameworks like Flutter or React Native help build an app for both platforms efficiently.

• Backend Development (Server & Database)

  • Use Node.js or Django for a fast and scalable backend.
  • Choose MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or Firebase for secure data storage.

• E-commerce Features & Functionality

  • Payment Gateways: Integrate Stripe, Razorpay, PayPal, or UPI-based solutions.
  • AI-Powered Search & Recommendations: Implement Elasticsearch or AI-based recommendation engines.
  • Cloud Hosting: Opt for AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for reliability and scalability.

• Security & Compliance

  • Use SSL encryption, OAuth, and GDPR compliance measures to protect user data.

Cost Estimation for Developing an App Like Nykaa

While reading this blog, you may have been wondering things like how much it costs to make a beauty eCommerce app like Nykaa. So, the factors such as complexity, features, platform, technology stack, hiring costs, and location of developers are some of the things that affect how much it costs to make an eCommerce app. For example, the cost of making an eCommerce app like Zara or Nykaa in the US is between $50,000 and $200,000, while in India it's between $20,000 and $80,000.

So, it is like: 

1. Factors That Affect the Cost

• App Complexity: More features mean a higher cost.

• Technology Stack: Advanced tech increases the budget.

• Development Team: Hiring freelancers is cheaper than an agency.

• Third-Party Integrations: Adding APIs for payment, tracking, and AI raises costs.

2.  Development Cost by Region

Here is the ballpark cost estimate that represents the app-like Nykaa development cost in different regions. 

3. Breakdown of Costs

The entire cost covers the various stages involved in transforming your concept into a fully functional app. It's essential to know the cost breakdown related to this.

Final Thoughts

Building a beauty store app like Nykaa takes effort, planning, and investment. By following the right business model, selecting the right tech stack, and implementing essential features, you can create a successful beauty e-commerce platform. The cost varies based on complexity, but with a well-planned approach, you can build an app that attracts beauty lovers and generates great revenue. The most important thing that you need to take care of while developing your eCommerce app for beauty is choosing the right cosmetic store app development company. The company must have experience in developing a cutting-edge app. 

Being a leading eCommerce app development company, IMG Global Infotech can help you develop a D2C eCommerce app aligned to all your specific business needs. We have a team of experienced mobile app developers who will assist you from start to end, crafting a success story in the form of an app like Nykaa.