Shelley Haus, the chief marketing officer of Ulta Beauty, passed away on June 8, 2022, after a valiant fight against cancer. She was 49 years old. Her death was announced by the beauty retailer in a LinkedIn post, where they expressed their heartbreak and gratitude for her contributions to the industry, the brand, and the teams.
A Force of Passion and Compassion
Shelley Haus joined Ulta Beauty in 2014 as the senior vice president of brand marketing. She was promoted to chief marketing officer in 2019, overseeing all aspects of marketing, loyalty, customer relationship management, digital, social media, and public relations. She was responsible for leading the Ultamate Rewards program, which has over 37 million members and is one of the most successful loyalty programs in retail.
Haus was also instrumental in launching the Ulta Beauty at Target shop-in-shops, which debuted in 2021 and aimed to bring more convenience and accessibility to beauty enthusiasts. She also championed an expanded view of beauty that embraced wellness, diversity, and inclusion.
According to Retail Dive, Haus was “an innovative marketer, creative storyteller and a people-first leader who saw beautiful possibilities in everything and everyone.” She was known for her passion, optimism, drive, and grace. She was also a mentor and a role model for many women in the industry.
A Legacy of Giving Back
Shelley Haus was not only a leader in the beauty industry, but also a generous and caring person who gave back to her community. She served as a board member of Youth Guidance, a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring and counseling programs for Chicago public school students. She also supported various causes related to women’s empowerment, education, and health.
Ulta Beauty said that they would continue to support Youth Guidance in honor of Haus’ legacy. They also encouraged donations to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for bile duct cancer, the rare and aggressive form of cancer that Haus battled with.
Shelley Haus is survived by her husband, Jeff; her children, Jack and Kate; her parents, Jim and Judy Edgarton; her siblings, Scott Edgarton and Stacey Edgarton-Kelly; and many other relatives and friends.
She will be remembered as a fearless girl who lived life to the fullest and inspired others to do the same.
