Elizabeth Arden closed out its fiscal year on a high note, with net sales up 5.3% to $1.2 billion. In North America, sales edged up 2.9% to $778.4 million benefitting from its prestige business, while internationally net sales jumped 9.8% to $459.9 million with Europe, travel retail and developing markets contributing the most gains. For the quarter, net sales grew 4.6%.

Looking ahead, the company projects growth to continue in 2013 in the 13.5% to 15% range. In a conference call with analysts, E. Scott Beattie, chairman and CEO, and the Arden executive team, highlighted the company’s future plans.

*With the hopes of doubling its signature brand’s sales in the next five years, the company will be closely watching results of the restage of Elizabeth Arden, complete with new packaging, counters, and promotional materials. Fifty flagships will be fully outfitted by mid-October, with all other stores receiving just new products to start. The repositioning has gotten the brand space in new places including doors in South Africa, Australia and travel retail. “After the second quarter, we will have a good idea from those flagships on what’s working well, and what isn’t working,” said Scott. “These results will be a leading indicator on what’s possible for this brand going forward.” For the year, the Elizabeth Arden brand’s sales rose 7%, with skin care up 9%.

*The company anticipates the sagging mass fragrance market to be significantly boosted this year when it introduces last year’s two top selling prestige scents – Justin Bieber Someday and Taylor Swift Wonderstruck – into the channel. Joel Ronkin, executive vice president, North America, also said there are efforts at “retail reinvention to improve the look and feel of the fragrance category at mass.” He reported a second major retailer will be trying a tester bar.

*A first fragrance from Nicki Minaj, along with the introduction of Justin Bieber’s Girlfriend and Taylor Swift’s new Wonderstruck Enchanted this fall is expected to continue the expansion of the prestige fragrance category. The company is also shifting direction away from flankers back to the pillar scents, exampled by the new Britney Spears Twist that features the Fantasy and Midnight Fantasy scents packaged together. Other prestige fragrance highlights for the company include new scents from BCBG, True Religion and Ed Hardy.

*To build its international footprint the company is adding an office in Brazil, a market that presents “the greatest opportunity for us in terms of fragrance growth,” said Scott. That market also allows for a variety of business models, he added. The company also has eyes on developing Russia and the Middle East, and has been able to move its business more upscale in China. While it now operates in 80 countries, Scott said there is much opportunity for international growth pointing out, “We are still not in three of the top five beauty markets.”