(qlmbusinessnews.com . Sun 7th Sep, 2025) London, UK —
UK Retail Shocker: Bodycare Closes Doors on 32 Stores Amid Financial Turmoil
In a major blow to the UK high street, the embattled health and beauty retailer Bodycare has announced the immediate closure of 32 of its stores nationwide, resulting in 450 job losses, following its plunge into administration.
Bodycare, a go-to destination for affordable cosmetics and beauty essentials, famed for its generous-sized offerings of moisturisers and conditioners stacked in towering shelves, employs around 1,500 staff across the country. The chain boasts 147 physical stores which have lately become financially unsustainable due to escalating rent costs.
Administrators managing the company’s affairs pointed towards a difficult retail environment, characterised by soaring operational costs and intensified competition for consumer spending.
Originating from Lancashire in 1970, Bodycare has asserted that the bulk of its outlets will remain operational as it considers “options”, which includes the pursuit of a potential buyer.
The closures will affect stores in various locations including Croydon, Edinburgh, Hemel Hempstead, Scunthorpe, and Wrexham, among others.
This development comes on the heels of the announcement by the US parent company of Claire's, a prominent accessory and jewellery chain, that it had found a buyer after it too filed for bankruptcy due to increased supply chain expenses. Similarly, Poundland narrowly evaded administration recently after its rescue plan was greenlit, salvaging the business from imminent financial ruin.
Nick Holloway, the managing director at Interpath and one of the joint administrators, commented on the situation, saying, “These remain challenging times for high street retailers as they navigate through the increased costs and diminished consumer spending that continue to burden trading operations.”
“For Bodycare, grappling also with considerable funding shortfalls and mounting creditor pressure, the hurdles were insurmountable,” Holloway added.
Bodycare has been synonymous with simple, effectively organised store layouts, notable for their vivid lighting and window displays that frequently showcased large quantities of household items like toilet paper and washing powder. Its warehouse-style shelves brimming with items ranging from lip balm to foot cream also drew customers.
However, the retailer's dive into administration underscores the difficulties facing the value-driven retail segment in adapting to the evolving trade dynamics and operating costs on the UK’s high streets, according to retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth.
Shuttleworth remarked, “Exceptionally tough competition for every pound spent on health and beauty purchases,” highlighting that rivals range from iconic brands like Boots to discounters such as B&M.
She noted a shift among younger consumers towards digital platforms like TikTok for their beauty buys, an area where Bodycare struggled to gain a foothold. Additionally, Shuttleworth pointed out the rising labour costs and the escalating issue of shoplifting as key challenges.
The recent announcement follows on from news last month that River Island, another high-street fashion retailer, decided to shut 33 stores in a bid to restructure after facing hefty costs and significant financial losses.
Natalie Berg, a retail analyst, emphasised the unforgiving nature of the current retail market, stating, “In today’s marketplace, to stand still is to fall behind. Continuous evolution is crucial for remaining relevant to your customer base.”
Among the stores earmarked for immediate closure are locations in Beverley, Cameron Toll, Cannock, and many others, marking a significant reduction in Bodycare's UK high street presence.
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