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EXCLUSIVE: Homebase is the most recent retailer to really feel with wrath of the UK high-street closure apocalypse. But, there’s one model predicted by consultants to outlast all of them – we converse to one of many founders
07:30, 08 Feb 2025Updated 07:57, 08 Feb 2025
The excessive avenue is in a state of decline – however one retailer has been predicted to be the ‘final one standing’ (inventory)(Image: Getty Images)
The founder of a major high street brand revealed the main reason why they’ll be one of the ‘last standing’ in the on-going shop closure cull.
British streets have been rapidly riddled with boarded up shops and permanently closed shutters as brick and mortar stores fall into a ‘vicious cycle of decline’.
Brands that were once household names have fell victim to the brutality of shop closures, where thousands have lost jobs and streets are readily becoming eyesores.
However, there’s one shop that has been predicted to be the ‘last one’ standing and that’s the fresh cosmetic retailer, Lush.
Last year, we spoke with expert trend forecaster Disha Daswaney who explained: “Lush will probably be one of many final manufacturers standing due to the way in which they continuously innovate from a retail perspective.”
Rowena Bird, one of many six founders of Lush, shared why she thinks the model will survive the high-street cull (Image: PA)
As the brand behind the bath bomb reaches its 30th birthday, we have now spoke with one of the co-founders of Lush, Rowena Bird, to understand why she thinks – and hopes – the shop will withstand the high street closure apocalypse.
The business woman exclusively told us: “The factor that we’ve realised is that it’s a must to stay related.
“And that’s the most important thing, to be relevant. If you just keep your brand the same as it’s always been, then people will just think ‘same old, same old’.
“Whereas for us, we’re at all times introducing new product or we’re doing a marketing campaign so will probably be in peoples faces with that. We’ve additionally began doing the collaborations now, which is our newest greatest ‘factor”
“By introducing these they are going to be introducing different individuals to you. We’ve accomplished ‘Super Mario’ and ‘Minecraft’ so individuals will assume ‘Oh Lush have Super Mario and Minecraft too – it is bought Wicked and Shrek’.
Trend forecaster Disha Daswaney predicted that Lush would be the ‘final standing’ store (Image: AFP by way of Getty Images)
“So we’re attempting to maintain related with what individuals are speaking about at the moment – and that is another excuse why we just like the campaigning.”
Lush opened their first store in Poole, Dorset, 30 years ago and have slowly but surely built a cosmetic empire. They now have over 886 stores in 52 countries, with 205 stores being in the UK.
Despite competitor The Body Shop falling into administration of February last year where they were eventually acquired by German private equity firm Aurelius, Lush seems to be standing strong.
It seems, as Rowena shared, the pursuit to stay relevant has really paid off. Not only with striking brand collaborations with Nintendo and Mattel to coincide with the Super Mario Bros Movie and Barbie – both becoming culturally significant – they’ve stayed ‘true’ to the core of the brand.
Lush pride themselves on being ‘fresh’ and ‘vegan’, with founders – especially Mark and Mo Constantine – weaving their philanthropy through the business.
The model has supported ‘grass roots’ charities and, as of 2024, have raised £100million since they began donating to causes across the globe in 2007.
Lush has over 200 shops within the UK (inventory)(Image: LightRocket by way of Getty Images)
Although Lush have been caught up in controversary due their campaigning, including raising awareness about British ‘spy-cops’ who forged intimate relationships with female activists, they have stayed true to their core – all while accepting they need to constantly evolve to stay “related.”
Rowena shared that keeping relevant also weaves in with being ‘on the ball’ when it comes to getting involved with what people are socially concerned about at the time.
She continued: “There’s plenty of waking up that must be accomplished and plenty of motion that must be taken.
“So being there and being busy doing that, making individuals take into consideration their daily – not instructing them – it is the schooling of it. If we will educate you on fox searching or shark finning, you are conscious of it and might make a alternative.
The tub bomb model has caught to their philanthropic values(Image: Getty Images)
“You may assume when going right into a restaurant or within the countryside seeing gentleman on the again of their horses chasing a fox, as a substitute of considering ‘how lovely does that look on a crisp winters day’ you may assume – ‘b***ards!’.”
Trend forecaster Disha Daswaney believes that those in beauty and wellness, along with Lush, will be the survivors among high-street shops.
It’s a booming industry that doesn’t seem to be slowing, which is aided by the influencer culture of social media.
Despite making the choice to come off socials – including X and Instagram – a number of years ago due to platforms not aligning with Lush’s values, the brand continues to grow – introducing a fragrance range and in-house spa services more recently.
Despite experiencing a slight decline in model turnover in 2023, Lush nonetheless managed to make an enormous £816.8m, which is a decline of two.3% on 2022.
The high-street is in a ‘vicious cycle of decline’ – however will Lush stand the check of time? (inventory)(Image: In Pictures by way of Getty Images)
On Lush and it’s longevity, Disha concluded: “They have cleverly considered client expertise by way of remedies, expertise, and category-specific areas.
“Lush is consistently at the forefront of what interests their diverse consumer base and appeals to them seamlessly.
“Beauty and wellness shops may have the longest-lasting affect. The world magnificence market is predicted to achieve $580billion by 2027 and is steadily rising and innovating.
“These stores provide consumers with a sense of comfort and offer vital experiences that they can tap into from time to time.”
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