Bodycare has officially announced the closure of its remaining 56 stores by this Saturday, resulting in 444 job losses. The decision follows the company’s recent entry into administration. Initially, 32 stores were shut down immediately, with an additional 30 stores confirmed for permanent closure shortly after.
Despite efforts by advisors at Interpath to find a buyer for the stores, no successful deal has been made. Nick Holloway, the managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, expressed gratitude towards Bodycare’s staff for maintaining the brand’s high standards of service during the administration process.
Established in 1970 by Graham and Margaret Blackledge, Bodycare has been under the ownership of Baaj Capital since 2021. The stores offer a variety of beauty products from renowned brands like L’Oreal, Nivea, and Elizabeth Arden.
This closure adds to the list of recent casualties on the high street, with Poundland being sold to Gordon Brothers for £1 and Claire’s undergoing administration discussions. Poundland has put 11 store closures on hold but still plans to reduce its total number of stores to 650-700 from an original count of 800.
Claire’s, which entered administration last month, is also in talks with potential buyers to secure its presence on British high streets.