Q&A: Does Lush Franchise in the UK?

Over the years, Lush has become one of the UK’s most popular and recognisable brands. Here, we take a look at whether Lush franchises and whether there are any similar franchising opportunities in the cosmetics industry.

It’s fair to say that Lush likes to do things differently. With its unique ‘no advertising’ policy, emphasis on employees performing ‘random acts of kindness’ by offering freebies, and distinctive vegetarian and vegan approach, this is certainly a one-of-a-kind business. Customers love its quirkiness, which is reflected in its unique in-store experience, thanks to chatty shop assistants and demonstrations of particular products.

History of Lush

The Lush story began with two people, Mark Constantine and Elizabeth Weir, who were suppliers for The Body Shop. When the retail store decided it wanted to bring its product manufacturing processes in-house, it paid the pair £11 million for their recipes.

Inspired by the success of The Body Shop, Constantine and Weir set out to open their own cosmetics business with the money they received. The mail-order cosmetics business they launched was successful at times, but eventually ended up in administration.

However, from the ashes arose a new venture. Constantine, Weir and a number of their associates began making and selling their own cosmetics and bath products, with a focus on natural ingredients, from a small shop in Poole. The business started to take off and, after a naming competition in 1995, the company was christened “Lush”. Since then, it has emerged as one of the UK’s most recognisable brands and a major global export.

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Over the years, Lush has built a large and loyal following that often engages with the business in ways that go beyond the traditional business-customer relationship. For instance, customers provide the cosmetics company with a considerable amount of online content that’s used to populate Lush’s social media profiles, blog and website.

The strong bond between the business and its customers has helped Lush minimise certain expenditures that can be costly for this type of company. This is best demonstrated in the fact that Lush can afford not to launch traditional advertising schemes involving television spots, print advertisements and celebrity endorsements.

As well as creating user-generated content, the cosmetics business has also run some attention-grabbing, in-store campaigns that are notable for their political subject matter. Famously, Lush has raised awareness of animal testing and done its bit for the environment by minimising packaging. This has made it incredibly popular among environmentally-conscious consumers and entrepreneurs.

Does Lush franchise?

Those hoping to open their own Lush franchise may be disappointed to discover that the business is not a franchise and has no plans to adopt a franchise model in the future. The business has always been a privately-owned company and does not intend to alter the way in which it facilitates expansion in the future. Therefore, there are no Lush franchise opportunities to get involved with.

This makes an investment in the business particularly tricky. While individuals are encouraged to make Lush aware of territories they believe would benefit from a new store, they will not be able to open or operate that store themselves.

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The cosmetics industry in the UK

The UK cosmetics industry is worth approximately £4.6 billion and comprises around 1,400 businesses, which employ roughly 36,600 people. These numbers are only expected to rise, as it is thought that, in 2018, the sector grew by 5.5 percent globally and shows potential to continue expanding. Growth figures as impressive as this demonstrate just how healthy the sector is, particularly considering that many other types of retailers are struggling.

Lush’s principal target market is young women between the ages of 18 and 45 that live in densely populated areas and have a reasonable amount of disposable income. However, the company’s ethical viewpoints ensure it also appeals to anyone interested in environmental protection and social issues. As a result, it has been able to establish itself as a key player in the UK cosmetics industry and should continue to stay profitable into the future.

Similar franchise opportunities

Although it may be disappointing to hear that there are no Lush franchise opportunities, you do have the option to join another cosmetics business if you’re interested in breaking into this industry. Let’s take a look at some of the best cosmetics franchise opportunities.

• Guinot – This business supplies and manufactures a range of beauty products. With a focus on high-quality skincare products, it also offers in-store beauty treatments and consultations. Guinot was established in 1972 and, since then, has set up more than 210 franchise locations across the world. It is also a member of the British Franchise Association (BFA), so you can be sure that it adheres to strict ethical standards. To join the franchise, you’ll need to make an investment of between £85,000 and £125,000.
• Stenders – This promising competitor to Lush has not yet arrived in the UK marketplace, and you could be the one that helps it expand onto British soil. Stenders is a Latvia-based franchise that offers bath and body care cosmetics, and, like Lush, the company emphasises its ethical values. With a presence in China, Japan, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, Stenders is currently looking for the right individual to operate a master franchise in the UK.
• Rush Hair & Beauty – This franchise operates a chain of 70 UK hair salons that welcome more than 16,000 customers every week. The average Rush customer returns every six weeks and spends around £70 in every appointment, so it’s a company with great business potential. Rush has over 20 years of experience in the haircare sector, and has established partnerships with big brands, such as L’Oréal and ghd, to bring its customers the very best products for their hair. To become a Rush franchisee, you’ll need to make a total investment of around £160,000 and find a site of more than 800 square feet in a busy street or shopping centre.

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Join the franchise industry with a cosmetics business today

Although there are currently no Lush franchise opportunities, other cosmetics businesses are using the franchise model to develop and expand. In fact, there are lots of cosmetics franchises out there just waiting for you to pick up the phone and get in touch with them. To browse the ones in our directory, click here.

Running a franchise in the retail sector in general can be incredibly rewarding, as you’ll help customers find the perfect product for them. To find out more about how much you can expect to invest in a retail franchise, click here.