Cosmetics retailer Lush has announced record results in the UK and Ireland for December as shoppers returned to the high street in the lead up to Christmas.
The company reported sales of £40.5m last month - up 13.1% on 2021 and up 11% on pre-pandemic sales in 2019. The Poole-headquartered firm, which has a huge factory in Dorset, said it was its best trading month of all time.
In the UK and Ireland, Lush said it sold more than 150,000 of its Snow Fairy gift sets in the run-up to Christmas and hundreds of thousands of stand-alone products from its Christmas range.
“We were confident in a return to a more traditional Christmas trading pattern this year, and increased our stock levels and seasonal recruitment to provide the best possible experience for our customers," said Kat Hannible, Lush UK&I retail director."
"I’m happy to say that our optimistic preparation paid off, and we’re delighted to report these results," added Ms Hannible. "I cannot over emphasise the credit that is due to our shop and digital fulfilment staff, who have overcome the challenges of this year to deliver a fantastic Christmas. We are also grateful to our manufacturing teams in Dorset making fresh products around the clock as the sales kept coming.”
The news comes one year since the business announced it was quitting a number of social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat following concerns around their safety for users.
Lush said it was investing £7.4m in growing its retail estate across UK and Europe through new shops, relocations and refits, with the biggest shop opening in Dundrum Town Centre in Ireland. It has also launched a new spa experience based on its seasonal product collection.
The brand opened the 'Lush Lounge' last month - a free, immersive space in London’s Westfield, White City - and is also launching a series of licensing collaborations with Japanese anime One Piece; Netflix’s Stranger Things; and a brand collaboration with independent streetwear company Lazy Oaf.
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