Hartlepool Bodycare store closes as company goes into administration
A popular beauty retailer has closed its doors to the public after the company filed for administration earlier this month.
Bodycare, in Hartlepool’s Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, closed its doors to the public for the final time on Saturday, September 20.
The beauty retailer, which sells a range of affordable health, beauty and skincare products, filed for administration on Friday, September 5, immediately closing 32 of its 137 shops across the country.
The company's administrators Nick Holloway, Chris Pole and Michael Leeds have since closed another 30 stores, with more expected to cease trading in the coming weeks.
The news came after the company reported a number of challenges in recent years including rising costs, a shortage of stock and costs associated with operating stores.
Nick Holloway, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: "These remain challenging times for high street retailers as rising costs and reduced consumer spending continue to weigh heavily on trading.
"Unfortunately for Bodycare, which was also contending with a significant funding gap and increasing creditor pressure, these challenges proved too difficult to overcome.”
Nick added: “We’d like to express our sincere thanks to the hundreds of dedicated Bodycare staff who have shown such professionalism since our appointment.
"We will continue to trade the remaining 85 stores while we remain in discussions with interested parties with the aim of preserving as much of the business as possible.”
Middleton Grange Shopping Centre has had no formal communication from the administrators and is unable to comment at this time.