The overwhelming selection of products on offer seems to be drawing in shoppers
The sun was shining on the store’s second day.(Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO)
Before visiting Liverpool’s latest beauty store I might not have believed that anyone could be a die-hard fan of a shop selling shower gel. But stepping into the scent-filled beauty emporium that is Bath & Body Works, a day after its arrival in Liverpool, I was quickly corrected.
Bath & Body Works has been a big brand in America for years but it was only recently that it came to England. The beauty and self-care retailer’s first years in the UK market don’t seem to be going badly at all.
The store opened its first shop in Kent in 2022 followed by one in Statford, London and most recently, a store in Liverpool ONE. Shoppers were eager for the store to open in the city on April 28, with some queuing up as early as 6am.
Having seen the pink posters advertising the shop’s opening in Liverpool ONE for the past few weeks, I of course had to go and check it out for myself. The first thing I noticed on stepping inside the store was unsurprisingly was the smell.
An almost overwhelming assortment of scents and products flooded my eyes and nose as vanilla, strawberry, lavender and pretty much any other scent you can imagine swirled in the air. I strolled to the back of the store, sniffing every scented candle and body spray in sight along the way.
My favourite item was the Eucalyptus & Lavender hand cream (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
The overwhelming selection of products on offer is what seems to be drawing shoppers to the store. As well as self care items, the store also stocks candles and refillable air fresheners (which in an aroma-induced daze I did try to apply to my skin).
Speaking to store manager, Charlie Prue, I learn that the most popular products since the store opened have been the vanilla romance line and the new tropical lines which include fragrance products and creams.
Charlie said: “It’s been amazing. Die hard fans of the brand have queued since 6am and many visiting have been from the US. We had a girl from LA who was living here who was absolutely made up by the store’s opening.”
Store manager, Charlie Prue, said the first day had been “amazing”
Also inspired by her time shopping in the US, Georgia Lysaght, 25, from Crosby said: “I discovered the brand in New York and as soon as I heard it was opening here I had to come. I love all the testers. There’s just so much variety and you can get everything in one place.”
Georgia had bought four mini fragrances in a £25 promotional offer. Kiran Ahmed, 27, from Wirral told the ECHO her love for the shop comes from its collectability.
The offer also includes mini body washes(Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO)
It seems the trend of ‘cult’ beauty brands is not going anywhere, with shoppers anticipating the brand’s opening in the city for months. It’s one of a number of big name brands that have opened in Liverpool ONE, with Sephora also set to open next month.