Harvey Nichols is set to close its only standalone beauty shop to focus on its main stores.
The luxury department store chain’s Beauty Bazaar in Liverpool’s ONE shopping centre will soon shut up shop after more than a decade.
Harvey Nichols said: “As we implement our strategy to reposition Harvey Nichols for growth, our emphasis is on full category stores within our estate.
“We have reviewed our store portfolio and mutually agreed with the landlord of our Beauty Bazaar location in Liverpool to surrender the lease as we focus on investment into full-category stores.
“Unfortunately, this means that our employees in the Liverpool store may be at risk of redundancy.
“We have entered into a consultation process and are doing everything we can to support those affected by the surrender.”
Harvey Nichols has 14 shops, with eight in the UK and Ireland and another six international locations, and first opened its Beauty Bazaar in 2012.
The renewed focus on main line stores comes after former Alexander McQueen President Julia Goodard was appointed CEO last year.
Kate Phelan was named the fashion and beauty retailer’s first ever Creative Director shortly after.
There is stiff competition for beauty shoppers with Sephora and Space NK both expanding their high street footprints.
Sephora, owned by LVMH, is rapidly expanding in the UK with 20 more stores planned – including at Liverpool ONE.
Space NK is opening three new locations in Bluewater shopping centre, Chelmsford and Leicester, and expanding its Glasgow store.
The retailer also announced its intention to open a 4,600sqft flagship at Oxford Circus this summer and has fresh plans for a location in Birmingham’s Bullring.
Fellow department stores such as Fenwick and John Lewis have also upped their beauty game with new and expanded beauty halls in a bid to attract shoppers amid declining footfall.
Harrods now has five standalone H beauty locations in the UK since its first in Essex opened in 2020.