Lush Closes Shops in the UK in Solidarity with Gaza

In a bold and unprecedented move, British cosmetics retailer Lush shut down all of its UK shops, factories, and even its website on Wednesday, 3 September, in a powerful gesture of solidarity with Gaza.

The company displayed messages in-store and online declaring: "Stop starving Gaza, we are closed in solidarity".

Lush estimates the closure cost amounted to around £300,000 in lost revenue, with additional financial impact tied to staff wages and reduced tax contributions. In a statement via LBC radio, co-founder Mark Constantine poignantly remarked that, ideally, the business would prefer sending food to Gaza rather than enduring profit loss.

The Greenwich-based brand also took the opportunity to appeal to the UK government, urging an immediate halt to arms sales to Israel and a firm stand against the humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Gaza. A spokesperson emphasized the symbolic weight of pausing business operations, noting that it also meant the UK government would lose a day of tax revenue—an act intended to highlight the urgency of the situation.

Lush’s activism is well-documented. In 2024, the company produced 102 million products and achieved a turnover of £690 million, operating 869 stores globally, with its largest presence in the UK.

The brand’s Watermelon Slice soap, a Palestine-focused fundraiser, remains its most successful single fundraising item—net proceeds support mental health services for children in Gaza and the West Bank.

This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here