Lush - how do they get away with charging so much?

I’ve used their shampoo bars for years and the kids like a bath bomb sometimes. I’m very happy as an occasional customer.

They have always been expensive, even at the beginning with Costmetics to Go. I used to buy some of it back in the day as it was different and some of it good. Lush though now leaves me cold, too much glitter, too much dye, bath bombs are thrush bombs now, soaps that no longer last. Even things like their solid bubble bars in the CTG days people were told to put a 50p sized chunk in their bath, now they are marketed as putting the whole thing in, so £8 for one bath! Very greedy, strange company now.

It is expensive but I really like a few of their products. I buy the sleepy shower gel and use it as part of my wind down before bed routine. Also love their body sprays, the scents last all day and people always comment on how nice I smell. Also love their other shower gels but they’re not worth the money but always happy to receive as gifts.

They pay their taxes and they pay their suppliers and staff a fair wage and also support charity.
Unfortunately I can no longer shop there due to their support for gender ideology. Shame as I used to have their products as a treat.

I lived near the factory to where they made the products and the local towns had shops. The students would get part time jobs making the stuff so they used cheap labour. How they can charge the exorbitant prices god only knows but as other PP have said, the shops are always busy.

Revolting stuff, I'm so glad DC never grew an obsession with the products. The staff were awful...really pressurising you to buy products which I found really rude so avoided the shop. Can't remember the last time I ventured into one...15 years ago? Also their breast binding and gender woo crap pisses me off. The stench of the shop as you approach it is revolting and it's so artificial too. and don't get me started on cleaning out all the glitter from a bath bomb!! yuk...

I avoid it like the plague, the smell is fake, overpowering and gives me a banging headache

I used to love Lush maybe 20 years ago. The shampoo bars were great and everything was reasonably priced. They've gone wrong since and I haven't shopped there for yonks now.

I have two anecdotes about Lush. My friend's housemate used to work at the Lush factory back in the day and she always smelled like a Lush shop. It was very overpowering. 😂

I was also kicked out of a Lush shop as a young student when I was doing research for a uni project. Felt like a right rebel.

Because people are happy to pay it.

A lot of that is the "Mario" premium.

They have an awful lot of bath bombs etc for £3-£4 which is much more reasonable!

I don't go in as often as I used to, I was devoted to the lullaby shampoo bar until they discontinued it! I haven't found one which matches up.

I used them a lot when they were mail order only and called Cosmetics to go. I get my daughter the odd bath bomb but generally stock up in the sales.

Wow really! Weird.

I suspect some of their custom is longstanding customers who like particular niche products. I’ve used their henna and the Roots scalp treatment for over ten years because they do wonders for my fine, frizzy hair. Their shampoo bars last for ages and are great if you’re travelling, plus no plastic bottles. I’ll pop in occasionally for those bits and maybe treat myself to a bath bomb or shower gel while I’m there.

I used to buy a lot more from them but the cost is too prohibitive now.

I love their ro’s body conditioner which I used through out the entire pregnancy and my body/skin was so soft… No SLS or SLES in that products as it doesn’t need to foam… some products are meh and some for quite horrible smell, but not all, in my opinion.

I stopped going in there when they launched the anti-police campaign. The gender nonscence and breast binder stuff just cemented my distaste for the brand too.

Although I am one of the strange ones that loves the smell.

Lidl do a snow fairy shower gel dupe that is really nice

Because fools and their money are soon parted.

I imagine a large % of that is the licensing of the Mario brand because that is above what Lush normally charge

Genuinely interested who the target market is for lush. It’s not food ingredients, too smelly, not results driven . So unsure who would buy it at that price point? I don’t even consider it as brand I would use. When I was at uni , I do wander into their high street shop a few times to buy £8 gift sets as the packaging was nice and the price for a present. But that’s my only experience with it!

I used to like some of their products, back when you could buy a bubble or bath bomb for £2.75, but I don’t go in there any more. I went in once and was accosted by three different shop assistants in quick succession asking me what my favourite smell was-it felt like an attack! I haven’t been back since!

Yeah, they are not ethical at all - I have no idea about their product content but they have forced their staff to work in the nude and promote breast binders and gender bollocks

They claim to have 'ethical' values

Yep- but are their products ethical? loads of their stuff is so highly coloured with glitter and nuclear strength perfume. I cant imagine thats good for sensitive skin or the environment (I note they use a lot of SLS as well which is super harsh)

This. Stinks, very artificial smell.

Why is anything the price that it is? Because people will pay it. Selling 1 shower gel for £21 is better than selling 10 for £2.10

Plus I’m not a fan but their stuff is made in relatively small batches, you can’t compare the price to something mass produced in a Korean factory.

They’re vile. You can smell it from 20 feet away.

They claim to have 'ethical' values and be pro-workers rights and their target customer will pay a premium for this.

They are 'occasion' purchases - for birthdays, Christmas etc and again the customer will pay a premium and many will enjoy the experience of shopping there.

Their target market (teen girls I guess) have relatively high disposable income (as a proportion of their overall income) - it's not like they're worrying about rises in petrol costs or mortgage rates - this is one of a few things they spend their money on. Plus they are an easy gift for any teen girl or young woman - a very difficult market to buy for.