Beauty Bay seeks rescue as website shuts down

Online cosmetics retailer Beauty Bay is on the brink of collapse after filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators. 

The filing provides the Manchester-based business with a temporary 10-day legal protection period, preventing creditors from taking action while rescue options are explored, according to The Mirror. The notice is understood to have been filed earlier this week.

Beauty Bay has since taken its website offline, displaying a holding message that reads: "We’ll Be Back Soon. Beauty Bay is offline right now, we’ll be back shortly."

The development follows last month's news that Beauty Bay had appointed advisers to explore new funding options that could lead to a full sale of the business. The Manchester-based company had launched a strategic review, with a process to seek investment expected to begin in late January, according to Sky News.

Founded in 1999 as Fragrance Bay by brothers Arron and David Gabbie, the retailer initially focused on luxury fragrances before rebranding as Beauty Bay in 2007 and expanding into a broader makeup, skincare and beauty offer. Today, it stocks more than 200 brands spanning UK and international names, including Laneige, Sacheu Beauty, The Inkey List and Wonderskin, alongside its own By Beauty Bay range.

In recent years, Beauty Bay has faced intensifying competition from Sephora, Space NK, Boots and Cult Beauty, to name a few, all of which have continued to invest in omnichannel expansion and experiential retail.

Sources previously told Sky News that the company was seeking either a buyer or an investment partner to help stabilise the business and support the growth of its own-label line. Advisory firm Interpath has been assisting with the process.

TheIndustry.beauty has contacted Beauty Bay for comment.