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.