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Beauty chain Bodycare to close 32 stories in administration

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Beauty chain Bodycare to close 32 stories in administration


Faarea MasudBusiness reporter, BBC News

Alamy Two customers leave a Bodycare shop, where shelves and shelves of beauty and cosmetic products reach from the ceiling to the floor.Alamy

Struggling health and beauty chain Bodycare says it will immediately shut 32 of its stores across the UK and make 450 staff redundant, after going into administration.

Known for being a bargain stop for cosmetics and beauty products, including big tubs of popular moisturisers and conditioners displayed on floor-to-ceiling shelves, the firm has about 1,500 employees.

It has 147 bricks-and-mortar shops which have become too expensive to maintain amidst rising rents.

The company’s administrators said retailers were facing “challenging times” with rising costs and fierce competition for consumer spending.

The firm, established in Lancashire in 1970, said the majority of its stores will continue to trade as normal while it explores “options” including looking for a buyer.

Bodycare will shut stores in places including Croydon, Edinburgh, Hemel Hempstead, Scunthorpe and Wrexham.

The news comes after the US owner of accessories and jewellery store Claire’s, which also has a prominent High Street presence, said it secured a buyer after filing for bankruptcy, suffering from higher costs in its supply chain.

Poundland recently avoided collapsing into administration after its turnaround plan was approved days before the chain was due to run out of money.

Nick Holloway, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “These remain challenging times for high street retailers as rising costs and reduced consumer spending continue to weigh heavily on trading.

“Unfortunately for Bodycare, which was also contending with a significant funding gap and increasing creditor pressure, these challenges proved too difficult to overcome.”

Bodycare’s no-nonsense store layouts are known for their bright lighting, and window displays that often feature piles of toilet tissue or pyramids of washing up powder.

It also offers warehouse-style display shelves packed with goods like lip balm, perfume, false nails and foot cream.

But its administration highlights how tough the “value sector of retail is finding both trading conditions and the cost of operating on UK high streets”, said retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth.

“Competition is fierce for every pound spent by shoppers on health and beauty products”, she said, adding that competition was “strong” from the likes of Boots to B&M.

She said younger shoppers were moving more towards TikTok for their health and beauty products – but, Bodycare’s administrators admitted, a move to online was something it struggled with.

Ms Shuttleworth added that along with the rising cost of labour, the impact of shoplifting continued to grow.

Last month, fashion chain River Island said it would close 33 stores in a restructuring move after struggling with high costs and multi-million pound losses.

Retail analyst Natalie Berg said there was “no room for complacency” in the current retail landscape.

“In today’s market, standing still is falling behind. You have to continuously evolve if you want to stay relevant to your customers.”

The stores which are to close with immediate effect are:

  • Beverley
  • Cameron Toll
  • Cannock
  • Clydebank
  • Cramlington
  • Croydon
  • Darwen
  • Dumfries
  • Edinburgh
  • Erdington
  • Falkirk
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • Kirkcaldy
  • Loughborough
  • Lytham St Annes
  • Macclesfield
  • Maidstone
  • Morecambe
  • Newport
  • Northfield
  • Paisley
  • Parkhead
  • Perth
  • Port Talbot
  • Rhyl
  • Royton
  • Scunthorpe
  • Stourbridge
  • Tamworth
  • West Bromwich
  • Wood Green
  • Wrexham



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Smartworld Developers enters Noida, to invest Rs 2K cr on 1st realty project – The Times of India

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Smartworld Developers enters Noida, to invest Rs 2K cr on 1st realty project – The Times of India


Realty firm Smartworld Developers will invest around Rs 2,000 crore to build its first project in Noida, as part of the company’s plan to expand beyond the Gurugram property market. Smartworld Developers has announced its entry into Noida, which is an important micro-market in the Delhi-NCR. The company has acquired a 6-acre land parcel in Sector 98 along the Noida Expressway through an auction process for Rs 414 crore, it said in a statement. Smartworld Developers will build a mixed-use project comprising premium branded residences, high-street retail, and serviced homes. The company will invest around Rs 2,000 crore to build this project, while the estimated revenue exceeds Rs 3,000 crore. “Entry into Noida is a significant milestone for Smartworld Developers as we further strengthen our presence in the NCR region. Noida’s rapidly evolving infrastructure and its growing importance as a key real estate hub offer immense potential,” said Ashish Jerath, President – Sales & Marketing, Smartworld Developers. The company is in discussions with a leading global brand for a potential collaboration on the Noida project. Smartworld Developers clocked Rs 6,400 crore worth of sales bookings last fiscal year, a remarkable 60 per cent annual growth. Gurugram-based Smartworld Developers has delivered around 6.5 million sq ft to date, and another 20 million sq ft is currently under construction. According to real estate consultant PropTiger data, housing sales across eight major cities fell 95,547 units during the third quarter of this calendar year from 96,544 units in the corresponding period of the preceding year. Sales of residential properties in Delhi-NCR decreased 21 per cent to 7,961 units from 10,098 units, said PropTiger, which Aurum PropTech has recently acquired.





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IndiGo Faces Massive Flight Cancellations: Can Travel Insurance Save Stranded Flyers?

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IndiGo Faces Massive Flight Cancellations: Can Travel Insurance Save Stranded Flyers?


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IndiGo faces massive flight cancellations despite DGCA rollback, affecting thousands. Experts like advise on travel insurance claims and proper documentation.

ndiGo Disruption Intensifies: What Travel Insurance Covers During Flight Chaos

There seems to be no end to the mayhem of IndiGo’s operational meltdown as hundreds of flights have been cancelled on Saturday. The chaos has continued despite the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rolling back the Flight Duty Time Limitations orders, which were the lead cause to disrupt the capability of carriers to maintain regular operation.

Thousands of passengers, from students to senior citizens to professionals, have been affected in the past few days during the flight cancellations, disrupting their plans and schedules. Along with that, they have to face monetary losses too.

Travel insurance is one such option that travelers can use while facing this kind of situation. Not many of people in India are aware of how a travel insurance works and whether all plans cover flight cancellation costs.

Meet Kapadia, Head of Travel Insurance at Policybazaar.com said that travel Insurance offers fixed pay outs if the traveller is stranded for a specified number of hours (6–12 hours).

“They also reimburse the cost if the flight is cancelled and traveller has to book a new flight, or arrange hotel stay, cover meals, essentials, and other emergency purchase,” Kapadia added.

Customers, however, should know that a very low-priced/ basic product of travel insurance may not pay for non-medical losses from an airline operational cancellation unless that benefit is purchased, according to Chetan Vasudeva, Senior Vice President – Business Development at Elephant.in, Alliance Insurance Brokers.

“No – basic plans may not fully cover losses from airline operational problems unless the policy explicitly includes or has an option for trip cancellation / carrier cancellation, trip interruption, missed-connection or trip-delay benefits,” Vasudeva added.

He further told that many standard travel policies include only basic medical, baggage and emergency assistance by default. “If you want protection specifically against airline operational issues, check for carrier cancellation/trip cancellation/missed-connection or buy a cancel-for-any-reason add-on cover.”

Beyond the financial safety net , the insurer also provides 24×7 assistance and emergency support to help passengers manage disruption with less stress in unfamiliar locations.

What Should Customers Need To Do To Get Claims?

The first 24 hours after a flight cancellation are crucial for building a strong claim file.

The policyholder should immediately need to obtain written proof from the airline such as an email, SMS, or a formal flight disruption certificate, that clearly state the due cause and timing of the cancellation, explained Vasudeva. “At the same time, this is when policyholder should inform their insurance provider’s helpline immediately after the disruption; quick intimation is often listed as a mandatory requirement in most policies,” he added.

During this period, every incidental expense such as food, hotel stays, transport, or rebooking, should be supported with itemized receipts and payment proofs. If the airline offers alternative arrangements like meal vouchers or free accommodation, passengers need to preserve those records as well, because insurers cross-verify what has already been compensated.

Careful documentation in the first 24 hours substantially reduces the chances of queries, delays, or rejection during the processing of claims, Vasudeva stated.

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North Tyneside Warm Welcome hubs an ‘important’ helping hand

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North Tyneside Warm Welcome hubs an ‘important’ helping hand


People struggling with high heating bills and other cost-of-living pressures are being encouraged to use a series of “Warm Welcome” spaces this winter.

More than 20 places across North Tyneside, including community hubs, libraries and churches, are taking part in the scheme, which also sees free food and drink offered alongside a range of activities.

The Meadows community centre in North Shields is among them, with sessions each Thursday from noon until 14:30 GMT.

Support worker Jen Buchanan says it means help is available at a time of year when it is badly needed.

“There are no boundaries – everybody is welcome. That’s the message we try to get out there.

“They can have something hot to eat, make new friends or even just charge their phones and iPads.

“We also run craft sessions to encourage more people to come and that helps take away any stigma people might have about coming in for food.

“More and people are coming along, which really shows the importance of schemes like this.”

The hubs can also serve as a way to direct people towards long-term help, Ms Buchanan says, for issues such as struggling to pay heating bills, income support or gaining work skills.

“We have a crisis fund for emergencies and can help get someone gas and electric, or refer them to support groups for longer-term problems.

“We’ve even bought someone new shoes because they were walking around wet.”

The scheme is being funded through North Tyneside Council’s Household Support Fund, which the authority says is part of a range of measures aimed at helping people in the area with cost-of-living pressures.

A list of the venues taking part can be found on the authority’s website.



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