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.”