Bankrupt retail chain suddenly closing all stores
The chain has been troubled.
Stop to consider, for a moment, the last time you shopped for personal care products.
It was probably a pretty routine instance in your life.
Related: Iconic retail chain closing nearly 500 stores
Maybe you were at your local Walmart, CVS, or Costco, and you picked up the things you needed from the brands you were familiar with.
Or maybe you couldn't have been bothered to pick it up at a big box store and instead got it delivered from an online giant like Amazon.
It's probably safe to assume, however, that you didn't swing by your local mall to get your lotion, body wash, bars of soap, or other personal care items. 
Most malls are struggling
Malls used to offer something of a pilgrimage for the average American consumer.
At the height of their popularity, around the 1980s and 1990s, the average consumer spent about 12 hours per month inside indoor shopping malls.
Since most malls are between 400,000 and 800,000 square feet, some of that time was probably spent just walking around, marveling at all the shopping options available to us.
More closings:
- Another struggling mall retail chain closing more stores
- Struggling supermarket chain closes more locations
- Popular bank closing dozens of branches (locations revealed)
This is partly why malls used to be able to charge their tenants outsized rents. Malls attracted outside foot traffic, and most of those folks were at the mall to spend money. Getting access and proximity to shoppers who were already prepared to spend money was good for business.
Malls may have once been the best way to get access to dozens of different stores, but now, there are far more convenient ways to shop.
If you've got an internet connection, you've got access to countless retailers — who often run sales and discounts — and you don't even need to leave your home.
Struggling mall retailer closing stores
This may be a fortunate change for consumers, but it's an unfortunate case for some retailers who relied heavily on malls for business.
One such retailer is The Body Shop, which filed for bankruptcy in U.S. and Canada in March 2024.
The mall retailer, which sold mid- to high-end lotions, soaps, and other personal care products, had been struggling financially as mall foot traffic declines.
And now, The Body Shop New Zealand is liquidating and closing all stores in the country permanently.
Related: Walmart, Kohl's raise alarm bells about a growing threat
About 70 jobs will be lost in the process, and 16 stores across New Zealand are expected to close.
The Body Shop NZ's website is no longer operational for sales.
"Thank you for your loyal support of The Body Shop New Zealand," the site reads. "As of January 22, 2025, Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners have been appointed as Joint and Several Voluntary Administrators of The Body Shop New Zealand Limited. All retail locations are now permanently closed, and our online store is no longer processing orders."