Focus on value, creators and K-beauty as comeback kid Bodycare gears up to launch Derby Studio Store
Derbion reports that health and beauty retailer Bodycare will open a new Studio Store at the centre on Saturday 22nd August, pitched as the first of its kind in the East Midlands. Last year, Bodycare closed all its stores after collapsing into adminstration. Its brand and intellectual property were acquired out of administration in late 2025 by an investor group led by former The Body Shop and Molton Brown CEO Charles Denton, and it is now aiming to open 15 UK stores in 2026, growing to 150 locations over the next five years.
Following the launch of the retailer's first Studio Store in Sheffield, Derbion has been chosen to host the second in the UK. The store brings together the value focused health and beauty essentials Bodycare is known for alongside an expanded range of skincare, cosmetics, fragrance and wellness. New features include K-Beauty collections, a professional piercing studio, the Technic cosmetics range and a free to use Creator Studio.
Beth McDonald, Managing Director at Derbion, says: "We're hugely excited to welcome Bodycare back to Derbion with a brand new concept store. As well as offering exceptional value for customers, the Creator Studio will be a brilliant addition which is sure to prove extremely popular with our local community here in Derby. Bodycare is the latest in a raft of new stores that have joined the centre this year and we look forward to announcing further news soon."
The Creator Studio is a free to use space for local creators, charities and community groups, providing facilities to make and share stories about the people, places and organisations that make Derby unique.
Charles Denton says: "People will ask why Derby, and the answer is straightforward. Derby has been a city of makers for 300 years. The Silk Mill was among the first factories anywhere in the world, Rolls-Royce has built here since 1907, and the Museum of Making sits at the heart of the city. Derby is known across centuries for giving people the resources and equipment to make something valuable. That is what we are doing with the Creator Studio. It is a professional broadcast studio inside a shop, free to anyone in Derby who wants to use it.”
“Our broadcast studios sit at the heart of Bodycare’s new Studio Store concept, designed to make shopping a place of discovery rather than simply a place to buy products. By combining retail with live content, creator experiences and expert-led brand events, the format allows customers to discover emerging products, trends and advice in an interactive environment. Derbion gives us the right space in the right part of the city, and the reception we had in Sheffield told us how much people want Bodycare back in their town."
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Physical retail will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
