On Air Now
The Capital Weekender with Meg McHugh 10pm - 1am
10 April 2019, 13:48
Who will inject some much-needed colour into our newsfeed now, huh?
Lush just announced that they are deleting their UK Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and everyone has an opinion on it. Um, hello, it's 2019! What did social media ever do to you?!
Lush just released an eggplant bath bomb for Valentine’s Day
Well, the cult brand released a statement on Instagram explaining that they're tired of fighting algorithms. "We're switching up social," it began. "Increasingly, social media is making it harder and harder for us to talk to each other directly.
"We are tired of fighting with algorithms, and we do not want to pay to appear in your newsfeed. So we’ve decided it’s time to bid farewell to some of our social channels and open up the conversation between you and us instead."
Basically, with the constant social media algorithm changes brands are having to spend more and more money to get their content noticed, and Lush just cannot deal with it anymore.
They added: "Lush has always been made up of many voices, and it’s time for all of them to be heard. We don't want to limit ourselves to holding conversations in one place, we want social to be placed back in the hands of our communities – from our founders to our friends.
"We're a community and we always have been. We believe we can make more noise using all of our voices across the globe because when we do we drive change, challenge norms and create a cosmetic revolution. We want social to be more about passions and less about likes.
"Over the next week, our customer care team will be actively responding to your messages and comments, after this point you can speak us via live chat on the website, on email at wecare@lush.co.uk and by telephone: 01202 930051. This isn't the end, it’s just the start of something new. #LushCommunity – see you there."
The news left the internet shocked and confused, like, why!? Where will we get out bath bomb fix now? Well, the natural beauty brand does have other accounts, including the US branch, if we're feeling in need of a pick me up.
Lush UK are closing their Instagram account? I can't make my mind up if it's a sign of the times (aka Instagram is slowing down) or if they are just ahead of the game 🤔 pic.twitter.com/nXlacFgmWS
— adrienne (@TheSundayGirlUK) April 8, 2019
Great move - Instagram’s ever changing algorithm are pushing people and companies to pay for their promotions in order to be seen on one’s feed ... glad Lush have picked up on this and not standing for it.
— Latoya (@LatoyaLondonxo) April 9, 2019
I think it’s progressive but also ballsy. I spoke to PRs about a change in social media last year.
— Carly Musleh (@CarlyMusleh) April 9, 2019
Not many like being the first to change so fair play! 🙌🏼
You know what they say “at first they laugh, then they follow”
As a marketer I cannot fathom what has gone through the marketing directors mind at Lush for them to agree to shutting down their instagram account and say good bye to 568k followers! 😳 Madness
— Leah•Devoted To Pink (@devoted2pink) April 8, 2019
Honestly, I see soooo many bloggers/influencers complain about reach and engagement on Insta, so when Lush actually do something about it, you all flip script.
— katie (@ktlgh) April 9, 2019
They are barely hitting 10% of their follow count in interaction, they're not getting back what they put in 🤷🏼♀️
Bizarre. Social media is the best customer service tool and you have direct access to your customers. Also what about the people on Twitter over 200k followers are they not important? Do you RT others eg your customers...do you ask how they are/ post pics of behind the scenes
— Samantha Kelly (@Tweetinggoddess) April 8, 2019
IMHO This doesn't make sense.
— Lloyd Knowlton 📹🤓 (@lloydy37) April 9, 2019
If a business/brand wants to open up the conversation with their customers why would they move away from where their customers are (Social) and focus more on call centres and email support, which is disruptive and less convenient for customers? pic.twitter.com/ymIea01rzK
If all the brands fuck off Instagram like LUSH are, maybe someone other than my mum might see my latest posts?
— Danielle Vanier (@VanierDanielle) April 9, 2019
Lush quits social media in UK. TBH I'm not really surprised and am sure that many will follow after some platforms (hey @Facebook I'm looking at you in particular) have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to get visibility without paying. https://t.co/fSHxMMDSuy pic.twitter.com/dTzmfKk2Vr
— Andy Poulton - SEO (@andypoulton) April 10, 2019
I imagine a meeting of 10 old men sitting in a room saying “we don’t need social, our sales don’t come from there.. just tell people to email us” #EpicBusinessFail 😂
— Tyler Narducci (@TylerNarducci_) April 9, 2019