POOLE’S globally-known cosmetics brand Lush is expanding with the opening of two “concept” shops on the continent.

It says it is committed to investing in high streets and shopping malls around the world, despite the pressures on bricks-and-mortar retailers.

Lush has opened Fresh & Flowers in Paris and the Lush Perfume Library in Florence.

It has also unveiled its second biggest European shop, in Munich –following the opening of its biggest branch in Liverpool earlier this year.

The company said: “At a time when revitalisation is needed more than ever, these new destination shops aim to bring more beautiful cosmetics, tech innovations and creative personal experiences than ever before to high streets across mainland Europe.”

The moves follow Lush’s recent opening of Naked shops in Milan, Berlin, Manchester and Hong Kong and its #LushLabs Bath Bomb concept shop in Tokyo.

Lush’s expansion is continuing in the UK with opening of new shops at Clapham Junction and Paddington station.

Paul Wheatley, Lush’s global property director, said: “At a time when physical retail is coming under huge economic pressure, we are committed to ongoing investment in game-changing store concepts on the world’s high streets and malls, unrestricted by geographic borders, providing innovation and new customer experiences as suitable opportunities arise.”

Lush says its Fresh & Flowers store in Paris is inspired by the French people’s love of fresh product. It offers products for face, body and hair without preservatives, some of them individually prepared in the shop.

The Lush Perfume Library in Florence stocks the largest collection of Lush fragrances in the world, including a new collection of in-house perfumes. It also offers more than 70 books on essential oils, aromatherapy, history and regeneration.

Mark Constantine, who co-founded Lush in Poole High Street 24 years ago, said: “The Perfume Library had to be in Florence because it was the birthplace of modern perfumery during the Renaissance. It is hard to not take inspiration from such a place and we really indulged ourselves in its history, art and iconic sights.”

The Munich store, covering 689 square metres on three floors, has a permanent florist selling locally sourced and seasonal bouquets, a perfume library with scents plus books on perfumery, a fair trade coffee kiosk and an activist community space.