The ethical beauty brand Barry M is scrambling to find a buyer after filing for administration, potentially ending four decades of family ownership.WHO: Barry M was founded in the 1980s by Barry Mero, who sold nail polish from Ridley Road Market in the heart of the East End. Inspired by the punks and New Romantics of that era, the range of colorful nail polishes and affordable makeup has become a staple of the UK high street. The brand is stocked in around 1,300 shops across the UK, including Superdrug, Boots, Sainsbury's, and Tesco. Barry M operates a 45,000-square-foot factory in Mill Hill, employing over 100 people. After Mero's death in 2014, leadership of the business passed to his son Dean.WHY: The brand moved to appoint administrators after struggling with rising manufacturing costs, inflationary pressures, and a challenging consumer environment.DETAILS:Barry M filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators in the UK on January 29, 2026, to restructure its finances, with the company officially falling into administration shortly after.The company engaged restructuring advisors Begbies Traynor to sound out potential buyers.In the year ending February 28, 2025, the most recent for which figures are available, Barry M reported sales of £15 million ($20.5 million).