about the body shop

8/3/2019 About the Body Shop

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Anita was born 1942 in Littlehampton , an English seaside town , the childof an Italian immigrant couple. She developed a strong sense of moraloutrage from an early age after reading a book about the Holocaust, agedten. She trained as a teacher but an educational opportunity on a kibbutzin Israel eventually turned into an extended working trip around the world.Soon after she got back to England, her mother introduced her to a youngScotsman named Gordon Roddick. Their bond was instant. Together theyopened a restaurant, and then a hotel in Littlehampton. They married in1970 and two children followed.

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Anita started The Body Shop on 26th March 1976, simply to create alivelihood for herself and her two daughters, while Gordon was trekkingacross the Americas. She had no training or experience and her onlybusiness acumen was Gordon's advice to take sales of 300 a week. Anitasaw entrepreneurship as a means of survival, and firmly believed it

nurtured creative thinking. Running her first shop taught her business is notfinancial science, but all about trading; buying, selling and creating aproduct or service so good that people will want to pay for it. Testament toher firmly held business beliefs, over 30 years on The Body Shop is now amulti-local business with 2,605 stores in 65 countries worldwide. And shealways claimed she didn't have a clue how she got there!

1976

The Body Shop is a global manufacturer and retailer of

naturally inspired, ethically produced beauty andcosmetics products. Dame Anita Roddick opened the

very first The Body Shopstore in 1976 in Brighton, on

the south coast of England.

THE BODY SHOP:About us


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It wasn't only economic necessity that inspired the birth of The Body Shop.Anitas early travels gave her a wealth of experience. She had spent time infarming and fishing communities with pre-industrial people, and was exposed tobody rituals of women from all over the world. The frugality that her motherexercised during the war years made her question retail conventions. Whywaste a container when you can refill it? And why buy more of something thanyou can use? The Body Shop reused everything, refilled everything andrecycled all they could. The foundation ofThe Body Shop environmental activism was born out of these ideas. She wasaware that success was more than a good idea. It was timing too.

Environmental

The Body Shop arrived just as Europe was going 'green.The Body Shop has always been recognisable by its green colour, but it was theonly colour that they could find to cover the damp, mouldy walls of the first shop.Anita opened a second shop within six months, by which time Gordon was backin England. He came up with the idea for 'self-financing' more new stores, whichsparked the growth of the franchise network through which The Body Shop

spread across the world. The company went public in 1984. A whole host ofawards came her way, and as Anita famously claimed, some she understood,some she didn't and a couple she thought she deserved.

Green

Anita believed that businesses have the power to do good. That's why theMission Statement of The Body Shop opened with the overriding commitment,

'To dedicate our business to the pursuit of social and environmental change.' Thestores and products are used to help communicate human rights andenvironmental issues. There is no doubt that The Body Shop and Anita havealways been closely identified in the public mind. Such was the inspiration sheprovided, that The Body Shop has become a global operation with thousands ofpeople working towards common goals and sharing common values. That's whathas given it a campaigning and commercial strength and continued to set it apartfrom mainstream business.

Dedicated



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Anita believed the older you got, the moreradical you became.

She loved a Dorothy Sayers quote, "A woman in advancing old age isunstoppable by any earthly force

In 2000 she published her autobiography "Business as Unusual" andin 2001 she edited "Take it Personally", a collection of thoughtprovoking pieces on subjects relating to her deeply held convictions.

In 2006 The Body Shop was purchased by L'Oral, and as Anita said atthe time: "For both Gordon and I, this is without doubt the best 30thanniversary gift The Body Shop could have received.

L'Oral has displayed visionary leadership in wanting to be an authenticadvocate and supporter of our Values. L'Oral understands what amaverick The Body Shop was in the business world and how we helpedchange the language of business, incorporating the action of socialchange, especially in human rights, animal welfare, the environmentand Community Fair Trade.

Anita remained on the Board of Directors. During 2007 she providedconsultation to L'Oral, advising on Community Fair Trade.



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We now have 2,605 stores in 65 countries with arange of over 1 200 products.

As well as selling our products through our stores we also have a direct-selling channel called The Body Shop at HomeTM where consultants sellproducts at parties in peoples homes. This operates in two countries theUK and Australia.

Customers can also use our e-commerce websites for online shopping.

The Body Shop officially became part of LOral in 2006 - and thanks to their

support and integrity, The Body Shop principles have remained protected.The Body Shop continues to pioneer new initiatives and we are proud thebrand continues to be cited internationally as an ethical green brand, voted

as a trusted brand by consumers.

1942 - 2007Dame Anita Roddick passed away on 10th September 2007, with her husbandGordon and two daughters by her side. Tributes flooded in from around theworld; led by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown "She campaigned for greenissues for many years before it became fashionable to do so and inspiredmillions to the cause by bringing sustainable products to a mass market. Asone of this country's most successful businesswomen, she was an inspirationto women throughout the country striving to set up and grow their owncompanies."

John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace who worked with Anita onmany campaigns, said "she was an amazing inspiration to those around her.

She was so ahead of the time when it came to issues of how business couldbe done in different ways She was a true pioneer.

The suppliers of Community Fair Trade cocoa butter in Ghana, KuapaKokoo, said "We are grateful to God that he gave us such an inspirationalfigure; a mother whose love for the development of the vulnerable and theunder-privileged will continue to linger on in our minds till eternity. Anita wouldbe well remembered by the Kuapa Kokoo family and the chiefs and people, fora school block she, together with The Body Shop, funded in the Bayereboncommunity. The seed she sowed is generating fruits of success andenlightenment.



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Our overarching purpose is to touch peoples lives the lives of our customers, ofour colleagues, of the communities around us and those we work with around theworld. It encapsulates what we are about, what motivates and drives us everyday. It is a wonderful purpose.

Unlike most brands, we dont target by the traditional criteria such as gender, ageor background. We are a welcoming and inclusive brand, and who we talk to is

more about attitude. We connect with open-minded and like-minded people.

We offer high quality products and go beyond that in our promise to ourcustomers that they not only look good but feel great with the confidence to reachout to make a difference.

ORIGINALBecause we have been doing this for 30 years with integrity and commitment. We area brand with meaning and a brand people can trust.

NATURALIs at the heart of our products and is the fastest growing trend in personal care.

ETHICALIs epitomised by our Values which are more relevant in todays world than ever.

We are the original, natural and ethical brand.

OUR PURPOSE


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Anita believed that businesses have the power to do good. That iswhy the Mission Statement of The Body Shop opens with the

overriding commitment, To dedicate our business to the pursuit of

social and environmental change.

Our Mission Statement is as relevant today as it was over 30 yearsago, when the company was founded:

OUR REASONS FOR BEING IS TO:

Dedicate our business to the pursuit of social and environmental change.

Creatively balance the financial and human needs of our stakeholders: employees,customers, franchisees, suppliers and shareholders.

Courageously ensure that our business is ecologically sustainable, meeting the needs ofthe present without compromising the future.

Meaningfully contribute to local, national and international communities in which we tradeby adopting a code of conduct which ensures care, honesty, fairness and respect.

Passionately campaign for the protection of the environment, to defend human rights, andagainst animal testing within the cosmetics industry.

Tirelessly work to narrow the gap between principle and practice, whilst making fun,passion and care part of our daily lives.

MISSION STATEMENT


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HOW WOULD NATURE RUN A BUSINESS?

We believe there is only one way to beautiful, natures way.

Weve believed this for years and still do. We constantly seek out wonderful natural ingredientsfrom all four corners of the globe, and we bring you products bursting with effectiveness toenhance your natural beauty and express your unique personality.And whilst were doing this, we always strive to protect this beautiful planet and the people who

depend on it. We dont do it this way because its fashionable. We do it because, to us, its theonly way.

NATURES WAY TO BEAUTIFUL

Natures way to beautiful is a succinct, holistic expression of the beliefs, convictions andcorporate philosophy of The Body Shop. It encapsulates the way we do our business everyday,striving to protect our planet and the people who depend on it. It also expresses our passion fornatural beauty. It is a celebration of our beautiful planet with its wonderful natural ingredients,and the soul of beauty, where individual character is freely and confidently expressed.


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TO US, BEAUTY IS

A FEELING, A NATURALWAY OF BEING, WHERE

CHARACTER, SELF-

ESTEEM AND HUMOUR

ARE FREELY EXPRESSED

AND CELEBRATED. THATS

THE SOUL OF BEAUTY.

ITS NOT JUST ABOUT

LOOKING BEAUTIFUL. ITS

ABOUT EXUDING A

VIBRANT ATTITUDE TO

LIFE.

NATURES WAY TO BEAUTIFUL


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THE BODY SHOP HISTORY

1976The first store opens in Brighton, England

1978The first overseas franchise opens in Brussels, Belgium

1985In its first year as a public company, The Body Shop sponsoredposters for Greenpeace

1986Our first major window campaign is Save the Whale with Greenpeace

1987Our first Community Fair Trade product, a Footsie Roller froma supplier in Southern India, debuts in stores

1994The Body Shop At Home was launched

1998The Against Animal Testing campaign led to a ban on animal testing oncosmetic products and ingredients in the United Kingdom

2003The Stop Violence in the Home campaign launches and in the same year,Anita Roddick is appointed as a Dame of the British Empire

2005The Body Shop joins The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and is commendedby Greenpeace and the Breast Cancer Fund for our responsible chemicalspolicy

1990The Body Shop Foundation was launched


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THE BODY SHOP HISTORY

2006The Body Shop turns 30, and receives a Proggy award for best cruelty-free cosmetics fromPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). .

2006The Body Shop becomes part of the L'Oral Group. It retains its unique identity andValues and continues to be based in the United Kingdom. It operates independentlywithin the L'Oral Group and is led by the current management team of The Body Shop

reporting directly to the CEO of L'Oral, Jean-Paul Agon.

2007On 10th September 2007, our founder and inspiration, Dame Anita Roddick, sadly passesaway at the age of only 64. Her legacy and inspiration continues atThe Body Shop.

2007The Body Shop join forces with MTV in a new brand partnership to raise funds andawareness about HIV and AIDS amongst young people, through the Spray to Changecampaign. Over 430,000 is raised through sales of the limited edition Rougeberryfragrance. The money raised goes to the Staying Alive Foundation, a charity which fundsgrass roots organisations raising awareness and educating young and at-risk groups aboutHIV and AIDS.

2008In January Sophie Gasperment joins The Body Shop, assuming the role of Chief Executivefrom June 2008.

2008August sees the unveiling of The Body Shop exciting new brand look.

2009We launched our latest campaign Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People inpartnership with ECPAT International.

2011We raise over 6.6 million petition signatures for our Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and YoungPeople campaign in partnership with ECPAT International our biggest campaign ever to date !

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