The Body Shop facts for kids
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The Body Shop, Oxford Street
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Cosmetics |
| Fate | Administration |
| Founded | 27 March 1976 Brighton, UK |
| Founder | Anita Roddick |
| Headquarters |
London Bridge, London, UK
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Key people
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| Products |
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| Revenue |  R$ 5.3 billion (2020) |
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Number of employees
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10,000 (2017) |
| Parent | L'Oréal (2006–2017) Natura & Co (2017–2023) Aurelius Group (2023–present) |
The Body Shop is a British company that sells makeup, skin care, and perfumes. It was started in 1976 by Anita Roddick. She wanted to create a business that was good for people and the planet.
The company began in Brighton, UK. Now, its main offices are in London Bridge and Littlehampton. The Body Shop is currently owned by a company called Aurelius.
Over the years, The Body Shop has been owned by different companies. From 2006 to 2017, it was part of the French company L'Oréal. Then, it was sold to the Brazilian company Natura & Co. In 2023, Natura sold it to Aurelius.
In early 2024, The Body Shop faced some money problems. Its UK business went into a process called "administration." This means experts help the company try to fix its financial issues. Because of this, many stores in the UK closed, and some jobs were lost. The company also stopped its operations in the United States and changed how it works in Canada.
Contents
The Body Shop Story
The Body Shop was founded by Anita Roddick in 1976. She opened her first store in Brighton, UK. Her goal was to earn money for herself and her two daughters. Her husband was away traveling at the time.
Early Ideas and Growth
Anita Roddick had a special vision for her business. She wanted to sell products made with natural ingredients. These ingredients had to be sourced in a way that was fair and kind to animals. None of her products were tested on animals. She bought ingredients directly from the people who produced them.
The first store started with only 25 products. Anita used old urine-sample bottles from a hospital for her products. This led to the company's idea of refillable bottles. Labels were written by hand. Anita did not use big advertisements. Instead, she relied on local newspapers to share her story.
In the late 1970s, Anita's partner, Gordon, suggested they grow the business by letting other people open Body Shop stores. This is called franchising. By 1984, there were 138 Body Shop stores. Most of these were outside the UK.
The company became very successful. In 1984, its shares were sold to the public for the first time. This meant people could buy a small part of the company. The Body Shop grew a lot in the years that followed.
In 1987, Anita Roddick bought the rights to the "Body Shop" name in the US. There had been an earlier, unrelated store with the same name.
Focus on Social Issues
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, The Body Shop became known for its social and environmental work. It started a "Trade Not Aid" campaign in 1987. This meant the company bought ingredients directly from communities. This helped these communities earn a fair income.
The Body Shop also worked with groups like Greenpeace and Amnesty International. These partnerships showed the company's commitment to making a positive difference.
Changes in Ownership
In 2006, the French cosmetics company L'Oréal bought The Body Shop. This sale caused some discussion. L'Oréal had a history of selling products in countries where animal testing was required by law. The Body Shop had always been against animal testing.
Anita Roddick believed that by being part of L'Oréal, she could help change things from the inside. She hoped to improve L'Oréal's standards on animal testing and environmental issues. Sadly, Anita Roddick passed away in 2007.
In 2017, L'Oréal sold The Body Shop to Natura & Co, a Brazilian cosmetics company. At that time, The Body Shop had 3,200 stores and 17,000 employees around the world.
In 2019, The Body Shop earned a special "B-Corp" certification. This means the company meets high standards for social and environmental performance.
Aurelius Takes Over
In November 2023, Natura sold The Body Shop to Aurelius. Aurelius is a private investment group from Germany. This sale was part of Natura's plan to make its business smaller.
When Aurelius bought The Body Shop, many thought it was a great deal. However, Aurelius soon faced financial problems with the company.
Company in Administration
In early 2024, The Body Shop's UK business went into "administration." This is a legal process when a company has serious money problems. Experts are brought in to try and save the business or manage its closure.
Because of this, 82 stores in the UK closed. Many jobs were also lost. The company owed a lot of money to different groups.
The problems spread to other countries too. The Body Shop's businesses in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Luxembourg, and France also faced administration or closed stores.
In North America, The Body Shop Canada filed for protection from its creditors. This meant it would close 33 stores and stop online sales. The Body Shop USA closed all its stores and online operations. It then filed for bankruptcy, which means it would close down completely.
Selling Products at Home
The Body Shop also had a program called "The Body Shop at Home." This allowed people to sell products directly from their homes. These sellers were called "consultants." They could also invite others to join and sell products.
In February 2024, The Body Shop at Home announced it would stop trading in the UK and Australia.
Helping the World
The Body Shop has always been about more than just selling products. It has a strong history of social activism. Anita Roddick believed businesses should help make the world a better place. She often spoke out against how the beauty industry traditionally viewed beauty.
In 1997, The Body Shop started a global campaign. It aimed to help women feel good about themselves. It also spoke out against the use of very thin models in the media.
Community Trade Program
In 1987, The Body Shop started its "Community Trade" program. This program bought natural ingredients and handmade items from communities in need. The Body Shop paid a fair price for these goods. Examples include Brazil nut oil, sesame seed oil, honey, and shea butter. One of its first Community Trade products was a wooden roller from a community in southern India.
The Body Shop often invited its employees and partners to visit these communities. This helped them see how the program made a positive difference. The company also checked its sourcing activities regularly to ensure they were fair.
Against Animal Testing
The Body Shop has been fighting to end animal testing in cosmetics since 1989. It works with an organization called Cruelty Free International (CFI). The Body Shop's products are certified as cruelty-free. You can see the "Leaping Bunny" logo on them.
In 2017, The Body Shop and CFI launched a big campaign. It was called "Forever Against Animal Testing." Their goal was to ban animal testing in cosmetics everywhere.
In 2009, The Body Shop received an award from the RSPCA. This award recognized its strong policy against animal testing.
In 2021, The Body Shop announced that all its products would become vegan. This means they would not contain any animal ingredients. This goal was achieved in January 2024.
The Body Shop Foundation
In 1990, the Roddicks started The Body Shop Foundation. This foundation supports projects around the world. These projects work to protect human rights, animal rights, and the environment.
The foundation has given over £24 million in grants. It also helps organizations like Children on the Edge.
In 2017, The Body Shop started a new project called the World Bio-Bridges Mission. This mission aims to increase the variety of life (biodiversity) around the world. It also tries to create sustainable ways to get ingredients.
Products You Can Buy
The Body Shop sells many different products. These include items for your body, face, hair, and home. The company says its products are "inspired by nature." They use ingredients like marula oil and sesame seed oil from their Community Trade program.
Some popular products include:
- Body butters: These are thick creams for your skin. Popular scents include Moringa, satsuma, strawberry, olive, shea, mango, and coconut.
- Other body products: Such as body scrub and bath lilies.
- Makeup: Like mascara, lipstick, lip gloss, and eye shadow.
- Skin care: Full ranges for different skin types, including tea tree, vitamin C, vitamin E, aloe vera, and seaweed products.
- Men's skin care: Products for men, often with ingredients like maca root and white musk.
- Hair care: Including banana shampoo and conditioner.
- Fragrances: Perfumes and colognes for women and men.
- Bath products: Such as shower gels and solid soaps.
- Face masks: Including sheet masks for your face.
