THE BODY SHOP:

About us
The Body Shop is a global manufacturer and retailer of naturally inspired, ethically produced beauty and cosmetics products. Dame Anita Roddick opened the very first The Body Shop store in 1976 in Brighton, on the south coast of England.

1942
Anita was born 1942 in Littlehampton , an English seaside town , the child of an Italian immigrant couple. She developed a strong sense of moral outrage from an early age after reading a book about the Holocaust, aged ten. She trained as a teacher but an educational opportunity on a kibbutz in Israel eventually turned into an extended working trip around the world. Soon after she got back to England, her mother introduced her to a young Scotsman named Gordon Roddick. Their bond was instant. Together they opened a restaurant, and then a hotel in Littlehampton. They married in 1970 and two children followed.

1976
Anita started The Body Shop on 26th March 1976, simply to create a livelihood for herself and her two daughters, while Gordon was trekking across the Americas. She had no training or experience and her only business acumen was Gordon's advice to take sales of 300 a week. Anita saw entrepreneurship as a means of survival, and firmly believed it nurtured creative thinking. Running her first shop taught her business is not financial science, but all about trading; buying, selling and creating a product or service so good that people will want to pay for it. Testament to her firmly held business beliefs, over 30 years on The Body Shop is now a multi-local business with 2,605 stores in 65 countries worldwide. And she always claimed she didn't have a clue how she got there!

THE BODY SHOP:

About us

Environmental
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 in farming and fishing communities with pre-industrial people, and was exposed to body rituals of women from all over the world. The frugality that her mother exercised during the war years made her question retail conventions. Why waste a container when you can refill it? And why buy more of something than you can use? The Body Shop reused everything, refilled everything and recycled all they could. The foundation of The Body Shop environmental activism was born out of these ideas. She was aware that success was more than a good idea. It was timing too.

Green
The Body Shop arrived just as Europe was going 'green. The Body Shop has always been recognisable by its green colour, but it was the only 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 back in England. He came up with the idea for 'self-financing' more new stores, which sparked the growth of the franchise network through which The Body Shop spread across the world. The company went public in 1984. A whole host of awards came her way, and as Anita famously claimed, some she understood, some she didn't and a couple she thought she deserved.

Dedicated
Anita believed that businesses have the power to do good. That's why the Mission Statement of The Body Shop opened with the overriding commitment, 'To dedicate our business to the pursuit of social and environmental change.' The stores and products are used to help communicate human rights and environmental issues. There is no doubt that The Body Shop and Anita have always been closely identified in the public mind. Such was the inspiration she provided, that The Body Shop has become a global operation with thousands of people working towards common goals and sharing common values. That's what has given it a campaigning and commercial strength and continued to set it apart from mainstream business.

THE BODY SHOP:

About us

Anita believed the older you got, the more radical you became.
She loved a Dorothy Sayers quote, "A woman in advancing old age is unstoppable by any earthly force In 2000 she published her autobiography "Business as Unusual" and in 2001 she edited "Take it Personally", a collection of thought provoking pieces on subjects relating to her deeply held convictions.

In 2006 The Body Shop was purchased by L'Oral, and as Anita said at the time: "For both Gordon and I, this is without doubt the best 30th anniversary gift The Body Shop could have received. L'Oral has displayed visionary leadership in wanting to be an authentic advocate and supporter of our Values. L'Oral understands what a maverick The Body Shop was in the business world and how we helped change the language of business, incorporating the action of social change, especially in human rights, animal welfare, the environment and Community Fair Trade. Anita remained on the Board of Directors. During 2007 she provided consultation to L'Oral, advising on Community Fair Trade.

THE BODY SHOP:

About us 1942 - 2007
Dame Anita Roddick passed away on 10th September 2007, with her husband Gordon and two daughters by her side. Tributes flooded in from around the world; led by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown "She campaigned for green issues for many years before it became fashionable to do so and inspired millions to the cause by bringing sustainable products to a mass market. As one of this country's most successful businesswomen, she was an inspiration to women throughout the country striving to set up and grow their own companies." John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace who worked with Anita on many 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 could be done in different ways She was a true pioneer. The suppliers of Community Fair Trade cocoa butter in Ghana, Kuapa Kokoo, said "We are grateful to God that he gave us such an inspirational figure; a mother whose love for the development of the vulnerable and the under-privileged will continue to linger on in our minds till eternity. Anita would be well remembered by the Kuapa Kokoo family and the chiefs and people, for a school block she, together with The Body Shop, funded in the Bayerebon community. The seed she sowed is generating fruits of success and enlightenment.

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

As well as selling our products through our stores we also have a directselling channel called The Body Shop at HomeTM where consultants sell products at parties in peoples homes. This operates in two countries the UK 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 the brand continues to be cited internationally as an ethical green brand, voted as a trusted brand by consumers.

OUR PURPOSE
We are the original, natural and ethical brand.

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

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

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

Our overarching purpose is to touch peoples lives the lives of our customers, of our colleagues, of the communities around us and those we work with around the world. It encapsulates what we are about, what motivates and drives us every day. It is a wonderful purpose. Unlike most brands, we dont target by the traditional criteria such as gender, age or 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 our customers that they not only look good but feel great with the confidence to reach out to make a difference.

MISSION STATEMENT
Anita believed that businesses have the power to do good. That is why 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 years ago, 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 of the present without compromising the future. Meaningfully contribute to local, national and international communities in which we trade by adopting a code of conduct which ensures care, honesty, fairness and respect. Passionately campaign for the protection of the environment, to defend human rights, and against 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.

NATURES WAY TO BEAUTIFUL

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 ingredients from all four corners of the globe, and we bring you products bursting with effectiveness to enhance 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 the only way.

Natures way to beautiful is a succinct, holistic expression of the beliefs, convictions and corporate 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 for natural 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.

NATURES WAY TO BEAUTIFUL

TO US, BEAUTY IS A FEELING, A NATURAL WAY OF BEING, WHERE CHARACTER, SELFESTEEM 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.

THE BODY SHOP HISTORY

1976
The first store opens in Brighton, England

1978
The first overseas franchise opens in Brussels, Belgium

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

1986 1987

Our first major window campaign is Save the Whale with Greenpeace

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

1990
The Body Shop Foundation was launched

1994

The Body Shop At Home was launched

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

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

2005
The Body Shop joins The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and is commended by Greenpeace and the Breast Cancer Fund for our responsible chemicals policy

THE BODY SHOP HISTORY

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

2006
The Body Shop becomes part of the L'Oral Group. It retains its unique identity and Values and continues to be based in the United Kingdom. It operates independently within 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 2011 The Body Shop International Plc. All rights reserved. No reproduction without prior permission of the owner. A registered trademark of The Body Shop International Plc. trademark of The Body Shop International Plc.