THE Body Shop is set to close nearly half of its UK shops – putting more than 2,000 jobs at risk.
It has been revealed that seven stores will close immediately on February 20, 2024.
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Why are The Body Shop stores closing down?
On February 13, the Body Shop collapsed into administration.
The retailer’s owners Aurelius have appointed administrators at FRP Advisory throwing doubt over its future.
Administrators said that the brand’s current portfolio is “no longer viable” after “years of unprofitability”.
The ailing retailer has 199 locations and employs 2,000 workers in the UK.
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Nearly 100 sites are expected to shut in total with around 270 Head Office jobs will be cut.
The chain’s remaining shops will continue to trade through stores and online during the administration process.
It comes after Natura and Co, which owns The Body Shop, sold the retailer on December 31.
The cosmetics group said it is looking to shift its focus away from the UK market and towards South America.
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The Sun has taken a deep dive into the factors contributing to the downfall of the beloved chain.
What Body Shop stores are closing down?
The seven confirmed stores that are closing down in the UK are:
- Surrey Quays (London)
- Oxford Street Bond Street (London)
- Nuneaton (Warwickshire)
- Ashford Town Centre (Kent)
- Bristol Queens Road (Bristol)
- Canary Wharf (London)
- Cheapside (London)
Here is a full list of the other stores that are at risk of closing.
Is Body Shop at Home closing down?
The Body Shop ambassador programme, where individuals sell products for a commission, is also being closed.
The closure of Body Shop at Home is said to be down to a shift towards digital marketplaces, e-tailers, wholesalers and social media platforms.
A spokesperson explained the firm is looking to invest in these areas, alongside retail estate.
They said: “Having carried out a full review in 2023 we have decided to close our direct selling channel The Body Shop at Home in Australia and the UK.
Who was Body Shop founder Anita Roddick?
Dame Anita Roddick, born October 23, 1942, was a British businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner.
She opened her first Body Shop in Brighton back in 1976.
The brand first started as a small shop providing quality skincare products in refilled bottles, with the belief that the business could be a force for good.
Following this, the Body Shop went on to become a global retail business serving over 30 million customers worldwide.
In 2007 Anita, who also worked alongside her husband Gordan, sold the company to L’Oréal, but still played an active role in the business.
French firm L’Oreal paid £625million for the company, providing Anita and her husband Gordon with more than £100million for their 18 per cent share in the business.
In September 2007, Dame Anita Roddick passed away at 64 from a brain haemorrhage.
Prior to her passing, Anita had revealed that she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2004.
In 2008, a year after her passing, Anita’s will revealed that she had given away all of her £51million to charity and the rest to tax.
“In the UK, we have developed a new platform called The Body Shop Ambassador programme, where existing UK consultants can benefit from a modernised platform, that is fully integrated into The Body Shop’s ecommerce channel.”
Consultants can continue to earn commission by offering people in their network offers from The Body Shop, using their knowledge and love of the products.
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“We understand change is tough; this is in no way a reflection of our committed consultants, who have been valued members of our community for 30 years, and we are supporting them during this time,” the spokesperson added.
The scheme will cease operations on February 23, 2024.
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