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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder what happened to Body Shop?

437 replies

Handbaghag · 26/08/2019 17:46

Where have they gone wrong? Why are their shops so dead on the high Street. They were buzzing in the 80s. Is it online shopping? Lush?

OP posts:
EntirelyAnonymised · 26/08/2019 17:48

They lost a lot of loyal customers when Anita Roddick sold to L'Oréal and sold all of her principles down the river. Despite the fact that it is no longer owned by that group, it still suffers from the bad smell surrounding that deal. The customers never returned.

Titsywoo · 26/08/2019 17:49

It's too bloody expensive now! I went into an outlet store recently and it was about 40% off so I bought a fair bit as I actually really like the stuff.

Fancyseeingyouhere · 26/08/2019 17:49

I think Lush killed the Body shop.

Original poster
Handbaghag · 26/08/2019 17:50

Ah. I never knew that.

OP posts:
JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 26/08/2019 17:50

They’ve gone the way of Avon. I was at a body shop “launch” party recently. Wouldn’t have gone except it was a close friend hosting. Check out your local FB selling pages. You’ll see lots of Body shop “consultants” with 5 jobs available.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 26/08/2019 17:51

Yes, I more or less boycott because of the sell-out to L'Oreal.

Hairyheadphones · 26/08/2019 17:51

It used to be cheap and cheerful, it’s now expensive in comparison.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 26/08/2019 17:52

I never go in because they pounce at you and don't leave you to have a browse.

Thesearmsofmine · 26/08/2019 17:52

You can buy similar products that are cruelty free and much cheaper in Superdrug.

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 26/08/2019 17:53

They only seem to sell body butter.

TooManyPaws · 26/08/2019 17:54

I bought some makeup the other month. They are no longer owned by L'Oréal but a more ethical bunch apparently. I stopped buying when Roddick sold to L'Oréal. The bath and body stuff you can get all over the place but ethical makeup is still fairly niche.

JammyGem · 26/08/2019 17:54

It's so expensive now, and not really worth it. The only thing I go in for is their hemp hand cream, as it's the only thing that helps with DH's dry hands.

Pinkblueberry · 26/08/2019 17:55

I love their face care products, but the rest like the body butters and shower gels are very overpriced - I buy them in the sale sometimes or get them as presents.

Wiltshirelass2019 · 26/08/2019 17:56

I’m loving the body shop again now they have left L’Oréal. Their shampoos are gorgeous and last ages, The face masks are great and they do a fantastic factor 50 moisturiser which is currently sold out and I’m waiting for them to email me when back in stock.

JammyGem · 26/08/2019 17:56

Also, I think quite a lot of their fragrances for their products are so run-of-the-mill and boring.

HeadintheiClouds · 26/08/2019 17:58

Wasn’t the original premise that it was as free from unnecessary packaging as possible? They kept huge vats of stuff that you got refills from. Far from the case now...

boatyardblues · 26/08/2019 17:58

I used to shop in Body Shop before it stopped doing lots of the plain, useful stuff it sold in the 80s/early 90s. Their vitamin E face cream was great on my sensitive skin. The rice bran exfoliant was very good & I now pay £££ for something similar from the Dermalogica range. Lots of the Body Shop stuff is over smelly and fake. On the other hand, I wouldn’t use anything from Lush if you paid me. Even passing the shop makes me wheezy.

creamyfudge · 26/08/2019 17:58

I do really like their body yogurt and the grapeseed hair serum.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 26/08/2019 17:58

Also I think in the 80s the whole ‘Against Animal Testing’ thing was a big draw. The Body Shop had a USP that Boots, Superdrug and the supermarkets didn’t. Nowadays, would people even bother to check if a cosmetic is tested on animals? It’s assumed it isn’t.

Dragonglass · 26/08/2019 17:59

I used to shop in there a lot as a teen in the 80's. It was a fun experience, going in with friends, looking at and sniffing everything. I spent a lot my pocket money in there but don't think teens would be able to afford to now, it's so expensive. And the fun element has gone, it looks so dull and sterile in there now. It seems to have lost it's heart.

Doobigetta · 26/08/2019 17:59

They don’t have a USP. Their products don’t have the “natural” feel that they used to, and they don’t come in lots of sizes that allow you to try something new, or buy an old favourite in bulk. They don’t have the fantastic fragrance bar that allowed you to choose from a massive range of single scents or combine them. Presumably that was a massive loss-maker, but it was unique and now their perfumes are pretty unimaginative. In general, prices have gone up and the products have become bland and unappealing.

sheshootssheimplores · 26/08/2019 17:59

Because it’s expensive and the staff follow you around trying to sell to you.

Worgust · 26/08/2019 18:00

I keep giving them a go every now and then, but I genuinely find their products to be shite.

MoaningMinnie1 · 26/08/2019 18:00

I used to like Body shop stuff. You can still buy it online but, as has been said, other companies do similar.

plunkplunkfizz · 26/08/2019 18:01

It’s such a shame because they have the odd gem. Their body yoghurts have saved me from the heat this summer. They feel really cool and moisturise at the same time so I slather them on before bed.