Following the news earlier this week that retailer The Body Shop has collapsed into administration, the brands’ German arm – which employs more than 350 staff and runs 66 branches across the country – has now filed for bankruptcy at the Dusseldorf District Court.
We spoke to retail expert Nick Drewe, Founder of online platform, Wethrift, who told us:
“The news regarding the collapse of The Body Shop, a staple of the UK high street for almost 40 years, and now this news regarding its German counterpart, will no doubt come as a shock to many. That being said, the demise of the much loved brand is unfortunately yet another example of the many brands falling victim to the ongoing cost of living crisis and global economic uncertainty.
“Consumers facing the repercussions of rising interest rates, energy prices and a lack of salary increases, means that the pressure to secure the very best prices and deals on everyday products is now greater than ever.
“For many, it seems the price points at which The Body Shop markets its most popular products – including cleansers, body butter, make-up and moisturisers – is now deemed too expensive to justify, with many no doubt looking elsewhere for more cost efficient beauty staples.
“One must also factor in that part of the brand’s loss of popularity could be down to the fact that it was purchased by L’Oreal in 2006. Many loyal devotees of The Body Shop – which had always pioneered ethical practices and placed emphasis on how none of their products were ever tested on animals – were unhappy with the move as the French beauty giant is known for having previously tested ingredients used within products on animals.
“With so many vegan, cruelty-free and more reasonably priced products now available in the saturated beauty industry, one could argue that the collapse of The Body Shop was an inevitability.
“Whether or not The Body Shop can restructure its brand successfully is still uncertain. It no longer has the unique offering and strong reputation as a ‘must visit’ staple store for teenagers and younger demographics that it once did, and its social media presence and failure to keep up with its global competitors online has been sorely lacking over the past few years.”