IndiaRetailBiz

The Body Shop (TBS), a global manufacturer and retailer of naturally inspired, ethically produced beauty and cosmetics products, which operates over 2,100 stores in 55 countries, with a range of over 1,200 products — all animal cruelty free, and many with fairly traded natural ingredients– is now getting ready to vigorously expand its footprint in several large and small cities of India.

Founded in the UK in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick, the brand considered to be a fine example of societal marketing concept, was acquired by L’Oréal in 2006.

Currently, the premium beauty brand operates 22 stores across eight cities in India. The Body Shop is currently operating a chain of retail stores through franchisee arrangement with Planet Retail Holdings in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai and Pune. It is looking at launching two new stores in Chennai and Hyderabad.

“Due to the delay in the launch of new malls in Hyderabad and Chennai, our store launches got postponed. We are all geared up to get feedback from these two cities,” said Sameer Prasad, COO of Planet Retail Holdings.

The brand is operating a store even in a relatively small city of Ludhiana. Ludhiana. Explaining the rationale of opening this store, Sameer Prasad said, “Ludhiana has the highest per capita ownership of Mercedes Benz cars in the country. It was a wise decision and we are getting good response from the city”

The brand is also planning to add 5 to 10 more stores by the end of this year.

To address modern day lifestyle concerns like stress and anxiety,the retailer has recently launched a new  range of Wellbeing products.

“For most of us, everyday stress and anxiety has become an inescapable part of modern life. Our new range of products provides apt solution to this problem,” said Stella Law, Asia-Pacific product head of TBS.

“Each range contains effective active natural ingredients based on traditional herbal remedies to address everyday concerns,” added Stella.

The new range comprises four categories - total energy, deep sleep, gently purify and divine calm - containing natural ingredients like lavender, camomile, eucalyptus, jujube and date, and has 19 products comprising body washes, body gels, essential oils, soothing shower gels, body moisturisers, pillow and body mists, clay masks, rejuvenating bath soaks, milk bath powders and more.