HEALTH and beauty chain The Body Shop has confirmed it is axing a major service and shoppers will want to know why.
The retailer is shutting down its Body Shop at Home service.
A spokesperson confirmed it will close on February 23.
Shoppers will be able to use the service until the end of this date while consultants can sell back any excess stock to The Body Shop.
Thousands of consultants currently use the service, earning cash from it.
It means shoppers and consultants alike will be wondering why it is closing and what it means for them.
Body Shop at Home allows consultants to sell products to customers from the comfort of their own houses.
The service works much like Avon’s, selling cosmetics and healthy bits via door-to-door salespeople and brochures.
Consultants can also host special parties and invite their friends and prospective clients over to see their selection.
They’d then earn commission on sales on any orders made.
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.
“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.
“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 Body Shop itself is not closing down and shoppers will still be able to head to their local store to browse.
You can find your nearest site using the locator tool on the website, or shop online.
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.
It is not clear at this time whether the sale of The Body Shop will see stores close or jobs lost.
Fabio Barbosa, chief executive officer of Natura and Co, said in November: “We are pleased to have found a strong home for The Body Shop to write the next chapter in its remarkable story, and we extend our sincerest thanks to all The Body Shop’s associates, who contributed immensely to broadening Natura &Co’s horizons.
“We wish them continued success under the stewardship of Aurelius.”
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