ANITA RODDICK- MRS BODY SHOP

Teacher’s Notes

Contents Notes Authors and Reviewers

9 pages of teacher’s notes, including 6 pages of Debbie Sperandio BA; Dip Ed;
photocopiable ‘Ready to Use’ activities for Dip TESOL; M Ed.
Australian and New Zealand curriculum needs. The opinions expressed are those of the author
RRP: $4.95 and do not necessarily reflect the views of
German United Distributors

Program Details Program Overview

PRODUCER: German United Distributors Anita Roddick is one of the most extraordinary
entrepreneurs of our time. In 1976 she founded her
DISTRIBUTOR: VEA cosmetics company "The Body Shop". Her idea, to sell only
cosmetics based on natural substances and in refillable
LENGTH: 43 minutes recyclable containers, has enjoyed enormous success.
However, she is famous for more than just her booming
FORMAT: VHS business concept. Her staunch support for fair trade with
the Third World, her opposition to animal testing and her
YEAR: 2004 stance against the current beauty ideal being marketed are
still causing a stir. Roddick is a role model and proof that
LEVEL Middle Secondary - TAFE even in our globalised world economy, economic success
and conscientious action can go very well together.

Curriculum Links Features and Uses

BUSINESS STUDIES FEATURES

ECONOMICS • Interviews with Roddick and associates
• Entrepreneurship • Analysis of her business success
• Ethical business
USES
• To complement classroom activities

ABN: 50 007 156 318 111A Mitchell Street, Bendigo, Vic 3550 AUSTRALIA
Phone: 1800 034 282 Fax: + 61 (0)3 5448 2408
Email: vea@vea.com.au Website: www.vea.com.au
 Anita Roddick- The Body Shop
Ready to Use Resources

Program Overview

Anita Roddick is one of the most extraordinary entrepreneurs of our time. In 1976 she
founded her cosmetics company "The Body Shop". Her idea, to
sell only cosmetics based on natural substances and in refillable
recyclable containers, has enjoyed enormous success.
However, she is famous for more than just her booming
business concept. Her staunch support for fair trade with the
Third World, her opposition to animal testing and her stance
against the current beauty ideal being marketed are still causing
a stir. Roddick is a role model and proof that even in our
globalised world economy, economic success and conscientious action can go very
well together.

This program profiles Anita Roddick, the founder of “The Body Shop”. It focuses on her
personal life, childhood and upbringing, political views and how these have influenced
her business.

The program covers the following topics:

• Marketing/ public relations strategies

• The philosophy of the company and how this has evolved

• The growth of the business and how is has changed since it was founded

• Products and how these are developed

• The company’s commitment to social justice issues and fair trade

© VEA. This paper may be reproduced for non-commercial classroom use

 Anita Roddick- The Body Shop
Ready to Use Resources

Before the Program BLM 1

Depending on the knowledge of your group, it may be beneficial to begin your session
by discussing the meaning and implications of the following:

1. Multinational company: Can you think of some examples? What image do these
companies present?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Corporation: Can you think of some Australian examples?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Globalisation and Global economy: What do these phrases mean? Is there a

difference between the global economy and globalisation? What implications does
this have for countries trading in the world?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Third World: Can you think of examples of countries in the “Third World”? What
characteristics do these countries have? How do they differ from a country such as
Australia?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

© VEA. This paper may be reproduced for non-commercial classroom use

 Anita Roddick- The Body Shop
Ready to Use Resources

Watching the Program BLM 2

1. When did Anita start “The Body Shop”?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. What aims does Anita have for her business?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. How did Anita start off in the workforce – what were her previous jobs?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Where did Anita’s motivation to start “The Body Shop” come from?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

5. What marketing strategies did Anita use when she opened her first shop?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

6. How many “The Body Shop” stores are there? In how many countries? How much
does the company make in annual sales?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

© VEA. This paper may be reproduced for non-commercial classroom use

 Anita Roddick- The Body Shop
Ready to Use Resources

Watching the Program BLM 3

7. Why does Anita keep in close contact with the stores and staff? How does she do
this?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

8. What issues has the Body Shop campaigned for and against?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

9. When did Anita resign from her role chairperson of the board? Why?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

© VEA. This paper may be reproduced for non-commercial classroom use

 Anita Roddick- The Body Shop
Ready to Use Resources

Beyond the Program BLM 4

Form small groups and discuss the following issues from the program:

1. Would you like to work for an organisation such as “The Body Shop”? Why/ Why
not? What sorts of responsibilities would you have as an employee that you may
not have in another company?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. In the program, Anita speaks of the 5 pillars “The Body Shop” is based on. List
these pillars. Discuss with your group – Do you think successful businesses and
their leaders have a responsibility to uphold values such as the five pillars? Why/
why not? How can upholding such values contribute to the profitability and success
of a company such as “The Body Shop”?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Anita went to Ghana in Africa to do business. Discuss the way business was
conducted in the village. What modifications did Anita have to make in the way she
conducted business?

4. In Ghana, Anita showed the villagers a product from her shop. What was this
product? What ingredient/s do the villagers produce that makes this product? Do
you think the trade partnership between “The Body Shop” and the Ghanaian
villagers is a fair one? Explain your opinion.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

© VEA. This paper may be reproduced for non-commercial classroom use

 Anita Roddick- The Body Shop
Ready to Use Resources

Beyond the Program BLM 6

5. Research the World Trade Organisation.

• What is the vision/ philosophy of this organisation?

• What are their aims and objectives?

• What is the role of this organisation?

• Who are the members of this organisation?

• Is anyone excluded from membership? Who? Why?

6. Research “Fair Trade”. What does it mean for trading partners? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of doing trade in this way for:

• Corporations

• Villagers/ local communities

7. Log onto “The Body Shop” website. Find a product sold in ‘The Body Shop”, whose
ingredients come from a third world community. Research:

• What are these ingredients and how are they produced?

• How is the trade partnership organised between the Body Shop and the local
community?

• Does the local community benefit from the partnership? How?

8. Anita Roddick started her business with one small shop. Research and profile a
successful Australian who had a similar start in business to Anita.

• Why do think he/ she was successful?

• What skills and attitude does he/she have that contributed to success?

• How where they able to make the business different?

• Does the business have a unique philosophy or make a contribution to the

community in a similar way to the Body Shop? Explain how and why.

© VEA. This paper may be reproduced for non-commercial classroom use

 Anita Roddick- The Body Shop
Ready to Use Resources

Other Relevant Programs Available from Learning Essentials

Public Relations – Oli Norman – Tricky Business Series

To preview please quote number CH179
Networking has never been a problem for smooth-talking Oli Norman, who is already a
big PR player in Glasgow. But media-savvy Oli has now set his sights on expanding
his company Dada and setting up offices in London and Sydney. With his existing
business to be maintained back home, has the flamboyant Oli got the patience and
stamina he'll need to sustain his current client list and forge his way on to the
international scene?

Marketing – Ruth McKay – Tricky Business Series

To preview please quote number CH180
Aspiring events manager Ruth McKay is confident that, with her first class honours
degree in marketing, she can make a success of her company Unique Solutions. But
Ruth soon learns that a university education alone is not enough to establish herself.
After a string of embarrassing errors of judgement, she starts to feel the pressure of
disappointed clients. Can the humbled Ruth learn from past mistakes and raise her
game or will the demanding world of marketing be too much for her?

Evaluating Business Performance – Small Business Case Studies

To preview please quote number LE107
How well is your business running? Evaluating Business Performance helps us to
answer this question and make decisions that will improve future performance. In this
program the owners of three businesses talk frankly about profitability, liquidity,
efficiency and stability. Key concepts are explained and students will gain an
understanding of the accounting processes required to evaluate the business
performance.

© VEA. This paper may be reproduced for non-commercial classroom use