Body and Soul

What is it about?

With so many boutique skin care brands now available on the market, this older biography should be a very popular book for many. Body & Soul tells the story of the original natural skin care developer, Anita Roddick. Roddick started The Body Shop and this book is her story. Although the story is over 30 years old, in essence, Roddick started The Body Shop as a side hustle before opening her first store. It’s a beautiful story about building a brand, identifying the core values central to the brand and developing products that enabled her to connect so authentically to the customer base. A must read for every emerging entrepreneur.

Why should I read it?

Every entrepreneur in the skin care industry should own a copy of this book. Anyone starting a social venture should own a copy of this book. Roddick shares her start-up experiences but more importantly she talks about the value of authenticity, honesty and core values in a business. These were essential ingredients to the initial success and growth of The Body Shop as the global brand still trading today. It was a great shame that Roddick passed away so unexpectedly and a great shame that the brand has changed so significantly since being acquired by much larger corporate interests. Nonetheless, this story is timeless and full of lessons for new business owners.

Is it a challenging read?

No – it is a delight and captivating read.