Long-established beauty retailer The Body Shop will see its stores in both Exeter and Plymouth close this month.
A notice stuck on the front door of its shop in Exeter Guildhall Shopping Centre states that its final day of opening will be next Wednesday, January 15.
The closure has been announced with a ‘heavy heart’ by the Harsant Franchise who have trading in Exeter for 45 years. At the beginning of 2024, The Body Shop confirmed stores in Newton Abbot and Barnstaple were closing after administrators announced the closure of a further 75 shops across the nation.
The UK arm of the global beauty chain was put into administration in February 2024. It was confirmed up to half of The Body Shop stores would close. Now, in 2025, Devon is to lose two more stores.
The notice on the Exeter shop door states: “Dear valued customer, it is a with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of the Harsant Franchise of The Body Shop in Exeter and Plymouth.
“We want to express our dearest gratitude for your loyalty and support over the 45 years that we have been trading in Exeter. Our last business will be on January 15, 2025.
“Until then, we will be offering discounts on all remaining merchandise to clear our stock. Thank you once again for your support and understanding during this difficult time.”
The closure notice in the Exeter shop
(Image: DevonLive)
The Body Shop was founded in Brighton in 1976 by the late Dame Anita Roddick who opened a single shop in the seaside town. Known for its natural beauty products and its stance against testing on animals, it expanded rapidly in the following years.
Dame Anita and her husband Gordon sold the business to French beauty giant L’Oreal in 2006, much to the chagrin of some loyal followers who viewed the French beauty giant’s business at odds with The Body Shop’s ethos.
Since then, The Body Shop has changed hands three times. It was sold to private equity firm Aurelius in late 2023. Within weeks, it decided to place the UK arm in administration following poor sales over Christmas and January.
The Body Shop was then acquired by Auréa Group in September 2024. The Body Shop has been approached for a comment.