The Body Shop to invest 500.000 euro in 2007

The Body Shop Romania, local branch of British retailer The Body Shop International, plans to invest some €500,000 this year, which constitutes 22 percent of total turnover of the Romanian branch. Net sales in 2006 amounted to €1.8 million, up 14% year-on-year, and profit amounted to 10% of total sales. 

The company will invest €150,000 in a new shop in Bucharest, its seventh in Romania since opening in 1999. Currently the company has four stores in Bucharest, one in Timisoara and one in Constanta. “The next step is to expand in all cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants,” said Dana Tudorache, General Manager of The Body Shop. The company plans an 18 percent increase in net sales this year, to €2.2 million, due to a rise in purchasing power and new products available for sale, according to Tudorache. 

The company sells more than 1,500 bath, make-up and body care products. The Body Shop has over 2,000 stores worldwide.
In Romania, the company is owned by The Body Shop Greece (60%) and Sarantis Romania (40%). The Body Shop’s main competitors are Lush, l’Occitane and Sabon. The Romanian cosmetics market was worth some €600 million last year. On average, Romanians spend an annual €26 on cosmetics, while Bulgarians spend €14.  Average consumption in Russia is €20/per person, €59 in Hungary and €64 in the Czech Republic.