Body Shop sales flat in the first eight months

Cosmetics store chain The Body Shop Romania in the first eight months of this year registered sales worth 800,000 euros, largely equal to the sales posted in the same period of last year. Despite the lack of an increase in sales, the company’s representatives are satisfied, though, with the fact that the market has somewhat stabilised in the wake of an extremely weak start that has marked sales of cosmetics, too. “We have managed to make up for the weaker start of this year, and a considerable boost to sales beginning with the second quarter came with the launch of a new make-up line, but we have also felt a slight rally in purchasing power,” stated Dana Tudorache, the company’s general manager. In the first three months of this year, the company had posted a drop in sales by 8%, induced by a lower purchasing power, amid an increase in upkeep expenses and to the credits contracted by individuals. Last year, the company’s turnover amounted to 1.1 million euros, 27% higher than in 2001. This autumn, The Body Shop will launch a loyalty card aimed at customers acquiring products worth more than 500,000 ROL. This need to attract loyal customers came as a result of competition, with such cards being extensively used in Western Europe. Amid tougher competition in Romania, more and more retail firms have started resorting to this method. The main rivals of The Body Shop are The Beauty Shop, a franchise of Greek group Marinopoulos, Ina Center, which is part of Marionnaud Parfumeries, and Dumarex. ZF