Anita Roddick

Anita Roddick - Human Rights Activists, Timeline and Family

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Anita Roddick Biography Stories 

Anita Roddick's Personal Details

Anita Roddick was the founder of ‘The Body Shop’, the popular cosmetic brand

InformationDetail
BirthdayOctober 23, 1942
Died onSeptember 10, 2007
NationalityBritish
FamousHumanitarian, Environmentalists, Activists, Human Rights Activists, Restaurateurs
IdeologiesEnvironmentalists
SpousesGordon Roddick (m. 1970–2007)
Known asDame Anita Roddic
ChildrensJustine, Sam
Universities
  • Bath Spa University
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Children On The Edge
  • 38 Degrees
  • The Body Shop
Birth PlaceLittlehampton
GenderFemale
FatherHenry
MotherGilda
Sun SignLibra
Born inLittlehampton
Died at Age64

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Anita Roddick's photo

Who is Anita Roddick?

Anita Roddick was one of the famed names in the cosmetic circles around the globe. The initiator, creator and founder of the well-known wellness and cosmetic brand, The Body Shop, she created a stir globally with her ‘green’ themed vision. Interestingly, The Body Shop was basically initiated out of economic necessity, to resolve the cash crunches and provide financial security to Roddick and her family. It was her travels and exposure to body rituals of women and having a first-hand experience of living with the fishing and farming communities and pre-industrialized people that gave her the edge over other dealers. She clubbed it with her mother’s frugality, thus introducing the concept of refillable containers and sample sachets that led to environmental activism that the brand promoted. The company was one of the first to prohibit the use of ingredients tested on animals and one of the first to promote fair trade with third world countries. Within no time, The Body Shop became extremely popular. Today, the company serves 77 million consumers through its 2000 stores across the time zones. Other than being an entrepreneur, she was an active environmental campaigner and a human rights activist.

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Career

She started her career by working in a Library of International Herald Tribune, Paris. She followed this by serving as a teacher of English and History in England. She later found work in the Women's Rights Dept. of International Labor Organization (ILO), based at UN in Geneva

Later on she opened a restaurant in association with her future husband Gordon Roddick. The business thrived and the couple soon established a hotel in the Littlehampton area.

It was in 1976 that she initiated the cosmetic and wellness brand ‘The Body Shop’ as a means to earn a living so as to support her children, while her husband was away on a trekking tour in America. Established to provide financial support, it went on to become the largest cosmetic and wellness brand

Despite having no training or experience at business, she adhered to her husband’s advice of banking on sales of more than 300 pounds a week. The main aim of her business venture was to provide quality skin care products in refillable containers and sample sizes.

The Body Shop was launched when Europe was on its way for a ‘go green’ mantra. As such, the brand came well in time as it was largely accepted for its environment friendly retail conventions. Also it became the first socially and environmentally responsible business.

The success of the first shop led to the launch of the second shop within a time frame of six months. Her husband who had returned from his trek too joined the business. The company went public in 1984

By 1991, The Body Shop had more than 700 branches. The same year, it was awarded World Vision Award for Development Initiative.

In 1997, she launched the most successful campaign for The Body Shop, with the creation of a size 16 doll, Ruby which bore a resemblance to Barbie. The campaign was a great success.

By 2004, The Body Shop had 1980 stores, serving over 77 million customers throughout the world. It was voted as the second most trusted brand in the United Kingdom, and 28th top brand in the world.

In 2006, L’Oreal bought The Body Shop for 652 million pounds. The takeover created a major controversy as L’Oreal was involved in animal testing and due to its ownership by Nestle which is criticized for its treatment of third world producers.

Other than serving as the head of the brand, she was engaged in a lot of charity work. She was a member of the Demos think tank advisory council and was known for her campaigning work on environmental issues.

She founded the ‘Children on the Edge (COTE) after her visits to the Romanian orphanages. The main aim of the organization was to help manage the crisis and work to de-institutionalise the children over the course of their early life. It aims to treat disadvantaged children.

Her humanitarian efforts include stopping the dumping of toxic waste in North Sea, campaigning against whaling of sperm whales, acid rain pollution, publication of the first Green diary, funding unrepresented nations and people’s organization, positive energy campaign and so on.

Additionally, she served as a trustee or board member of many important organizations including Mother Jones Magazine - Foundation for National Progress, USA, Human Rights Watch, USA, The Ruckus Society, USA and Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, USA.

She also penned a book, ‘Take It Personally’ which encouraged equality and end to the exploitation of workers and children in underdeveloped countries.

Awards & Achievements

In 1988, she was bestowed with the prestigious Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) rank.

In 2003, she was appointed as the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

The other notable awards and distinctions offered to her include Veuve Clicquot Businesses Woman of the Year (1984), Banksia Foundation's Australia Environmental Award, Mexican Environmental Achiever Award, National Audubon Society Medal, Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics, Women's Center's Leadership Award, University of Michigan's Annual Business Leadership Award and British Environment & Media Award.

Some other distinctions awarded to her include Women's Business Development Center's First Annual Woman Power Award, The Gleitsman Foundation's Award of Achievement, International Peace Prayer Day Organisation's Woman of Peace and Spirit of the Rainforest Award.

She received honorary degrees from various universities across the globe such as Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sussex, Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from the University of Bath and Honorary Doctorate of Public Service by The Sage Colleges.

Personal Life & Legacy

She tied the nuptial knot with Gordon Roddick in 1970. By then, they had been blessed with a daughter while the other was on the way.

In 2004, she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Three years later, it was revealed that she was diagnosed with hepatitis C, which was the result of a blood transfusion that she underwent on the birth of her second daughter.

She was hospitalized at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester after complaint of severe headache. The following day, i.e. on September 10, 2007, she passed away due to acute hemorrhage.

Trivia

She was the famed entrepreneur who started the well-known cosmetic company, ‘The Body Shop’.

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Anita Roddick's awards

YearNameAward

Other

1993Mexican Environmental Achiever Award
1993National Audubon Society Medal
1994Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics
1994University of Michigan's Annual Business Leadership Award
1995Women's Business Development Center's First Annual Woman Power Award
0USA
1996Women's Center's Leadership Award
1996The Gleitsman Foundation's Award
1999British Environment & Media Award
2001International Peace Prayer Day Organisation's Woman of Peace Award
2006Spirit of the Rainforest Award for Rainforest Action Network
0
01984 - Veuve Clicquot Businesses Woman of the Year
0 1991 - Center for World Development Education's World Vision Award
0 1993 - Banksia Foundation's Australia Environmental Award

Anita Roddick biography timelines

  • // 1970
    She tied the nuptial knot with Gordon Roddick in 1970. By then, they had been blessed with a daughter while the other was on the way.
  • // 1976
    It was in 1976 that she initiated the cosmetic and wellness brand ‘The Body Shop’ as a means to earn a living so as to support her children, while her husband was away on a trekking tour in America. Established to provide financial support, it went on to become the largest cosmetic and wellness brand
  • // 1984
    The success of the first shop led to the launch of the second shop within a time frame of six months. Her husband who had returned from his trek too joined the business. The company went public in 1984
  • // 1988
    In 1988, she was bestowed with the prestigious Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) rank.
  • // 1991
    By 1991, The Body Shop had more than 700 branches. The same year, it was awarded World Vision Award for Development Initiative.
  • // 1997
    In 1997, she launched the most successful campaign for The Body Shop, with the creation of a size 16 doll, Ruby which bore a resemblance to Barbie. The campaign was a great success.
  • // 2003
    In 2003, she was appointed as the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
  • // 2004
    By 2004, The Body Shop had 1980 stores, serving over 77 million customers throughout the world. It was voted as the second most trusted brand in the United Kingdom, and 28th top brand in the world.
  • // 2004
    In 2004, she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Three years later, it was revealed that she was diagnosed with hepatitis C, which was the result of a blood transfusion that she underwent on the birth of her second daughter.
  • // 2006
    In 2006, L’Oreal bought The Body Shop for 652 million pounds. The takeover created a major controversy as L’Oreal was involved in animal testing and due to its ownership by Nestle which is criticized for its treatment of third world producers.
  • // 10th Sep 2007
    She was hospitalized at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester after complaint of severe headache. The following day, i.e. on September 10, 2007, she passed away due to acute hemorrhage.

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Anita Roddick's FAQ

  • What is Anita Roddick birthday?

    Anita Roddick was born at 1942-10-23

  • When was Anita Roddick died?

    Anita Roddick was died at 2007-09-10

  • Where was Anita Roddick died?

    Anita Roddick was died in Chichester

  • Which age was Anita Roddick died?

    Anita Roddick was died at age 64

  • Where is Anita Roddick's birth place?

    Anita Roddick was born in Littlehampton

  • What is Anita Roddick nationalities?

    Anita Roddick's nationalities is British

  • What is Anita Roddick ideologies?

    Anita Roddick's ideologies is Environmentalists

  • Who is Anita Roddick spouses?

    Anita Roddick's spouses is Gordon Roddick (m. 1970–2007)

  • Who is Anita Roddick childrens?

    Anita Roddick's childrens is Justine, Sam

  • What was Anita Roddick universities?

    Anita Roddick studied at Bath Spa University

  • Which company or organization was founded by Anita Roddick?

    Anita Roddick was the founder/co-founder of Children On The Edge, 38 Degrees, The Body Shop

  • Who is Anita Roddick's father?

    Anita Roddick's father is Henry

  • Who is Anita Roddick's mother?

    Anita Roddick's mother is Gilda

  • What is Anita Roddick's sun sign?

    Anita Roddick is Libra