Marketing Research: How do you feel about 'LUSH' & 'The BODY SHOP'

[nabz]

hiya everyone

Im doing a research paper for a new company that is thinking about entering the UK market. The are called 'STENDERS' and are a Europe brand. I just want to find out a little about what you think about both LUSH and THE BODY SHOP. (which would be their main competitors).

which do you use if any?

if you dont use one brand why not?

does having a family affect this decision?

any thoughts you have on these brand would be most welcome! I know everyone is busy with their little ones but any help would be much appreciated! and if you have time pls look at the STENDERS website and tell me your honest opinion, do you think they have what it takes to enter the UK body care market?

http://www.stenders-cosmetics.com/

Thank so much!!

nabz x

[Otta]

I'm a bloke and have never walked in to a Lush, but I feel sick everytime I walk past one.

[oimissus]

yep, the smell of Lush is truly grim. I shopped in them when they first opened, but it didn't take long for the appeal of the glittery, over-scented bath bomb to fade.

I do shop in the Body Shop, as it is BUAV approved, but it's not my favourite place, pretty expensive and again, the scents can be a bit much.

Had a look at your website, the packaging looks nice, scents could a bit strong (personally I hate fruity scented stuff), and you need to tell your web people that yoghurt has got an 'h' in it.

If it's not BUAV / Vegan Society / Vegetarian Society approved, I wouldn't shop there whatever.

[Jo'sEnglish]

I don't shop in the Body Shop since it was bought by L'oreal. The body shop might products might not be tested on animals, but other l'oreal products are. This is a priority for me when buying these types of products.

Have bought Lush gift boxes as a gift in the past but agree about the smell! It's overpriced and always seems a bit 'teenage'.

Had a quick look at the website, looks more like l'occataine type stuff? Couldn't find anything about animal testing so that would rule their products out for me!

[oimissus]

oh my lord, I didn't know they were owned by L'Oreal! Dammit. Well, haven't bought much there recently. What a rubbish sell-out, they must have known about L'Oreal, surely - they've been on the Ethical Consumer boycott list for donkey's years!

[Otta]

Just to clarify about Lush, I'm sure individual products are nice, and I think my wife quite likes them, but the overall smell of the shops (which drifts out on to the street) is very overpowering. Christ knows how the poor staff manage a whole day!

[hellosailor]

Otta you're spot on, I think working in a Lush shop must be akin to being trapped in a wardrobe with 100 glade plug ins, makes me gag every time I walk past one..

[Princess]

I agree with the 'teenage' comment. I stopped shopping at Bodyshop at about 16/17 years of age (a long time ago). I've only ever been into Lush once and was put off not only by the smell but the fact anyone and everyone could touch the products on display. Euurgh.

[Pocket]

'Stenders'. Isn't that colloquial for 'Eastenders'?

Not sure about the packaging: too many ambiguous statements ('Gardener of Feelings' and 'Feel the Northern Treasure'...??!), and typography that doesn't have much shelf presence (anything with an exclamation mark is trying a little too hard).

It's a really competitive market out there - so make sure those products have a strong, clear brand message, personality and USP.

[sillywoman]

Pocket Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> 'Stenders'. Isn't that colloquial for

> 'Eastenders'?

>

> PMSL, glad it's not just me whose first thought was 'Stenders as a scent? Oh dear. Eau de parfum de engine oil & fish & chips?" They might want to revisit the brand name for the Brit market?

[Otta]

To be fair, the East End doesn't actually smell of oil and figh & chips.

[sillywoman]

sigh . . .

[niki_nje]

I am allergic to Lush unfortunately. I go in there and sneeze my head off! I am always worried that my skin will react to the overly perfumed products!

i used to love bodyshop, but as a teenager, so I associate it with that time and buy more "grown up" cosmetics now.

[Otta]

sillywoman Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> sigh . . .

Are you tired?

[sillywoman]

In a way Otta, in a way . . .

[Otta]

Go and get some rest.

[nabz]

Thanks everyone for messages!! All your info and opinions are great and are a real help! As families is anyone more aware of price?

Pls let me know anything about these companies and any other companies you think fit into this market. Does anyone think that buying these products are a waste of money and you would prefer to spend it on children or face creams and so on?

Thanks!

[oimissus]

I'm very aware of price, for me it's not a question of what I would prefer to spend money on, it's what I have to spend money on, and expensive toiletries unfortunately (for me!) are pretty low on the list. My current moisturizer is from Superdrug, which kind of says it all - though I haven't noticed that it's any worse!

[minder]

Few years ago my girls wanted to try the Lush stuff but it quickly fizzled out like their bath bombs. I put a stop to it after having to spend double time cleaning the bath out. Very slimy and over-processed products in my view even though sometimes the smell is nice.

On the other hand, I do love the Body Shop stuff and have done over the years (started off with their white musk products in the 80's) and love it now.

They are a bit more expensive than your average shower gel/soap/perfume oils but are good quality and recently I do love their Moringa range and my girls do and they last a long while.

During the past few months I've always got a voucher with my change saying ?10 of your next purchase when you spend ?25 and have stocked up with presents for xmas/birthdays but all of a sudden you have to spend ?30 to get the ?10 discount.

I don't often wear mascara but when I do the only one that agrees with me is from the Body Shop.

[pommie]

the LUSH shops are just horrible, the smell is so overpowering outside the shop that i have never entered one. I think i would get a headache if i did

[katgod]

Not for me. Hate lush and body shop due to too much fragrance. See Stenders is mainly a franchise thing- I don't know too much about how that works but think it would take a lot of effort to break a new skin care franchise into the uk. We have tesco,m and s and boots doing high performance skin care at very low cost ( boots serum vs the mega brands performs very well, for example), plus the Clarins Clinique etc for those with more cash/less cynicism! Add in the ethical buyers and the people like me looking for high spf sun protection, which stenders seems not to have, and i am not sure who will buy it. But the photos on website are nice- bikes and flowers etc.

[nabz]

Thanks again for your responses! Does anyone buy Kiehls products?

[Carbonara]

I couldn't possibly use a Lush product, people would have to move away on the tube.

Occasional Body Shop products are OK - the Hemp range for hand cream, the shea butter or brazil nut body butter. But most of the scents are too unsubtle and sweet. I also can't bear to shop in there since they seem to have put assistants on commission - followed round the shop, asked to take about a loyalty card and no, I don't want to tell you my birthday and birthdate for your bloody database and don't tell me it is so I can be sent a birthday card and gift - how sad do you think I am!!! (draws breath).

I buy almost all toiletries from Sainsbury's.

(quite sad then :) )

[sandy_rose]

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1201626-Lush-bath-bomb-and-glitter-trouble/AllOnOnePage

[nabz]

Haha thank you for that sandy rose...dont think il be using gliter bombs any time soon!