Voluntary administrators have been appointed to Body Shop NZ — with stores remaining open as stock is cleared.
The Body Shop NZ has 16 stores across New Zealand with approximately 70 permanent employees and an online business. It sells skincare, make-up haircare and body products.
Customers were told of the closure in an email on Wednesday afternoon.
“We regret to inform you that after much consideration, our New Zealand business has entered voluntary administration and will be closing its doors. We want to express our sincere gratitude for your loyal support throughout the years,” the email read.
A storewide discount of 40% would be applied to the remaining stock, according to the email, with customers invited to take advantage of the closing sale while they still could.
The Body Shop’s loyalty scheme was no longer operating with customer points voided.
Gift cards issued by the company could now only be redeemed in-store only and “to the extent they are matched with actual money”. For example, customers must spend an additional $20 to redeem a $20 gift card.
The administrators appointed to The Body Shop’s wind down are Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of the financial advisory firm Calibre Partners. Stoneman said The Body Shop NZ’s UK parent company was placed into administration in February 2024.
“Following this, the assets of The Body Shop International were largely sold by the administrators in September 2024.”
Stoneman said the sale excluded The Body Shop’s New Zealand business — and a buyer for this has not yet been found, leading to the appointment of the administrators.
“We are working closely with the management team to develop a strategy to sell all stock and begin to wind down the business.”
Stoneman said all Body Shop stores in New Zealand would remain open “at this stage” in the administration, and “on sale mode”.
