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The Body Shop

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I was sad to read that The Body Shop is facing a crisis and that its new owner, the third in seven years! – is expected to put the retailer’s UK business into administration. Aurelius, the private equity firm that bought The Body Shop for £207m in November 2023, took the drastic decision after poor sales during the all-important Christmas shopping season seeped into January. No one knows what this means for The Body Shop’s 200 stores across the country but am sure many will have to close.

The Body Shop was set up by the pioneering late Dame Roddick in 1976, which was talking about ethical products, recycling, and refilling, way back then, which has inspired the beauty sector of today. I love the Body Shop and what Anita stood for, so much so that I included both in my last book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations, and managed to grab a conversation with the magnificent Löis Acton who was mentored by Anita, through a stroke of serendipity.  It’s a magical way that they met, and if you have read any of Anita’s books, it’s so typical of Anita.

In the 1980’s the Body Shop was popular, and there were so many of us in love with the White Musk perfume, the peppermint foot lotion, body lotions, and banana shampoo, which all became Christmas stocking staples. So, how did a brand that was so relevant become irrelevant?!

Well, I think the late Dame Anita Roddick can answer this, as she once said, “Be courageous. It’s one of the only places left uncrowded.” She also said, “If you do things well, do them better, be daring, be first, be different, be just.” Finally – “One of the most intriguing things in management and business is the role of storytelling – people need the anecdotes to do the work that they do.”

And that is what I believe went wrong with The Body. All its various owners lost the connection with its community, it stopped innovating, being different, and courageous and stopped storytelling, it rested on the laurels that Anita built, and it got lazy. Brands need to evolve and inspire; they need to make us want them.

But Anita created something more than a brand, she woke us up to being conscious consumers, about fair trade, what was happening to the planet, about having purpose and being ethical, and so much more. So, I will let Anita have the last word on this…

 

The Traitors Is Fashion Styling For The Sustainable Fashion Faithful

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Full disclosure, I have not seen any of the latest season of The Traitors on the BBC, but I have been reading all the articles across the mainstream media about the success of the style success of Claudia Winkleman, the presenter of the show, which has been thoughtfully put together by her stylist Sinead McKeefry. There are so many news pieces, features, blogs, articles dedicated to showing us how to recreate these looks and I am not writing this as a fashion writer, but from the place of sustainability and purpose; and so far, I have seen nothing on this topic.

For those who don’t know, The Traitors is a reality show, which has upped the fashion stakes and caught the attention of the country. It’s a haute country look that has been inspired by the wonderful backdrop of the imposing Scottish castle and landscape setting. It is what I would describe as appropriate winter wear, and what we should all be wearing in the depths of winter to keep us properly warm, none of this acrylic and polyester stuff. The style is woolen cable knit jumpers, sturdy tweed, thick socks with the occasional sweeping theatrical moments.

The wardrobe of the latest season of The Traitors is not about fast fashion. Instead, it will be one that will be brought out every winter, it’s a look that is classic, where the fabric will get better as the years go on and if you look after the pieces well, they will serve you. These are sumptuous knits that will need to be darned with love when holes appear, boots that will need resoling when worn and lovingly polished. This is a style to keep you warm in winter, and in my view what purposeful and ethical fashion looks like, where you invest in this look not just for a season but for the future. This is not a look that should end up in landfill.

It struck me, that the other angle to this clever Traitors look is that it is also about heritage styling and heritage brands, which is wrongly associated with luxury. Especially, as traditionally, prominent heritage companies started as clothing suppliers for blue-collar workers…think of the history of denim or the Doc Marten boots that Claudia Winkleman wears, which are as I have read her favourite boots. Heritage brands have endured the test of time, often with a rugged aesthetic. These are clothes and accessories crafted to do a job, created to serve, and function. Where everything is durable, that can be worn while out and about, and on repeat. The complete opposite of fast throwaway fashion. This is a look for people who know how they want to look, come across, and are confident in their style.

This type of styling is something that British heritage brands do so well and are known for their craftsmanship. As an aside, I think The Traitors will be a boost for British fashion.

So, how am I going to end this piece, well I would love to see more popular programmes, films, and even TV adverts with clever stylists and styling, showing us how to invest in pieces that are meant to be loved forever, not a season. Fashion that is for the ‘faithful’, where pieces become our trusted friends, items that we turn to in winter, summer, spring, and autumn, and is not about dopamine buying.

 

Photo credit: The BBC

CSR Is Not PR At The PR Link Building Show Brighton

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Last week on 13 September I was at the Brighton SEO conference, the largest PR industry show that ran from 13 to 15 th. I was delighted to speak to my industry about how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is shaping PR campaigns, forcing brands to take a long hard look at themselves and their purpose.

And I am pleased to say that CSR Is Not PR was well received by the PR community. Sir David Attenborough has called the plight of the planet a communications issue and yes it does start with us in the media industry…we can help brands be more accountable, to do better, and be authentic about their values and storytelling. There is no room for any business or brand to be making up fairytales, as that’s just greenwashing. Consumers are savvy and voting with wallets, loyal to brands and businesses that are eco-friendly, ethical, and doing right by the environment. After all, there is no business without the planet.

Talking Points With Keith Vaz

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I had great fun speaking with Keith Vaz on his radio show, Talking Points on Lyca Radio, who is a wonderful warm host, who keeps his guests on their toes. We talked about lots of things from brands, PR, my book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations, Donald Trump, speech writing, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

If you want to listen to the show, you can catch it here and you will also find out what’s my favourite Bollywood film song and why…

Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations – Out In India

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I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and now enjoying the time off before we hurl ourselves into 2023. I thought I would take this quiet moment of reflection between Christmas and the New Year to get around to updating everyone about my book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations, which was published in India on 23 November 2022 by Jaico Publishing.

You will immediately notice that the book has a different cover and is one that has been designed to suit the Indian market. I just love the way on the front cover, if you notice, the line that says ‘For sale in the Indian Subcontinent only’ – that to me, makes this my book extra special. On a personal note, to have my book published and sold here, is a fairy tale come true. I spent my teenage and young adult life in India, where we had books published by Jaico on our bookshelves. Never in my wildest dreams, did I think that one day, I too would have my book published by the highly regarded publishing house.

I wanted to make this edition of the book special, and I decided to include three new interviews with business leaders that will be of interest to the market here. One interview is with an award-winning luxury British Ayurvedic wellbeing brand that has a strong Indian heritage; the other is with one’s of France’s influential ESG and CSR thought leaders and activists, who has worked in India, and the third interview is with a multi-award-winning Indo-German sustainable fashion brand that is doing great things.

I could not be prouder to have my book published in India, a country that was the first in the world to implement a national CSR law in 2014. A region that is a superpower, and has the fifth largest economy in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund. This means my book could not be timelier, because it is now vital for all national and international brands and businesses in India, to authentically commit to their CSR initiatives and build CSR into the heart of their brands and business strategies, and my book explains how to do this with purpose.

The Indian Government has started to raise consumer awareness, with its efforts toward reducing the country’s carbon footprint. Currently, India is the world’s third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, after the US and China. According to an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and PricewaterhouseCoopers International report, landfills are brimming with so much urban waste that by 2050, India is going to need a landfill that’s the size of its capital, New Delhi. Indian consumers aren’t ignoring these horrifying numbers anymore.

More and more consumers are becoming aware of their choices and realising that whether it is clothes that they decide to throw away, nothing ever really goes ‘away’, it all ends up in a landfill. Human activities are clearly harming the global environment and brands have no choice but to migrate to sustainable solutions and work towards building a circular economy. Information is not only to educate people about environmental issues but also to guide them on how they can make a difference every step of the way.

In October 2022, PM Modi launched Mission LiFE movement (Lifestyle for the Environment), which is an India-led global mass movement that will nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment. PM Modi said the mantra of Mission LiFE is ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ and “Connects the powers of the people for the protection of this earth and teaches them to utilize it in a better way. Mission LiFE makes the fight against climate change democratic, in which everyone can contribute within their capacity. It inspires us to do all that can be done in our everyday life to protect the environment…and that the environment can be protected by making changes in our lifestyle.”

PM Modi added that the mission emboldens the spirit of the P3 model, Pro Planet People, uniting the people of the earth as pro planet people, uniting them all in their thoughts. It functions on the basic principles of ‘Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and by the planet’…making my book both timely and relevant to the Indian market. Jai Hind!

 

Elena Fernandes, The Supermodel Who Works To Fund Her Charity Work

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I don’t always get time to write about the things I am up to and the people I meet, but I could not let this event I did for Bridge India, slip by, when I interviewed, supermodel, actress, social media influencer and philanthropist Elena Fernandes. Why? Well, it wasn’t just because Elena so charming to interview, but completely candid, interesting, and thought-provoking. The evening, Elena inspired us all in the room with her heart and passion.

Elena was born in London to a Peruvian mother and Indian father. She still lives in London, and today is a globe trotter, working out of London, Dubai, Mumbai, and New York. Elena’s impressive career started with a 12-page editorial for Vogue India, has graced the front covers of big magazines from Vogue, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar and has been featured in advertising campaigns for well-known brands such as Adidas. Elena is leading the life, that some of us probably dream of – walking the red carpet, attending the British Fashion Awards, Cannes Film Festival, as well as the fashion week schedule.

And there’s something for Bollywood lovers too, Elena has a flourishing film and tv career, with her first role was with Dharma Productions’ “Kapoor & Sons” and has since starred in Housefull 4 and Jawaani Jaaneman. Her starring role in ‘Cheat India’ was well received and is currently in talks to appear in multiple big budget film projects in India and abroad.

Elena has beauty and brains, holding a Law degree from Kings College, University of London, and is very proud of her philanthropic work.

One of the things that struck me about Elena before I got to meet her, was all the different roles that she had, which got me thinking…most of us think when we are growing up that we want to be a lawyer, a teacher, a nurse, doctor – it’s just one thing. I was curious and my first question to Elena was “when you were growing up, did you say, I want to be whatever I want to be?” and her answer was “Yes”, she explained that she believed that we all can be who and what we want to be, irrespective of what age we are, and that we are constantly evolving.

My interview with Elena criss-crossed a whole host of topics from the challenges she has faced to her proudest moment, and what it was like working in Bollywood. We also chatted about whether the modelling industry has really changed to be inclusive and diverse. My takeaway is that colour still matters and while there has been some shift in thinking, a real change of mindset is needed for inclusivity and diversity to become normalised in this fickle industry.

I really wanted to explore Elena’s philanthropic work, which is very important to her, and she has set-up your own charity, iAmChange, which looks after stray animals in India. Elena’s passion really comes through when she talks about her charity work and the causes close to her heart. She told us that she worked to fund her charity work and causes. That’s what drives her.

I wanted to know who was inspiring Elena right now and I loved her answer, it was fresh and honest, it was a simple, “Me.” It was pure. It made me realise we should all be able to say that, but we don’t allow ourselves to acknowledge how far we have come, what we have done or the wins that we have had in our lives.

The final bit of wisdom that Elena gave us is if people try to put you down, question your dreams, your success, or just give you any negativity, “Remember it is their problem, not yours.”

 

Serendipity PR’s New Client: Constructive Voices

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When we work with clients, there is nothing like working with clients that are pushing boundaries and shaking things up, and is why Serendipity PR & Media is enjoying working with Constructive Voices, a new and exciting podcast platform for the construction industry. Constructive Voices is bringing the latest stories from the construction industry globally and is creating the best conversations with industry leaders and change makers, on topics shaping the sector from the economy to sustainability, social good, to mental and physical health, and diversity and inclusion. These are all values that matter to Serendipity PR as a brand.

All the podcasts aim to inspire positive change and it has a strong, talented team of diverse experts behind it, which includes Peter Finn, Ireland’s well-known and favourite TV builder; Henry McDonald, investigative journalist; Jackie De Burca, author and award-wining podcaster; and Steve Randall, radio presenter and podcast trainer.

Constructive Voices latest powerful podcast is out now, where acclaimed journalist and media commentator, Henry McDonald interviews Professor Michael Parkinson CBE, Honorary Professor at the University of Liverpool and Ambassador for its Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place. Professor Parkinson speaks in detail about the proposed Everton football stadium project and Liverpool’s regeneration.

This latest podcast with Professor Parkinson has been well-received and Paul Gallagher

Head of Creative Partnerships, National Museums Liverpool says, “This is a brilliant podcast, incredibly enlightening and insightful. A highly recommended listen.”

 

Here’s a taster of some of the other episodes from Constructive Voices:

Cas Heuvelmans, PR Manager Europe | Trimble says: “I’m truly impressed by what the team have pulled off here.”

Guy Woodford, Aggregates Business says, “A real diversity among the guests, which gives the show pace…Great success story.”

Peter Finn, Ireland’s favourite TV builder says, “At Construction Voices we want to bust those stereotypes that people may have of this sector and showcase the best things that are happening within this sector globally, including bringing to the forefront the latest industry insights and trends. We are creating quality content and we are proud that in such a short space of time we have become the go to podcast in the construction industry and have gained sponsors.”

Constructive Voices is consistently producing original content and future episodes lined-up includes, Peter Finn, TV personality taking listeners on a journey into the highly sensitive restoration of the building, which houses the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin; while Henry McDonald, journalist will be discussing the renovation of the Real Madrid Bernabéu Stadium.

 

Little Bit Of More Book Love For The PR Knowledge Book

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I was delighted to see this unexpected book review for  – The PR Knowledge Book from Rusen Kumar, founder and managing editor of India CSR Network, India’s largest ethical news platform. Rusen is a respected media mogul in India and well-known in the areas of social entrepreneurship, social journalism and social-economic development.

Rusen has been at the forefront in driving change for not only the vulnerable people in society, but also getting corporates to act differently in India.

You can read his full review here and am hugely grateful for all his support.

My Love of Podcasts!

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During lockdown and our changing world, I have been keeping myself busy with writing and podcasts, not just listening to them, but being fortunate enough to be invited on to various shows to share my stories.

I enjoyed sharing my business wisdom and stories and have recently been on two popular US based podcasts shows – CurryUp StartUp Podcast and the #365FirstChallenge

Both shows are hosted by great podcasters who have the mastery of asking great questions and importantly, good listeners, knowing just when to come in to ask that timely question.

Podcasts are great for sharing knowledge, experiences and stories with a wide audience. You can listen to podcasts about politics, business, cooking and more; the options are endless. Data shows that two million podcasts are registered by Google.

According data released from Buzzsprout, Latino podcasts are flourishing due to the large number of Spanish speakers in both the US and South America, with Chile in the lead with a podcast growth rate of 85 percent; followed by Argentina; then Peru and Mexico. The country with the fifth-highest rate is China; and I know that in India, podcasts is a growing market.

While in the UK, 12 percent of adults listen to at least one podcast per week and are the most popular among millennials (21 percent) and only five percent of Baby Boomers have caught the podcast bug.

Other research by Music Oomph shows that brands that advertise products and services during business podcasts have a 14 percent lift in purchase intent! There is plenty of research on customer behaviour proving that podcasts impact brand lift.

Other interesting podcasting statistics on customer behaviour:

  • Brands that have ads in podcasts about society and culture are most likely to have a 9.2 percent lift in purchase intent.
  • Brands that advertise in news and politics podcasts are most likely to have a 12.8 percent lift in purchase intent.
  • Brands that advertise in comedy podcasts are most likely to have a 7.3 percent lift.
  • Brands that advertise in sports podcasts are most likely to have a 9.3 percent lift.

According to Forbes – 36. 39 percent of US small and medium-sized businesses owners are podcast users and 65 percent of them listen to podcasts weekly, according to 2018 podcast listenership stats.

So, if you happen to be looking for something to listen to…give CurryUp StartUp Podcast and the #365FirstChallenge a try.

Online Event – How PR can help SME’s kickstart their businesses post COVID-19 on 24 August

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Hello! On 24 August from 10.00 to 11.30am I will be sharing my knowledge with fellow women in business at this online Federation of Small Business (FSB) Women’s event, which is a platform to learn, share, network and build vital relationships. These regular FSB events are open to all, the format is informal and educational with a female focused networking focus and a chance to hear from expert speakers too.

My session is purposefully called ‘How PR can help SME’s kickstart their businesses post COVID-19’.

Do join us if you can, be great to see you!

Click here on event to book and for more information.