Companies that create shared value and are sustainable are able to distinguish themselves from competitors and attract consumers. Although there are many beauty companies in the market, The Body Shop is unique from others through its company’s philosophy. Shared value is defined as recognizing and capitalizing on connections between societal and economic progress, in which can be seen with The Body Shop. The company maintains its commitment to its five core values: Against Animal Testing, Support Community Fair Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights and Protect The Planet. The Body Shop was the first cosmetics company to introduce fair trade to the cosmetics and toiletries industry in 1987. Consumers such as myself are attracted to companies such as The Body Shop towards their products but also towards their company values. Consumers are more willing to make purchases or even pay a higher price for product if they know that their money is spent on something positive. This point has proven to be true as The Body Shop started its first shops in United Arab Emirates 30 years ago but has now grown and expanded  internationally.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/wknd/wknd_article.asp?xfile=/data/wkndtopstoriesnew/2013/November/wkndtopstoriesnew_November5.xml&section=wkndtopstories

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1257993/the-body-shop-welcomes-the-news-reports-that-the-chinese-food-and-drug-administration-will-adopt-a-new-approach-to-animal-testing-for-cosmetic-product