Essay on Dame Anita Roddick
Dame Anita Roddick and The Body Shop: Getting Started
The daughter of Italian immigrants born and raised in the UK, Anita Perella began developing her legendary work ethic and keen business sense at an early age as she and her siblings worked tirelessly in her parent’s café as children. It was very common in those days for immigrant children to labor as hard as (if not harder) than their adult counterparts and Anita was no exception. She was a hard worker but also garnered a reputation for being a “rebel” by challenging the ideas and concepts of those around her. It is undoubtedly these traits (among others)—her tireless work ethic, savvy business sense, and willingness to think outside the box—which led to the eventual creation and overwhelming success of Anita’s legacy: The Body Shop.
By the mid-70’s Anita had already completed her college education and began to travel the world, drifting from one position to another—teaching in Israel, working for the United Nations in Geneva..etc—before deciding to become a student of the world by exploring other nations and cultures. In her own words: “(…) that 's when I first understood the power of community and a world beyond our Western notion, and the role women could play in it. It was education through experience, and it was where I got the ideas for The Body Shop.”
When she returned from her expedition Anita met and fell in love with her future husband and the father of her two daughters; Gordon Roddick. Together the couple owned and ran a small hotel and a very successful Italian restaurant for over three years before deciding to give up the latter due to the overwhelming pressure and demands required of them. The work had simply become too straining. Shortly after, with her blessing, Anita’s husband decided to pursue a lifelong dream of trekking across the world on horseback, leaving Anita to fend for herself and their two small daughters. It was finally time to put those ideas she’d accumulated out in the world
The daughter of Italian immigrants born and raised in the UK, Anita Perella began developing her legendary work ethic and keen business sense at an early age as she and her siblings worked tirelessly in her parent’s café as children. It was very common in those days for immigrant children to labor as hard as (if not harder) than their adult counterparts and Anita was no exception. She was a hard worker but also garnered a reputation for being a “rebel” by challenging the ideas and concepts of those around her. It is undoubtedly these traits (among others)—her tireless work ethic, savvy business sense, and willingness to think outside the box—which led to the eventual creation and overwhelming success of Anita’s legacy: The Body Shop.
By the mid-70’s Anita had already completed her college education and began to travel the world, drifting from one position to another—teaching in Israel, working for the United Nations in Geneva..etc—before deciding to become a student of the world by exploring other nations and cultures. In her own words: “(…) that 's when I first understood the power of community and a world beyond our Western notion, and the role women could play in it. It was education through experience, and it was where I got the ideas for The Body Shop.”
When she returned from her expedition Anita met and fell in love with her future husband and the father of her two daughters; Gordon Roddick. Together the couple owned and ran a small hotel and a very successful Italian restaurant for over three years before deciding to give up the latter due to the overwhelming pressure and demands required of them. The work had simply become too straining. Shortly after, with her blessing, Anita’s husband decided to pursue a lifelong dream of trekking across the world on horseback, leaving Anita to fend for herself and their two small daughters. It was finally time to put those ideas she’d accumulated out in the world
References: Bio UK. Anita Roddick Bio. Retrieved May 26, 2012, from http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/anita-roddick.html Famous-Women-and-Beauty. Anita Roddick Biography. Retrieved May 26, 2012, from http://www.famous-women-and-beauty.com/anita-roddick-biography.html My Primetime. Biography: Anita Roddick, The Body Shop. Retrieved May 26, 2012, from http://www.myprimetime.com/work/ge/roddickbio/index.shtml Woopidoo. Anita Roddick Biography. Retrieved May 26, 2012, from http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/anita-roddick/index.htm Entrepeneur. (2008, October 10). Anita Roddick: Cosmetics With A Conscience. Retrieved May 26, 2012, from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197688 Anita Roddick. (2003, September 9). DISPATCH: Reflections on Success, Part I. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from http://www.anitaroddick.com/readmore.php?sid=154 Anita Roddick. (2003, September 9). DISPATCH: Reflections on Success, Part II. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from http://www.anitaroddick.com/readmore.php?sid=155