Body shop reports Christmas sales slump

Beauty products retailer The Body Shop International Plc said on Thursday like-for-like sales over the Christmas trading period were 5% lower but margins rose due to less discounting.

The Body Shop operates nearly 2,000 stores (about 70% are franchised) in almost 50 countries. It also sells its products via Body Shop at Home, an in-home sales program, in 48 US states and Australia.