Business Spotlight: Lush Part 2

Continued from Part 1… The reason for Lush’s success: its unique business model. Lush stores emphasize the sensory experience, selling most products without packaging, so that customers can smell, touch and see what they are buying. The brand has also taken a strong ethical stance since the beginning. Now all of its products are either vegan or vegetarian. Lush has fervently incorporated such ethics as part of its business. One such example of this is its Charity Pot program, in which all proceeds are donated to environmental, humanitarian and animal rights charities. Similarly, in 2012, Lush initiated the Lush Prize, which funds endeavors to put a stop to animal testing. The brand, however, has also been guilty of hypocrisy. Despite its negative position on palm oil, for example, it still uses traces of the material in its soaps. In addition, though an ardent supporter of humanitarian charities, workers have complained of poor labor conditions in its Australian and North American stores. But even if Lush isn’t as “squeaky clean” as it first appears, it remains an example of how a conscientious business model can lead to decades of profits. (The Japan Times) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.