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Our Company Story

This year we celebrate the 41st anniversary of the business our mother, Jane Saunders, founded.

Jane's story is inspiring. In 1970, Jane was 50 years old and a stay-home mom. With $750 and a dream, she and her sister-in-law, Peggy Saunders Short, opened the original The Body Shop in a tiny boutique on Berkeley's famous Telegraph Avenue.

Inspired by the local, vibrant counter-culture, plus her interest in healthy living and the environment, she created pioneering body care products all formulated with natural, biodegradable ingredients. Lotions and bubble baths were custom scented for each shopper with Jane's fanciful fragrances. Packaging was spare - nothing wasteful. Bottles could be returned for refilling.

The name, The Body Shop, was in homage to the store's location; CJ's Old Garage, a former auto body shop, converted into a "hippie" mall. Jane's vision and products were an instant success. In the first year, the store sold 16 tons of soap, hand cut from large slabs, with fragrances like Chocolate, Strawberry Yogurt and Patchouli.

The business quickly grew into a small Bay Area chain of stores and a substantial wholesale operation owned and run by us Jane's daughters. In 1987, the trademark The Body Shop was purchased by a British company of the same name. At that time, we became TerraNova, which means "New Earth", reflecting our commitment to the earth, through modern, effective plant-based bath and body products.

Today our mother's inspiration continues to guide our company. As Jane best put it, "Our goals have always been simple. We want to make a good product, which we learn to do by listening to our customers. We want to be mindful of the earth and its resources, which we are. And we want to enjoy our work. That seems more than enough to us." Our mother passed away a few years ago, but we remain devoted to her original vision.

TerraNova remains a small, family-run company, offering individual assistance. Rest assured that our quality formulations are produced under the strictest standards of safety, with no animal testing.

We thank you for your patronage.

Ann Saunders Gordon	Kathy Saunders