why not to boycot Bodyshop

Our inclination might be to disengage, but it appears to be a counter-productive strategy, so what should we do to help ensure that the Body Shop does remain true to its values and help L’Oreal see that corporate responsibility is an idea they should embrace wholeheartedly?
1. In an ideal world, instead of boycotting, if we buy their products in droves, they will be a wildly successful company and L’Oreal might even think this ethics stuff isn’t a bad idea for the rest of the group. All the other retailers will be on the ‘bandwagon’ in record time! (By the way, I don’t have shares in either company)
2 Write personally to the Chairman/CEO of L’Oreal, Lindsay Owen-Jones and also the non-execs on the L’Oreal Board and express in forceful terms that your continued support depends on their maintaining Body Shop values. You’d be amazed at how insulated such people often are and how letter campaigns can hit home.
3 Keep a very close eye on Body Shop to ensure it continues to uphold its values and improve its performance in these areas. Write to them where you see gaps; come up with innovative ways to help; read their social report; give them feedback - make sure we keep them on their toes.
4 Devise or join campaigns that advocate the specific change that you want – e.g. fair trade, and lobby L’Oreal hard in creative ways. Make sure it is targeted to a specific behavior you want changed, not just a generic rant.
5 I’m sure there are lots more creative ways to lobby these and other companies, send them to Ethical Corporation; I like the idea of an ‘ideas bank’ of good campaigning ideas!
So, for me, the answer is no, don’t boycott Body Shop, that is a very passive way of getting exactly what you don’t want – less fair trade and the high street taken over by companies who don’t support your values. Be active, use carrots as well as sticks, support where it is due, sanctions only when they are really justified.