Strategy Simplified

S21E12: Why Bath and Body Works Lost Its Scent With Shoppers


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Bath and Body Works used to own the mall fragrance space. Now traffic is shrinking, margins are squeezed and a new CEO is blaming the old playbook.

In this episode, we break down what went wrong and whether the turnaround plan has a real shot.

We cover:

  • How chasing “adjacent” categories like shampoo and laundry backfired
  • Why discounting destroys price integrity in a brand-led business
  • The missed opportunity in e-commerce and Amazon resellers
  • What Bath and Body Works can learn from Walmart, Target and TJX
  • How to think about profit from the core in your own business

If you want to sharpen your operator brain and see how a real consumer brand tries to pull out of a stall, this one is for you.

Partner Links:

  • Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 20% off with code BLACKFRIDAY20 until Dec. 10, 2025

Chapters: 

  • 00:30 Introduction to Bath and Body Worksv
  • 06:37 Analyzing Bath and Body Works' Strategy
  • 11:40 Challenges in Product Expansion
  • 17:32 E-commerce Strategy and Customer Engagement
  • 27:34 Future Outlook

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