Sam Roddick

Samantha "Sam" Roddick (born 1 July 1971) is the founder of Coco de Mer, a British lingerie brand and retail store.[3] She is the daughter of Body Shop founder and activist Anita Roddick.

Sam Roddick
Roddick in 2008
Born (1971-07-01) 1 July 1971[1]
Rustington, Sussex, England
OccupationEntrepreneur
Known forBusinesswoman, founder of Coco de Mer, and Bondage For Freedom
ChildrenOsha, daughter[2]
Parent(s)Gordon Roddick
Anita Roddick
Websitecoco-de-mer.com

Early life and education

Roddick is the younger daughter of Anita and Gordon Roddick.[3] She was educated at Summerlea Primary School and then at Frensham Heights in Surrey until she was asked to leave at age 16.[1][4] She gained only two O-Levels due to having undiagnosed dyslexia.[1][4] On leaving Frensham, the mother of a schoolmate suggested she work with her in Nepal, which is where her activism began.[3][4]

Early activism

Roddick's early activism included talks, fundraisers and projects worldwide.[1][5][6] In addition, she set up Cockroach, a youth magazine; and taught art in Vancouver.[1] Roddick backed the Women's Equality Party's campaign to encourage women to vote in the UK's 2016 referendum on its membership of the EU.[7]

Coco de Mer
Coco de Mer, London

In December 2001, Roddick opened Coco de Mer in Covent Garden's Monmouth Street with an evening hosted by Dave Stewart, and a fly-poster campaign by Saatchi and Saatchi.[2][3][8][9] In 2004 Roddick was prevented from registering the Coco de Mer name as a trade mark by French fashion designer Coco Chanel, the lawsuit citing the similarity in product range and name.[10][11][12]

In 2011 the brand was purchased by British sex shop Lovehoney.[4][13] In April 2014 former La Perla brand director Lucy Litwack was appointed as managing director of the company. Cristina Ceresoli was also brought on to be interim Chief Marketing Officer.[14]

The name comes from the coco de mer palm tree of the Seychelles, which has the largest seed in the world.[2] The seed is said to resemble a woman's buttocks.[2][9]

Bondage For Freedom

Bondage for Freedom was founded in 2008, focusing on fighting for human and environmental rights.[15] It had worked on a number of projects, including the 1994 Rwandan genocide; the release of the "Angola Three"; preventing sex-trafficking; and colony collapse disorder.[15][16][17][18]

Television

Roddick is an advisor on The Joy of Teen Sex.[19]

References
  1. Macalister, Terry (14 January 2005). "Interview: Sam Roddick, owner of Coco de Mer". The Guardian. , EnglandLondon. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  2. Steele, Jemima (10 October 2011). "Sam Roddick". The London Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. Smith, Andrew (8 December 2001). "Interview: Sam Roddick | The Observer". The Guardian. , EnglandLondon. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  4. Stanford, Peter (8 March 2013). "Sam Roddick: Mum's work is finally done – I'm delighted". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  5. Macalister, Terry (15 January 2005). "Ethical erotica". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  6. Cavendish, Lucy (17 May 2004). "Fair trade kinky cuffs". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  7. Samantha Roddick (10 June 2016). Samantha Roddick wants you to vote on 23 June (Video). Women's Equality Party via YouTube. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  8. Slowe, Kat (10 August 2011). "Interview: Coco de Mer founder Sam Roddick". Lingerie Insight. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  9. Jay, Adam (12 November 2001). "Roddick's daughter tunes in to a different body business". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  10. "The Chanel Sex Case". Vogue. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  11. Wigham, Helen (11 May 2011). "May 11 – On this day in history..." Vogue. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  12. Murray-West, Rosie (11 May 2004). "Sex shop loses its battle with Chanel over Coco brand". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  13. Goldfingle, Gemma (22 November 2011). "Lovehoney acquires erotic retailer Coco de Mer". Retail Week. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  14. Geoghegan, Jill (30 April 2014). "Coco de Mer appoints former La Perla brand boss as managing director". Drapers. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  15. Sevier, Laura (14 March 2009). "Q & A: Sam Roddick, activist & founder of Coco de Mer". The Ecologist. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  16. Szu Ping Chan (7 January 2011). "Sex and the sitting room". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  17. "Just Add Stock winner, Reports". Eye Magazine. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  18. Pool, Hannah (24 July 2008). "Question time: Sam Roddick". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  19. "Sam Roddick". IAI TV - Changing how the world thinks. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
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