To her exclusively goes the credit of bringing out the therapeutic value of herbs from the mists of antiquity and legend, combining them with scientific research and practice. Shahnaz Husain has done so much for her country’s image abroad that she truly deserves the sobriquet of India’s Beauty Ambassador– Washington Post
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and what is your long term vision?
Translating my dreams and ideas into reality inspired me to become an entrepreneur. During my training in London, I came across instances of damage caused by chemical treatments and products. I was determined to find a natural alternative. I decided to evolve treatments that are safe and without risks. My idea was to provide herbal beauty care, based on the principle of “care and cure.” I knew that I must have the freedom to implement my ideas and this can only be done in one’s own enterprise. An entrepreneur needs a vision, in order to make dreams a reality. I have promoted Brand India and Ayurveda internationally, with a crusader’s zeal and succeeded in putting India on the world beauty map.
Who has been the greatest influence in your life and why?
My father has been the greatest influence and inspiration in my life. I come from a conservative family, but I was fortunate to have a broadminded, Oxford-educated father, Chief Justice N.U. Beg, who put me through schooling in an Irish convent and instilled in me a love of poetry and English literature. He also encouraged the right combination of traditional values and progressive ideas and I learnt to love and respect the rich heritage of India. My father inspired me to follow my dreams.
You became a Case Study and then a Subject for Harvard Business School. Tell us about it.
I was invited to speak at Harvard Business School on how I established an international brand without commercial advertising, becoming a Harvard Case Study on Brand Creation. Now I am a Subject in Harvard for “Emerging Markets” in recognition of the international market created by me for Indian Ayurvedic beauty care. The Quote by Harvard Professor Geoffrey Jones, Professor of Business History, mentions the reason why they chose me. He says, “We felt compelled to include Shahnaz Husain in Harvard Business School’s Creating Emerging Markets project, both because of her entrepreneurial role in creating India’s natural beauty market and her strong belief in the importance of corporate social responsibility.”
How was your recent visit to London and the Ayurveda Conference?
London is like a second home for me. We have established brand loyalty in the U.K and our products have sold at prestigious locations, including Harrods and Selfridges. Our success and goodwill continues to generate an increasing demand for our products. The High Commission of India in the U.K. also organized a Conference on “Ayurveda – a Power for Health & Beauty” at India House. I was invited as “Special Guest.” I spoke on Ayurveda and said that the western world is fighting with its back to the wall. With the dangerous side-effects of chemicals, they have no option but to turn to Ayurveda and India. The High Commissioner of India, Ruchi Ghanashyam, spoke about my contribution in popularising Ayurveda. Indeed, I believe that India must and will lead the entire world into the next century with the plant power of Ayurveda.
Your products have sold at international stores in London. Tell us about it.
Shahnaz Herbal is the only Indian herbal cosmetic company that has sold at leading international stores, like Harrods and Selfridges in London, Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Bloomingdales in New York, La Rinascente in Milan, El Corte Inglis in Madrid and the Seibu chain in Japan. In fact, when there was an announcement of free consultation by me at the start of sales of my products at Lloyds Pharmacy, Selfridges, all the products were sold out before the inauguration! Within two weeks of the opening at Selfridges, the Shahnaz products posted record breaking sales, touching ₤1000 per day. In fact, Shahnaz Husain range touched record breaking sales again at Selfridges where a single customer bought products worth ₤4,334 in a single transaction.
You have received the Success Award and the Padma Shri. What about other prestigious awards?
Yes, I became the first woman in 107 years to receive the “World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur Award” from Success, the New York based business magazine and was also honoured with the Padma Shri Award. Recently, I received two prestigious awards in the British Parliament for “Pioneering Ayurveda Worldwide” and the “Ayurveda Excellence” award.
What is your opinion about Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence is ideal for us, as our treatments are customized and prescribed. My experience has been in Ayurvedic beauty care. Ayurveda may be an ancient system, but it is relevant to the modern world. Today, we can combine Ayurvedic Inheritance with Artificial Intelligence. We can prepare a data base and make an online program, taking individual details into account, like country, climate, skin tone and texture, allergies, blood picture, haemoglobin, past and current treatments, etc. The customer can refer to an Online Form and fill in the details. Thus, with the help of Artificial Intelligence, we can formulate a custom-made product for each individual, while the customer finds a personal skin or hair profile and buys a personalized product online. In a world dominated by Artificial Intelligence, Ayurvedic Inheritance is India’s gift to the world.
How is your brand positioned in the Indian cosmetic market? Tell us about your product innovations.
The Shahnaz Husain brand is positioned as the leader in the premium segment of Ayurvedic beauty care. We have evolved over 375 organic formulations for beauty and health care, using 1500 different plant ingredients, essential oils, even precious metals and gems. We have launched some revolutionary products, which include the famed Diamond Collection, Plant Stem Cells, the Flower Botanic ranges, as well as the Chemoline range for cancer patients, to help alleviate the effects of chemotherapy. The products do not contain parabens, sulphates, mineral oil or synthetic colours. We will be launching our Just Me range for the middle segment. The Shahnaz Husain brand has gone from strength to strength over the last four decades.
What is your business model, which has brought you national and international laurels?
Our business model is a unique franchise system, which is at the core of the success of the Shahnaz Husain brand. In fact, the fast-paced extension of the Shahnaz Herbal salons is due to this system, by which the franchisee obtains the right to use the Shahnaz Herbal name and treatments, as well as enjoy a margin of profit on the sale of products. Apart from strong branding, the Shahnaz Husain franchise offers an established business model with proven success rate and efficacy.
What do you feel about e-commerce and online shopping?
The internet has really changed the way we do business. Shahnaz Husain products can be bought at our online on our own website. As I mentioned earlier, Artificial Intelligence can make it easier to search for custom-made products and also to manufacture them, taking details from a data base. Since internet traffic has increased phenomenally, it is an ideal medium to find potential customers and tell them about the availability of your products. In fact, our online store is a great success.
What are your Future Plans?
We will continue to launch advanced products in Ayurvedic beauty care in the international markets. We will be expanding our franchise ventures in countries around the world, like UK, USA, UAE and other countries of the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, EU countries like Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, France, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Peru and other countries in Asian and African sub continents. Shahnaz Herbal has set up a Liaison Office in London, to also oversee the business in Europe. The company has also set up targets to increase the export base at least five times the current level of exports.
What is your contribution to Corporate Social Responsibility?
I wanted to make a positive contribution towards empowering the less privileged and physically challenged to make them financially independent and self-reliant. We have free beauty courses for the speech, hearing and visually impaired, as well as acid attack survivors. I have written a book on beauty, which has been put into Braille. We have contributed to Government Skill Development through my beauty academy for Training and Certifying under-privileged women in the beauty and wellness industry. Over 40,000 women have been trained. We also distributed free Toolkits to help them start their own business, without relocating from home. We give our Chemoline products free of cost to cancer hospitals in India and abroad.