Shahnaz Husain - A Successful Indian Woman Entrepreneur

Shahnaz HusainShahnaz Husain

A Successful Indian Woman A Successful Indian Woman EntrepreneurEntrepreneur

"I do not sell products. I sell an entire civilization in a jar.""I do not sell products. I sell an entire civilization in a jar."

- Shahnaz Husain- Shahnaz Husain

Products by Shahnaz Husain Products by Shahnaz Husain Shahnaz shaface (herbal facial skin conditioner).Shahnaz shaface (herbal facial skin conditioner). Shahnaz shafair (vitaminized whitening cream)Shahnaz shafair (vitaminized whitening cream) Shahnaz hussain fair oneShahnaz hussain fair one Shahnaz hussain shaglowShahnaz hussain shaglow Shahnaz Shalife (Vitaminized Nourishing Cream)Shahnaz Shalife (Vitaminized Nourishing Cream) Shahnaz Shamask-1 (Precious Herbs Face Mask) Shahnaz Shamask-1 (Precious Herbs Face Mask) Shahnaz Shayouth (Precious Herb Mask) Shahnaz Shayouth (Precious Herb Mask) Shahnaz Shasmooth (Almond Under eye Cream) Shahnaz Shasmooth (Almond Under eye Cream) Shahnaz Shabase (Sandalwood Protective Cream) Shahnaz Shabase (Sandalwood Protective Cream) Shahnaz Oxygen Skin Treatment Cream Shahnaz Oxygen Skin Treatment Cream Shahnaz Oxygen Skin Beautifying Mask Shahnaz Oxygen Skin Beautifying Mask

IntroductionIntroduction

One of India's most successful women One of India's most successful women entrepreneurs.entrepreneurs.

Her company, Shahnaz Husain Herbals is one of the Her company, Shahnaz Husain Herbals is one of the largest manufacturers of herbal products in the largest manufacturers of herbal products in the world. world.

Shahnaz Husain Group, based in New Delhi, worth Shahnaz Husain Group, based in New Delhi, worth $100 million. $100 million.

Employed about 4200 people in 650 salons spread Employed about 4200 people in 650 salons spread across 104 countries. across 104 countries.

The average growth rate in the initial years (late The average growth rate in the initial years (late 1970s to the early 1980s) was 15-20%. 1970s to the early 1980s) was 15-20%.

In the 1990s the average growth rate was 19.4%.In the 1990s the average growth rate was 19.4%.

AwardsAwards "The Arch of Europe Gold Star for Quality" "The Arch of Europe Gold Star for Quality" "One of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs "One of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs

of the World" of the World" "The 2000 Millennium Medal of Honor" "The 2000 Millennium Medal of Honor" "Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award“"Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award“ ““Padma Shree (2006)”Padma Shree (2006)”

The Making of an Entrepreneur The Making of an Entrepreneur

Belongs to a royal Muslim family Belongs to a royal Muslim family Migrated from Samarkhand to IndiaMigrated from Samarkhand to India Later held high positions in the princely Later held high positions in the princely

kingdoms of Bhopal and Hyderabad kingdoms of Bhopal and Hyderabad before India's independence. before India's independence.

Schooling in an Irish convent Schooling in an Irish convent Developed a love for poetry and Developed a love for poetry and

English Literature. English Literature.

The Making of an Entrepreneur The Making of an Entrepreneur (cont’d..)(cont’d..)

Advantage of growing up in a traditional family Advantage of growing up in a traditional family and receiving a modern education. and receiving a modern education.

Married at the age of 15 and was a mother by Married at the age of 15 and was a mother by the next year. the next year.

Husband was posted in Teheran, Iran Husband was posted in Teheran, Iran She developed an interest in beauty treatments She developed an interest in beauty treatments

and decided to study cosmetology. and decided to study cosmetology. To support the expenses of the training To support the expenses of the training

financially, she wrote articles for the Iran Tribune financially, she wrote articles for the Iran Tribune on various topics under different names.on various topics under different names.

The Making of an Entrepreneur The Making of an Entrepreneur (cont’d..)(cont’d..)

In the course of her studies, she learnt of the In the course of her studies, she learnt of the harmful effects of chemicals on the human body. harmful effects of chemicals on the human body.

Consequently, she turned her attention to Consequently, she turned her attention to Ayurveda.Ayurveda.

After leaving Teheran, she trained extensively in After leaving Teheran, she trained extensively in cosmetic therapy for 10 years in some of the cosmetic therapy for 10 years in some of the leading institutes of London, Paris, New York leading institutes of London, Paris, New York and Copenhagen. and Copenhagen.

Return to India Return to India In 1977.In 1977. Set up her own salon at her house in Set up her own salon at her house in

Delhi.Delhi. Initial investment of Rs 35000. Initial investment of Rs 35000. In contrast to salons offering chemical In contrast to salons offering chemical

treatments, Shahnaz offered Ayurvedic treatments, Shahnaz offered Ayurvedic products. products.

Entrepreneurship-The Shahnaz Husain WayEntrepreneurship-The Shahnaz Husain Way

• Uses the Ayurvedic method of treatment.

• Pioneer and leader of Ayurvedic beauty products in the world offering "Natural Care and Cure". • Shahnaz Husain Group offers exclusive salon treatments as well as a number of commercial formulations for the treatment of specific problems like acne, pimples, pigmentation, dehydration, alopecia (hair loss), etc.

• The Group's sophisticated R&D units develop the products

• Put them through stringent quality control tests.

Entrepreneurship-The Shahnaz Husain WayEntrepreneurship-The Shahnaz Husain Way(Cont’d)(Cont’d)

Products are environment friendly and no Products are environment friendly and no testing is done on animals. testing is done on animals.

The products offered by the group are The products offered by the group are entirely natural and carry the guarantee of entirely natural and carry the guarantee of purity and safety. purity and safety.

Offers a wide variety of over 400 products Offers a wide variety of over 400 products for all age groups and for a variety of for all age groups and for a variety of problems.problems.

Uses natural ingredients - fruits, flowers, herbs, Uses natural ingredients - fruits, flowers, herbs, vegetables, honey, - as the base for most of her vegetables, honey, - as the base for most of her products. products.

More complicated and exclusive treatments using gold More complicated and exclusive treatments using gold and pearls have also been developed. and pearls have also been developed.

All the procedures are carried out in accordance with the All the procedures are carried out in accordance with the Ayurvedic system. Ayurvedic system.

Shahnaz Husain has never advertised. Shahnaz Husain has never advertised. Relied entirely on word-of-mouth publicity to make her Relied entirely on word-of-mouth publicity to make her

products known to customers.products known to customers. She believes that a satisfied customer is the best form of She believes that a satisfied customer is the best form of

advertisement. advertisement.


Before entering the retail market, her Before entering the retail market, her clinics were the only outlets for her clinics were the only outlets for her products. products.

By the 1990s, the range and popularity of By the 1990s, the range and popularity of Shahnaz products had increased so much Shahnaz products had increased so much that her products were carried by most of that her products were carried by most of the big retail stores in India and abroad. the big retail stores in India and abroad.


The Success MantraThe Success Mantra Achieve growth due to the quality of her Achieve growth due to the quality of her

products and the result-oriented products and the result-oriented treatments she offers.treatments she offers.

She commented, "I have relied only on She commented, "I have relied only on clientele feedback, based on clinical clientele feedback, based on clinical treatments and this is what has made the treatments and this is what has made the ranges truly unique and result oriented." ranges truly unique and result oriented."

And the success…And the success… In 1977, when she returned to India, In 1977, when she returned to India,

she set up a parlor at her home in she set up a parlor at her home in New Delhi.New Delhi.

She had then put up a banner with She had then put up a banner with her qualifications on it.her qualifications on it.

Within days she was booked for the Within days she was booked for the next 6 months. next 6 months.

She removed the banner and since She removed the banner and since then she never advertised. She let then she never advertised. She let her products speak for themselves. her products speak for themselves.

Aim Aim

““It was my aim to get It was my aim to get India on the world India on the world beauty map as I felt beauty map as I felt terrible about the fact terrible about the fact that India was never that India was never represented at any world represented at any world beauty congress”.beauty congress”.

- Shahnaz Husain- Shahnaz Husain

And the corridor to her AIM…And the corridor to her AIM… She represented the country She represented the country

for the first time in the for the first time in the CIDESCO beauty congress in CIDESCO beauty congress in the late 1970s.the late 1970s.

She was appointed President She was appointed President for the day's proceedings at the for the day's proceedings at the congress.congress.

She used this opportunity to She used this opportunity to focus the world's attention on focus the world's attention on Ayurveda.Ayurveda.

The Turning PointThe Turning Point The turning point in her business came when The turning point in her business came when

she represented India at the Festival of India in she represented India at the Festival of India in 1980. 1980.

Her team was given a counter in the perfumery Her team was given a counter in the perfumery section of Selfridges in London. section of Selfridges in London.

She managed to sell her entire consignment in 3 She managed to sell her entire consignment in 3 days and also broke the store's record for days and also broke the store's record for cosmetics sales for the year. cosmetics sales for the year.

As a result, she was offered a permanent As a result, she was offered a permanent counter in Selfridges. counter in Selfridges.

The Turning PointThe Turning Point(Cont’d)(Cont’d)

First Asian whose goods were retailed in westernFirst Asian whose goods were retailed in westernmarkets by:markets by: The Galeries Lafayette in ParisThe Galeries Lafayette in Paris Harrods and Selfridges in LondonHarrods and Selfridges in London The Galeries Lafayette in Paris The Galeries Lafayette in Paris Bloomingdales in New York Bloomingdales in New York The Seibu chain in JapanThe Seibu chain in Japan Sultan Stores in the Middle East Sultan Stores in the Middle East Also carried by other exclusive outlets in the Middle Also carried by other exclusive outlets in the Middle

East, Asia and Africa. East, Asia and Africa.

Shahnaz Husain has used the franchising Shahnaz Husain has used the franchising mode to expand her business in India and mode to expand her business in India and abroad.abroad.

A large network of over 600 franchises and A large network of over 600 franchises and associate clinics around the world.associate clinics around the world.

In 2002, the Shahnaz Husain Group obtained In 2002, the Shahnaz Husain Group obtained distributor rights for Australia, New Zealand distributor rights for Australia, New Zealand and the Fiji Islands. and the Fiji Islands.

Business ModeBusiness Mode

In IndiaIn India

The Shahnaz Husain Group has about 40 distributors The Shahnaz Husain Group has about 40 distributors and more than 600 sub distributors all over India. and more than 600 sub distributors all over India.

The Group sells not only in the cities but also in the The Group sells not only in the cities but also in the small towns. small towns.

In addition, the Group owns about 20 clinics and In addition, the Group owns about 20 clinics and outlets in New Delhi. outlets in New Delhi.

All other outlets are run on the franchise system. All other outlets are run on the franchise system. The Group does not make any financial investment The Group does not make any financial investment

in its franchises, nor does it have any share in their in its franchises, nor does it have any share in their profits.profits.

DiversificationDiversification

The Group has diversified into Ayurvedic centers The Group has diversified into Ayurvedic centers for for Panchkarma, Dhara and Kerala massage.Panchkarma, Dhara and Kerala massage.

Two Shahnaz Husain Ayurvedic Health Resorts, Two Shahnaz Husain Ayurvedic Health Resorts, one near Delhi and another in collaboration with one near Delhi and another in collaboration with the Hyakumata group of Japan in the US island the Hyakumata group of Japan in the US island of Saipan. of Saipan.

A line of herbal drinks under the brand name A line of herbal drinks under the brand name Fitness Fiesta Shadrink. These drinks are low Fitness Fiesta Shadrink. These drinks are low calorie, cooling drinks to be consumed in the calorie, cooling drinks to be consumed in the summer. summer.

A special range of ayurvedic products for pets – A special range of ayurvedic products for pets – Shapet.Shapet.

Future PlansFuture Plans

Has started work on formulations that Has started work on formulations that astronauts could carry with them in their astronauts could carry with them in their extraterrestrial sojourns to protect their extraterrestrial sojourns to protect their skin from the ravages of space travel and skin from the ravages of space travel and slow down the ageing process. slow down the ageing process.

Sent National Aeronautics and Space Sent National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) free samples of her Administration (NASA) free samples of her moisturizers moisturizers

Lessons on EntrepreneurshipLessons on Entrepreneurship Shahnaz Husain has acquired worldwide recognition. Shahnaz Husain has acquired worldwide recognition.

Her dedication and persistent hard work have paid off and she heads a Her dedication and persistent hard work have paid off and she heads a Group which is the largest of its kind in the world.Group which is the largest of its kind in the world.

Shahnaz believes that a true entrepreneur is a person who has Shahnaz believes that a true entrepreneur is a person who has independence of spirit.independence of spirit.

Shahnaz says that to succeed, one must never give up and never stop trying.Shahnaz says that to succeed, one must never give up and never stop trying.

She puts in 18 hours of work and diverts all her energies into her company. She puts in 18 hours of work and diverts all her energies into her company.

Her business sharpness and determined efforts Her business sharpness and determined efforts combined with excellent products she creates have combined with excellent products she creates have made the Shahnaz Husain Group the undisputed leader made the Shahnaz Husain Group the undisputed leader in the market for Beauty Products and Natural in the market for Beauty Products and Natural Remedies.Remedies.

"She lives, sleeps, breathes her business. "She lives, sleeps, breathes her business. She is consumed with building a She is consumed with building a successful company which she has done."successful company which she has done."

- Janine Sharell, Correspondent, CNN- Janine Sharell, Correspondent, CNN

Born: in 1950

Place: Samarkhand, Pakistan

Documents

Shahnaz Husain - A Successful Indian Woman Entrepreneur