Women and Entrepreneurship
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SUCCESSFUL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS contd...
Shahnaz Husain operated on the principle of natural care and cure. Her
company formulated and marketed over 400 ayurvedic products for various
health and beauty problems. Ayurvedic products became popular across the
world because they were natural, well suited to the human skin, and were non
toxic. Shahnaz Husain claimed that her products were completely pure and
were formulated in strict accordance with ayurvedic principles. They were
environment friendly and were not tested on animals. All products went
through strict quality control before they were marketed.
Her products captured the imagination of the world with their promise of
beauty in a natural and harmless way. Shahnaz Husain used natural
ingredients like fruits, flowers, vegetables, herbs, honey, etc., which
soothe and heal without causing any harm. The group had two R&D units and a
herb and flower farm near Delhi. Strict quality control was exercised at
every stage of product development, right from the raw material stage to the
final product. This ensured that the final product lived up to the promise
Shahnaz Husain made of quality and purity.
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Shahnaz Husain did not believe in advertising;
instead, she relied entirely on word-of-mouth publicity for her
products. She believed that a satisfied customer was the best form of
advertising. Before Shahnaz Husain entered the retail market, her
clinics were the only outlets for her products. By the 1990s, the range
and popularity of Shahnaz Husain's products had increased so much that
her products were retailed in most of the big retail stores in India and
abroad. |
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She was able to achieve growth of this magnitude due to the
quality of her products and the result oriented treatments she offered. She
commented, I have relied only on clientele feedback, based on clinical
treatments and this is what has made the ranges truly unique and result
oriented.[18] In 1977, when she had set up a parlor at her home in New Delhi,
she had put up a banner with her qualifications on it. Within days she was
booked six months ahead. She said, I removed the banner and since then I
have never advertised. I have let my products speak for themselves.[19]
By 2000, Shahnaz Husain had over 650 salons in 104 countries around the
world. Using the franchising mode to expand in India and abroad, she built
up a large network of over 600 franchisee and associate clinics around the
world. All the franchisees were required to undergo training in specialized
treatments at Shahnaz Husain's school of beauty therapy. After training, all
franchisees obtained the right to use the Shahnaz Husain name and
specialized treatments and were given a 30% profit margin on the sale of
products.
Shahnaz Husain believed that an entrepreneur must have a dream and the
commitment to pursue it. She believed that business was not simply about
employing the right management principles. She said, I have often gone
beyond pure business dealings as such, because for me dua (blessings) is
important.[20] Shahnaz Husain believed that a true entrepreneur is a person who
has independence of spirit: One should be innovative, dynamic and willing
to try every avenue towards success. [21]
She did not look on her work as a career. It was more like an obsession and
the sole purpose of her existence. All her dreams revolved around her work
and she applied herself to it with complete commitment. According to Shahnaz
Husain, a desire to excel, hard work and relentless determination also go
into making an entrepreneur. She said, to succeed, one must never give up
and never stop trying: I always feel I have another mountain to climb and
another frontier to cross. I never rest on my laurels.[22] She puts in 18 hours
of work and channelizes all her energy into her company. Her commitment and
self confidence have made her company one of the most successful of its kind
in the world.
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SHRI MAHILA GRIHA UDYOG LIJJAT PAPAD (SMGULP)
ENTREPRENEURIAL STYLE
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
ADDITIONAL READINGS & REFERENCES
[18] www.theasianoutlook.com
[19] HindustanTimes.com
[20]
www.lifepositive.com
[21] www.lifepositive.com
[22] www.lifepositive.com
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