Q: You’re best known to pioneer the exact blend of therapeutic herbs with healing science. What inspired you to do so, especially within the beauty industry?

I have pioneered organic beauty care & cure, based on India’s ancient herbal healing system of Ayurveda. While training in London, I came across instances of damage caused by chemical ingredients and treatments. My study of Ayurveda convinced me that it could offer the ideal answers to the demands of beauty care. Plant products, their essential oils and other natural substances not only have powerful healing properties, but also benefit beauty care. So, I devised salon treatments and also formulated products for general beauty care, as well as for specific beauty problems. Thus, over the last five decades we have become internationally acclaimed for Ayurvedic beauty care and cures.

Q: Your vision has put India on the beauty map of the world. As a woman, and as part of an ever-evolving industry, what challenges have you faced during your journey?

I always believed that India had much to offer the rest of the world, by way of her herbal heritage. So, my mission was to put India on the world beauty map. India was not even represented at that time, but I attended International Beauty Congresses on my own steam and held press conferences, speaking on Ayurveda and trying to popularize Ayurvedic beauty care.
Entering the international market was the biggest challenge. I participated in the Festival of India in London in 1982 and was given a counter in the Perfumery Section at Selfridges. With international cosmetic empires pumping billions of dollars into a hysterically mad cosmetic industry, selling youth & dreams in bottled jars… there I stood up and sold India’s ancient civilization in a jar. In the face of fierce competition, it was not easy. To everyone’s surprise, the entire consignment sold out in 3 days, breaking the store’s existing cosmetic sales records. It resulted in a permanent counter at the London store. From there, we moved on to Harrods in London, Galeries Lafayette in Paris, the Seibu chain in Japan, La Rinascente in Milan and El Corte Inglis in Spain. The Shahnaz Husain Group has experienced the increasing demand for Indian Ayurvedic products across the globe.

Q: Your famously known philosophy in life is “Do your best and leave the rest to the Will of God”. How has this attributed to your resounding success?

Yes, it has definitely given me an inner strength. This total surrender to the Will of God helps me to stay grounded, no matter how high I may soar in the pursuit of success. This kind of spirituality has nothing to do with success, name or fame. It goes far beyond that. It is an inner consciousness, an inner strength. Happiness and sadness, success and failure are different aspects of life. They are transient, ever-changing. What remains constant is inner spiritual strength. Obstacles and hurdles are bound to come up in life, but I have been able to meet them as challenges and opportunities, with my desire to excel, my relentless determination to succeed, an iron will, steel grit and sheer hard work. I believe that one should never stop trying. If you never stop trying, you cannot fail. I believe that nothing is impossible. You can be what you will yourself to be. You can make your own destiny.

Q: While your products, mission and branding speak for themselves, your Franchise strategy has catalyzed your company to the household name it is today. Would you like to tell us more about your insights with regards to your franchises?

Early in my career, I started encouraging ordinary women to open salons in their own homes in a small way, like I had done. This way, the woman could also be at home to care for the home and children. I trained them in beauty and in my specialized treatments and then gave them the right to start their own Shahnaz Herbal salons. This was the beginning of my franchise system. Starting a branded salon gave them a head start. The expense of publicity and manufacture of products was borne by me. The franchisee could also earn a percentage in the sale of products. Thus, franchising became the core of the success of our brand. We have extended our salons and other ventures in India and abroad through our unique franchise system. By taking up our franchise, the franchisee gets the benefit of an established brand name and goodwill generated by our brand. The franchisee also has the advantage of a successful business model, with proven success rate and efficacy. The Shahnaz Husain brand name has already established unquestioned and unwavering brand loyalty. In fact, no other brand has been able to keep the trust and faith of the consumer the way the Shahnaz Husain brand has. The franchisee enjoys the goodwill that has been built up internationally over five decades of excellence in the beauty field, which translates into guaranteed business success. Our franchise system has helped us to establish a global network of franchise salons, retail outlets, beauty training academies, as well as distributors for our ranges of over 380 Ayurvedic products for beauty and health care.