Showing posts with label Beauty Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty Services. Show all posts

23 March 2017

Pioneer in Promoting Beauty and Health



It was in Germany that the seeds were sown for my future business. I was accompanying my father on his official trip to Germany where I met his friends - a husband-wife duo running a health centre in that country. Theirs was a great combination, with one being a nutritionist and the other a cosmetologist. They had a great influence on my decision to enter into the business of beauty and wellness. From the start, I was clear in my mind that whatever venture I get into should benefit society and be accessible to all segments. VLCC is a manifestation of that dream.  The reason why I started VLCC was to make health and beauty accessible to all. So, my transformation centre is open to everyone who needs any slimming, skin and hair related solution. That's the reason why most of our centres are located just off the high street, close to residential communities or in community centres within residential colonies.



VLCC had very humble beginnings- starting from a garage. This itself is a fascinating narrative. Along with this, what other challenges did you face? 

I started VLCC with a simple dream. I wanted to create an environment where people felt supported and nurtured, where they would be encouraged to achieve their full potential. I envisioned a place that inspired people to be the best versions of themselves, for themselves.
Being an entrepreneur, that too in the late-eighties, was an uphill journey for me. Not only was the beauty and wellness services industry in its infancy, people were unwilling to take my work seriously as I was a woman. While people were familiar with the ubiquitous 'beauty parlour', the idea of a holistic wellness solutions provider which combined scientific weight management programmes with advanced skin and hair treatments was new. Being in what was largely an unorganised mom-and-pop shop kind of sector, I struggled to raise capital - private equity was a relatively alien concept, and banks were wary of something that was hardly deemed as scalable and sustainable.

Initially, how did people respond to VLCC and how is the reaction different now.

I had to be persistent and assertive to convince people about the value proposition of my business. It took a while to convince them that my venture had a scalable, sustainable business model. We worked on developing a unique business model for the company, one which is widely used today (especially in the hospitality industry), called infrastructure facility management. That was the turning point in the business. Finally, patience and hard work paid off.

From what age must we begin instilling the notions and importance of wellness in our children? Specifically, what lifestyle habits must we encourage/discourage? 

Wellness is not a luxury, it is a necessity. A woman is the role model for her children; if she does not know the importance of nutrition, improve her children's eating habits and promote an active lifestyle, her children will grow up to have various health problems. Diet and exercise are equally important. But most importantly, people should be educated from childhood, because it's all about habits. VLCC is a global knowledge brand for wellness.

VLCC has not only been involved in slimming but also transformation. In layman terms, what is the difference between the two? 

As an entrepreneur, the challenge during the initial stages was one of perception. People were familiar with beauty parlours but the idea of a Transformation Centre that provides a solution from head-to-toe was perceived as futuristic. At VLCC, we are into complete transformation of people rather than merely targeting slimming or beauty. Just exercising isn't enough. For me, health equates to happiness, which is equal to being a confident person. And slimming or, rather, looking good boosts confidence.

One of VLCC's biggest asset is the DNA Fit. How and why was this brought about? 

A study on weight management conducted by Stanford University found that people who eat and exercise according to their genetic predisposition tend to lose two-and-a-half times as much weight as compared to those who do not. So, while a low-fat diet might work for some people, others might benefit more by including fat in their diet but going slow on carbohydrates. This explains why two individuals might obtain vastly different results by following a particular diet or weight loss plan even if their body mass index, or BMI, metabolic rate, body composition, lifestyles and dietary habits are more or less similar. This is why individuals on genotype-appropriate diets lose more body weight compared to those on diets not matched to their genotype or on a traditional, one-size-fits-all model. On this premise, VLCC started offering 'DNA Slim', a weight loss solution based on the genetic analysis of an individual.
Currently, VLCC is about to launch the Thermage technique. This is brand new for the Bangladeshi market. We want to know how this non-invasive procedure would work.

Thermage is a non-invasive radiofrequency therapy that can address the look and feel of aging skin on many areas of your body. Thermage treatments are customised to your needs, and typically require minimal recovery time. It restores the broken collagen.

How long would it take for the procedure to work?  

The results appear only after two or three weeks; they are more permanent than other procedures. It is a great solution if you want your skin to look sleeker, smoother and younger, but can't afford a lot of time away from work or your social life.

Why is this service going to be important in the long run in terms of a person's health?

Aging affects us all the way we act, the way we feel, and definitely the way we look. But with advancements in skin care, you can have a say in the way aging affects your skin and maybe even get back to the way you looked not so long ago.
Thermage is a proven, unique radio frequency treatment that can help improve the appearance of sagging or loose skin, giving you a smoother, sleeker and younger look and feel. Thermage works in just one treatment with little down time and delivers a natural looking result. It helps one to look younger and more confident.

With something like Thermage, can there be any negative side-effects?

Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Thermage uses RF technology to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in the dermis as well as to contour subcutaneous tissues. Side effects from Thermage are rare and short lived.

If a person is deemed obese, is weight the only factor considered into making this declaration?

We believe that Waist Height Ratio (WHtR) is a better public health screening tool of assessment than BMI. It is a simple metric which even the general population can use to keep track of their health. A Body Composition Analysis which indicates the ratio of fat mass vis-à-vis muscle mass is more important. At VLCC, we have a scientific approach to weight-loss, so our clients not only have fitter bodies, but are also healthier medically. Therefore, timely intervention by experts and sustained lifestyle modifications can bring you a disease-free body for a happy, stress-free life.

Often, a person regains the weight lost through various slimming programmes. How can one prevent that? 

Obesity is a lifestyle-related disease which concerns almost everyone, irrespective of age, gender or income group. Sedentary lifestyles, late nights, high intake of calorie-rich fast foods and poor eating habits that include eating late, coupled with a growing gadget addiction, which has led to a lack of physical activity, are the main reasons leading to relapse of obesity. At VLCC, we ensure that our team of nutritionists and fitness experts to work out with laser like precision the most appropriate diet and exercise regime to deliver the best solution for weight loss, fat reduction that help you to retain fitness levels.



What are VLCC's future plans in Bangladesh? 

VLCC has lined up an ambitious expansion agenda for Bangladesh in line with our mission of making preventive healthcare and wellness accessible to all sections of local society.
Nearly one in five married women in Bangladesh is overweight and the occurrence is much higher in urban areas than rural ones. Obesity is also closely linked with diabetes and at present, one in every 11 people, or 8.3 percent of the adult population, is diabetic, putting Bangladesh at the fifth position in global ranking.
Bangladesh is a top priority country for us. In recent years, Bangladesh has been on a robust growth path. With a large middle-income group, the country represents a huge opportunity for beauty and wellness brands like VLCC to further expand its presence to reach a much larger customer base. VLCC will partake in some exciting ventures in Dhaka in the coming days to expand its operations in Bangladesh.
Given that the beauty and wellness sector has traditionally employed more women than men, focusing on skill development in this arena will also contribute in a big way to the cause of women empowerment.

After so many years in operation, how would you describe VLCC's foray into the Bangladeshi market? Is it faring well?  

VLCC is proud to say that we have received overwhelming response from Bangladesh. Over the years, there has been an increasing number of people in Dhaka who want to look good, feel better or maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is great news because obesity is a rising problem everywhere, like an epidemic. So, it is a positive sign that people are starting to address their weight issues.

20 March 2017

VLCC Launches 'beauty-full month'



VLCC, a leader in beauty and wellness industry in India, has announced the roll-out of its innovative “The Beauty-Full Month” campaign to celebrate womanhood across India. This multi-media marketing communications campaign, rolled out for the month of March 2017, aims to applaud the distinctiveness and beauty of every woman. The campaign is live on the company’s website, and its social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and will also be supported with consumer engagement initiatives on-ground as well as print advertising. As a part of the campaign, VLCC is providing up to 50 per cent discount on specific services on a particular day.


Conceptualized in-house, basis research and insights, the campaign around the Beauty Services offerings by VLCC, is primarily designed to reach out to women across all age groups. The campaign will run for the entire month of March where each day is dedicated to celebrate the 31 beautiful attributes of a woman. To complement each attribute, 31 different services, one for each day, are being offered at all VLCC Wellness Centers across cities in India.

Beauty Management



VLCC founder Vandana Luthra said, “Since no two women are the same, the beauty and wellness treatment offered should be tailor-made to celebrate their uniqueness. This campaign is our token of gratitude to all the wonderful women who make this world a better place. This is a unique campaign wherein we are extensively using digital as the lead medium to connect with our consumers.


The campaign is supported by online promotions and contest, on-ground activation, bloggers and influence engagement, across the month. VLCC is promoting this campaign across multiple digital formats using native stories, banner advertising, video promotions etc. Additionally, Facebook Live sessions are being conducted around the theme of the week, to increase consumer engagement.

29 December 2016

23 Underprivileged Women Complete Beauty Training Course



These 23 young women from low income families completed a six-month course on `beauty therapy and hair styling’ on December 23, 2016.

The programme is jointly run by Tata Steel Skill Development Society (TSSDS) and Vandana Luthra Curls & Curls (VLCC). The 23 women comprised the fourth batch of the course.
Social activist Ms. Ruchi Narendran gave away certificates to these women at a convocation ceremony held at Tata Community Centre.

“The course is just wonderful and will go a long way in making girls self-reliant. The beauty sector is now getting organised, and students completing this course will see multiple job openings coming their way,” said Ms. Narendran, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

Among them, some have got job offers from prominent salons like DC Lounge, VLCC Health Care Unit, VLCC Beauty Fitness and Slimming Centre, Sun Spa & Wellness Retreat, the others have decided to start their own venture.

“The course is just great. It makes underprivileged girls, like me, attain self-independence and carve out an identity that is not dependent on husbands,” shared Dimpal Devi, who couldn’t study beyond class 10 owing to financial constraints. 


Capt. Amitabh, Head, Skill Development, CSR, Tata Steel; Mr. Debashis Chatterjee, senior manager, Skill Development, CSR, Tata Steel; Mr Yogesh Thakur, Manager- Skill development and Training, VLCC; Ms. Kanika Prasad, Head of Institute, VLCC Jamshedpur were also present on the occasion