An interview with Saahil Nayar, Managing Director and Co-founder of Mila Beauté, India’s homegrown beauty model
On this interview, Saahil Nayar, Managing Director and Co-founder of Mila Beauté, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the driving pressure behind the model’s success.
From redefining magnificence requirements to specializing in sustainability, Saahil discusses how Mila Beauté is carving a novel house within the trade and the challenges confronted alongside the best way.
Inform us a bit about your self
Saahil Nayar: I’m an alumnus of Pearl Academy, and over time, I’ve had the privilege of working with some superb manufacturers within the magnificence and private care trade.
I’ve been lucky to obtain recognition for my work, together with the Indian Achievers Award for Excellence in Magnificence & Private Care and being named an Financial Instances International Indian Chief in 2022.
In my skilled journey, I’ve held management roles which have formed my profession. Earlier than Mila Beauté, I used to be the CEO of Swiss Magnificence, the place I centered on driving income development and positioning the model as a pacesetter within the color cosmetics house.
Previous to that, because the Co-Founder and COO at Idam Home of Manufacturers, I managed key areas like model advertising and marketing and eCommerce gross sales. I additionally launched males’s grooming and make-up manufacturers.
At The Mothers Co., the place I served as Vice President of enterprise, I performed a key function in serving to the model triple its income in simply 18 months, crossing ₹150 crore and resulting in a landmark acquisition by The Good Glamm Group.
I’ve additionally had the chance to steer digital commerce for Revlon India and contribute to Kama Ayurveda’s eCommerce technique.
Please inform us a bit about your entrepreneurial journey
Saahil Nayar: With over 15 years of expertise within the magnificence and way of life trade, I’ve had the privilege of working with main manufacturers like The Mothers Co, Kama Ayurveda, Revlon, and Idam Pure Wellness.
All through this journey, I’ve labored carefully with these manufacturers to solidify their presence out there. These experiences have given me invaluable insights into understanding prospects and constructing profitable methods.
With Mila Beauté, my focus is on creating make-up that’s actually made for Indian pores and skin and selling Indian manufacturing within the magnificence trade. For too lengthy, we’ve relied on imports, particularly from international locations like China.
Impressed by how the Indian vogue trade embraced native manufacturing, I need to create high-quality magnificence merchandise which might be proudly made in India. Our purpose is to cut back dependency on imports and help native innovation, sustainability, and expertise.
By doing this, we’re not simply constructing a model but in addition contributing to the expansion of Indian manufacturing and making a extra self-reliant magnificence trade.
What service(s) or product(s) do you provide?
Saahil Nayar: We provide a variety of high-quality make-up merchandise for the face, lips, eyes, and nails. All our merchandise are designed to supply elevated magnificence with out dangerous chemical substances.
With a dedication to prime quality, accessibility and security, our merchandise ship distinctive high quality at reasonably priced costs for the Indian magnificence.
What is exclusive about your label model?
Saahil Nayar: Mila Beauté stands out by providing high-quality make-up particularly designed for Indian pores and skin tones, guaranteeing an ideal match and flawless end. What units us aside is our dedication to purity and security.
All our merchandise are free from dangerous chemical substances. Additionally, we keep full transparency by manufacturing the whole lot in-house with stringent high quality requirements. It’s magnificence you’ll be able to belief.
What made you select one of these enterprise?
Saahil Nayar: There’s a noticeable hole out there for an Indian make-up model genuinely crafted for Indian pores and skin tones and tier-2 audiences.
I wished to supply premium high quality merchandise freed from dangerous chemical substances, with full transparency, and at accessible value factors. My goal is to empower people with make-up that caters to their distinctive wants with out compromising on high quality or affordability.
What was your mission and imaginative and prescient on the outset?
Saahil Nayar: Our imaginative and prescient is to make elevated magnificence accessible at on a regular basis costs for everybody. Whether or not catering to a newbie exploring magnificence or a passionate make-up lover, we goal to have a good time individuality and foster a group that’s each inclusive and aspirational.
Our focus has all the time been on infusing international magnificence requirements into merchandise designed particularly for India, guaranteeing they resonate with the varied preferences and desires of Indian customers.
The mission is to create high-quality magnificence merchandise which might be proudly made in India. By bridging international magnificence traits with native sensibilities, we’re working to assist Indian magnificence lovers make higher selections and elevate magnificence requirements for all.
What number of staff in your group?
Saahil Nayar: We’ve got a crew of 500, together with the retail and manufacturing verticals.
What are your organization’s objectives?
Saahil Nayar: Our purpose is to create superior high quality magnificence merchandise proudly made in India, tailor-made to the varied wants of Indian customers.
We prioritize full transparency in our processes and goal to make international magnificence traits and requirements accessible to each Indian magnificence fanatic at reasonably priced costs. By mixing innovation and inclusivity, we try to empower people to embrace their distinctive magnificence confidently.
What was the inspiration behind turning an entrepreneur?
Saahil Nayar: After spending over 15 years within the trade and dealing with varied manufacturers, I spotted there was a giant hole out there.
Indian customers didn’t have a magnificence model that actually catered to their pores and skin, suited our climate, and averted dangerous chemical substances. I wished to create high-quality, efficient merchandise that have been easy, trustworthy, and reasonably priced.
What have been a few of your failures, and what have you ever discovered from them?
Saahil Nayar: I consider within the saying “Fail quick, repair quick.” Failures are part of the journey and I think about them as important for development. Each taught me to step again, analyze what went improper, and think about how issues might have been carried out otherwise.
Failures aren’t the top. They’re alternatives to study, adapt, and transfer ahead stronger. These moments have formed my resilience and helped me develop each personally and professionally.
Key issues to contemplate earlier than beginning a startup
Saahil Nayar: Earlier than beginning a startup, think about in case you’re able to threat the whole lot on your imaginative and prescient. Validate your services or products’s market match and guarantee a real market want. Assess whether or not you have got the resilience to stroll the journey alone, if required.
Additionally, consider in case your thought can thrive with out quick funding. These elements decide the sustainability of your startup and your capability to navigate challenges successfully.
What are a number of the greatest errors you’ve made?
Saahil Nayar: Certainly one of my greatest errors isn’t beginning Mila Beauté earlier. Past that, I consider that everybody makes errors.
They’re vital for studying and discovering the very best options to issues. Every misstep has taught me invaluable classes, shaping my journey and selections. With out them, true progress and innovation wouldn’t be attainable.
When you had one piece of recommendation to somebody simply beginning out, what would it not be?
Saahil Nayar: In case you are decided to attain one thing, don’t second-guess your selections. At all times think about your thought and your folks.
Your success ideas for younger and aspiring entrepreneurs
Saahil Nayar: Continue to learn from everybody round you because it broadens views. Collaborate actively with groups. Analysis deeply, as in case your life is dependent upon it.
When challenges come up and the journey appears powerful, pause, mirror in your progress, and realign your focus earlier than shifting ahead. Resilience, curiosity, and teamwork are your biggest allies on the entrepreneurial journey.
Saahil Nayar’s imaginative and prescient for Mila Beauté continues to encourage innovation within the magnificence world, with a transparent deal with high quality, sustainability, and inclusivity. His management units a outstanding instance for future entrepreneurs.
Are you an
Entrepreneur or Startup? Do you have got a Success Story to Share? SugerMint wish to share your success story. We cowl entrepreneur Tales, Startup Information, Girls entrepreneur tales, and Startup tales |
Learn extra Success story of India entrepreneurs & startups at SugerMint. Comply with us on Twitter, Instagram, Fb, LinkedIn