Habib's to spread in Punjab region

With an association of more than a decade with the region, Habib Salon is aggressively focusing on North India. Also the Habib's Hair and Beauty Academy is looking to start operations in Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh in their second phase of expansion beginning in 2006-07.

"Our growth in this region was limited, but in the coming times we would be aggressively pushing our brands in the region," said Jawed Habib.

Speaking to Business Standard about Habib Salon's expansion plans, along with conducting a media workshop for Sunsilk, the hair expert said the company would open outlets in Jammu, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bhatinda, and Shimla.

Habib said, "My first hair salon in the city will be inaugurated before Christmas. The space requirement to open a Habib Salon is anywhere between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet and an investment of Rs 12-17 lakh is required."

Habib said the group's annual turnover was around Rs 20 cror and based on our turnover, employee strength and brand equity, we are currently valued at around Rs 50 crore. "We are growing at 50 per cent," he said.

"By 2007 I should have a 10-seater aircraft for my family and be an international brand," he said. With 60 salons across Indian and abroad Habib sees a tremendous rise in the branded hair market.

"You have to modify your pricing according to city and a price of Rs 300-1,000 is no more considered high for towns like Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh," he said.

Commenting on the plan to come with Habibs Hair and Beauty Academy in Chandigarh or Punjab Habib said that currently the company was in the first phase of expansion with academies across major metro's (Delhi, Kolkatta, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai) and we will look at this region in the second phase beginning next fiscal.

Also Habib is expanding their relationship will HLL and SunSilk and are currently working opening of new salons across India in the second quarter in 40 metro cities across India.