News: Lakme to open eight salons in east India

(BL 12/05/2006) Kolkata - Lakme Beauty Salons (LBS) has plans of opening eight salons in the eastern region by the end of 2006 on a franchise basis.

The first company beauty salon in the region was opened in Kolkata on May 9, 2006.

Currently there are 88 LBS in 35 cities in the country, out of which 60 are franchises.

The chain has plans of expanding in Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, New Delhi, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Faridabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Cochin and Hyderabad, said Reena Chhabra, business head, Lakme Beauty Salons.

The 1000 square feet salon in Kolkata was set up with an investment of about Rs 25 lakh. However, franchisees need to pay a set-up fee of Rs 6 lakh to Lakme to start a salon. Lakme provides the rest of the services, said Chhabra.

Beauty services at the LBS include advanced skin and hair care and make-up. While facials range from Rs 400 to Rs 1500, haircare services begin at Rs 350. Special manicures and pedicures can be as expensive as Rs 325 and Rs 400, but use reflexology techniques and exotic ingredients like tea-tree extract, spearmint basil and grapefruit.

The beauty experts at the salon have been trained at The Lakme Training Academy in Mumbai.

The Kolkata salon itself would also work as a training centre for aspiring beauticians in the city.

It would also provide customers with beauty tips and consultation along with its services, said Chhabra.