In Conversation With Mr. Irfan Memon, Director Olivia Cosmetics

Irfan: Olivia initiated its operations in 1987. It is a family-run business started by my father and currently co-managed by myself and my brother, Asif Memon. Our first product was Olivia Fairness Bleach Cream, which is still one of our flagship products. Over the years, as demand increased we ventured into other product categories including skincare, haircare, and cosmetics.   BV: Could you share a brief about your background and current role? Irfan: I am the Director of Olivia. I look into all major developments of product conceptualization, production, marketing, and consumer satisfaction. Having 30 years of experience in skincare and hair care industry, I have collectively managed the brand from being a single-product company to a multi-million dollar corporation it is today. I have completed my post-graduation in Accountancy.   BV: How was the journey of Olivia Cosmetics from beginning to date? Irfan: When we laid the cornerstone of Olivia, we were way behind in terms of competition with the then brand leader. Since the beginning, we regarded R&D as our backbone and with extensive research launched our first product – Olivia Fairness Bleach Cream. This was a major landmark in the history of Olivia because from here, there was no looking back. The product was a huge success which made us a leader in the category. This year, we completed 30 years of result-oriented products and quality service. Today, Olivia has transformed into a household name in beauty and cosmetics.   BV:  What purpose is the brand serving? What gap is the brand filling in the highly-competitive market? Irfan: When our brand was in the growth phase, we recognized that most of our consumers' consumed beauty products in small packages and very few brands offered products in such a manner. To fill this gap, we introduced bleach cream in sachets - a more convenient and flexible packaging. This gave us tremendous urban reach along with rural penetration. Observing the success of this packaging, today almost all of our products are available in sachets/travel-friendly sizes. We cater to millions of individuals through our extensive network of distribution across the country. Together, we are retailing close to a million pieces every month which converts into a very large customer base.   BV: Please mention the brand's product lines. Irfan: We have more than 100 SKUs. Our product portfolio includes skincare, haircare and cosmetics products. Skincare

• FaceWash (Ultra-fresh Fairness, Herbal Acne Repair and Golden Glow)
• Facial Kits (Pearl Whitening, Apple strawberry Anti-Tan, Papaya Di-Pigmentation, Diamond Skin Polishing and Gold Anti-Aging)
• Bleaches (Herb Bleach is signature product, Fruit , Gold, Oxygen, Fairness, Shiner and De-Tan)
• Hair Removers (Herbal, Strawberry & Sandal )
• Massage Creams
• Scrubs & face packs
• Honey-Almond moisturiser
• Cleansing Milk

  Haircare

• Herbal Shampoos
• Conditioners with Aloe Vera

Cosmetics

• Liquid Foundation
• Waterproof make-up (concealer) stick
• Waterproof Pancake
• Compact powder
• Kajal
• Lip Balms

  BV: What awards and recognition did the brand achieve? Irfan: In November 2017, we won the coveted The Economic Times Most Promising Business Leaders of Asia award. We were felicitated with the award during The Economic Times Asian Business Leaders Conclave 2017 (ABLC) in Malaysia.   BV:  Elaborate on Olivia's future plans. Irfan: We have fully functional analytical and microbiological labs in Mumbai and Dehradun, and we considerably invest in the upgradation of our products regularly. We are also in the process of launching new product lines and foray into different product categories. We, also, intend to further fortify our professional and e-commerce division. To know more such Indian beauty brands, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Download our magazine, Spunky Indian to read exclusive stories.