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Vandana Luthra Success Story: VLCC Founder
Vandana Luthra is the founder of Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves (VLCC). She is known to everyone in the wellness as well as beauty industries. Vandana Luthra's success story shall aptly be represented by how passion turns into a business venture.
Meet Vandana Luthra, Padma Shri and founder of VLCC who now runs a Rs 2,225 crore company that started as Rs 20,000 venture
Vandana Luthra was honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, for her outstanding contributions to Trade and Industry.
Synonymous with beauty and wellness, VLCC stands as a leading brand in the industry. However, what many people may not realise is that VLCC is an Indian company, founded by an Indian woman. Today, the brand operates in 12 countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the GCC region, and East Africa, with a presence in 153 cities. This is the story of person behind the success of Vandana Luthra curls and curves (VLCC), a government backed brand.
In the realm of Indian entrepreneurs, Vandana Luthra stands tall as one of the most celebrated figures. As the founder of VLCC Health Care Ltd and the chairperson of the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill and Council (B&WSSC), Luthra has left a mark on the industry she has revolutionised. This is journey of Rs 20,000 company getting transformed into a Rs 2,225 crore business.
The leader in making
Vandana Luthra, born on July 12, 1956, in Delhi, hails from an affluent family background. Her father, a mechanical engineer, and her mother, an Ayurvedic doctor who ran her own organization, instilled in her a deep appreciation for healthcare and self-development. Fuelled by her mother’s teachings and the desire to make a positive impact on society, Luthra pursued her education at Polytechnic for Women in New Delhi, nurturing a strong ambition to effect change.
After completing her studies, Luthra went on exploring European countries such as Germany, the UK, and France. It was in Germany that she formally studied cosmetology and nutrition, immersing herself in the world of lifestyle care, nutrition, and the beauty and fitness industry. This industry, largely under-researched, unorganized, and practically non-existent in India during the 1980s, piqued her curiosity and passion.
The 1980s marked a momentous period in Luthra’s life. Alongside her personal milestones, in 1988, she married Mukesh Luthra, the founder and chairman of VLCC Healthcare Ltd, and together they have two daughters. She founded the beauty conglomerate Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves (VLCC) in New Delhi.
Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves (VLCC)
Back in 1989, Vandana Luthra embarked on her entrepreneurial path by opening a Wellness & Beauty services center in New Delhi, India. Her pioneering approach integrated dietary modification, exercise regimens, and cutting-edge skin and hair treatments. At a time when the industry was still nascent, Luthra introduced the concept of combining wellness and beauty as a holistic approach to wellbeing, a paradigm that was completely new.
Driven by her vision to merge beauty and wellness, Luthra pioneered a holistic approach to well-being, which was a groundbreaking concept at the time. VLCC became a transformative platform that offered comprehensive solutions, going beyond superficial aesthetics. The brand’s focus on overall wellness, encompassing nutrition, fitness, and personalized care, resonated with individuals seeking genuine and long-lasting transformations.
Awards and recognition
Her contributions to the field have garnered widespread recognition. Luthra was honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, for her outstanding contributions to Trade & Industry. She also served as the Founding Chairperson of the industry-led, Government of India-backed Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill Council. Luthra’s accolades further extend to global recognition, including her presence in Forbes’ list of 50 Power Businesswomen in the APAC region and Fortune magazine’s annual listing of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in India from 2011 to 2017. She has also been featured in Forbes’ listing of Top Indian Leaders In The Arab World and in Femina magazine’s “2020 Power Women” list.
Upliftment of women
Beyond her achievements in the Wellness & Beauty industry, Vandana Luthra is deeply passionate about women empowerment and skill development. Her commitment to gender parity and career opportunities for women is reflected in the VLCC Group, where over 70 percent of the 3,000-strong workforce consists of women. Notably, seven out of ten department heads within the organization are women, and all lead managers of its 322 outlets across 12 countries are exclusively women. Luthra’s dedication to empowering women extends to the operation of 97 VLCC Institutes of Beauty & Nutrition, which provide skills training in beauty and nutrition. With over 70 percent of the students being women, she ensures that career opportunities are accessible to all.
Philanthropy
Luthra’s dedication to creating positive change extends beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors. As the Vice Chairperson of the NGO Khushii, she actively participates in projects such as telemedicine centers, vocational training facilities, and a remedial school with a midday meal program benefiting 3,000 children. Additionally, Luthra serves as a member of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), a focal institute for yoga education, planning, promotion, training, therapy, and research.
Vandana Luthra’s impact on the wellness and beauty industry, as well as her commitment to women empowerment, is a testament to her visionary leadership. Her journey from humble beginnings to the founder of a global enterprise is a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. Luthra’s pioneering spirit, dedication to holistic wellbeing, and advocacy for gender parity make her a true trailblazer in the field. With her unwavering commitment to excellence and creating positive change, Vandana Luthra continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of wellness, beauty, and women empowerment.
Vandana Luthra's Journey To Make VLCC Worth Rs. 2,225 Crores And Having
Rs. 1,300 Crores Net Worth
Meet Vandana Luthra, who is the Founder of VLCC Health Care Limited. Here's everything you need to know about her journey and how she created a net worth of Rs. 1,300 crores.
Vandana Luthra is one of the richest self-made women entrepreneurs in India. The Founder of VLCC (Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves) Health Care Limited, Vandana is among the most successful entrepreneurs in the beauty and wellness sector. There’s no denying the fact that VLCC was one of the first multi-outlet corporate operations in the Skincare industry in India.
The famous female entrepreneur, Vandana Luthra started VLCC back in 1989. Over the last 30 years, the famous beauty and wellness brand has managed to transform the lives of millions of Indians. Even today, despite having so much competition in the market, VLCC is still a lot of people’s ‘number 1’ beauty and wellness brand. For the unversed, Vandana also received the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2013.
Well, the reason behind it is the fact that Vandana Luthra has never compromised on the quality of her products. The leading entrepreneur always knew that if customers applied her products to their skin, it was because they trusted her.
Even after three decades, Vandana Luthra still kept her promise to prioritise her customer’s skin health and satisfaction over everything else, which is one of the major factors behind VLCC’s gigantic success. However, it was never a cakewalk for Vandana, as she had her own share of hurdles and setbacks.
VLCC’s Founder, Vandana Luthra birth, family and educational qualifications
One of the richest self-made women entrepreneurs, Vandana Luthra was born in New Delhi on July 12, 1959. Regarding her parents, Vandana’s father was a mechanical engineer by profession, while her mother was an Ayurvedic doctor. It was her mother, who used to run her own charitable organisation, Amar Jyoti, that developed Vandana’s inclination to change people’s lives.
Moving on to Vandana Luthra’s educational qualifications, she completed her schooling in Delhi. For higher studies, she took admission to the famous institute, Polytechnic for Women in New Delhi. In order to gain more knowledge about nutrition and skincare, she visited multiple countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and many more, where she studied cosmetology.
After gaining a lot of experience, Vandana Luthra realised that back in India, people weren’t aware of the need for beauty and wellness, nutrition and skincare, which is why she decided to build a brand which fulfils the gap. At that time, the competition in the beauty and wellness sector was way too low, and it was the perfect opportunity for Vandana, and she hopped on it perfectly.
Vandana Luthra founded VLCC with just Rs. 20,000
It was in 1989 when Vandana Luthra kick-started her beauty and wellness brand, VLCC (Vandana Luthra Curls and Curves), as a service centre in Delhi’s Safdarjung Development Area. The way Vandana blends beauty and wellness, healthcare, skincare, and hair care all together was a completely new experience for Indian customers, who couldn’t resist themselves.
For the unversed, in order to open the first service centre in New Delhi, Vandana Luthra took a loan of Rs. 20,000 back in the 1980s. Although her husband, Mukesh Luthra had offered his wife some money, she denied it as Vandana wanted to build it from scratch, all on her own.
As of now, Vandana Luthra’s VLCC is operating across 153 cities in 13 countries. As per reports, the company has 4000 employees across the world. From beauty professionals, cosmetologists, and nutrition counsellors to medical professionals and physiotherapists, there’s a reason why VLCC is known as a one-stop solution for all.
Vandana Luthra’s VLCC is worth Rs. 2,225 crores
There’s no denying the fact that VLCC Health Care Limited has become one of the biggest brands in India. Talking about the worth of VLCC as a brand, according to multiple reports, Vandana’s company is estimated to be around Rs. 2,225 crores.
Vandana Luthra’s husband, Mukesh Luthra
According to multiple reports, Vandana Luthra and Mukesh Luthra met at a Christmas party for the first time when they were 16 and 18, respectively. However, it is not known whether they fell in love when they were kids or much later in life.
However, it was in 1980 when Vandana and Mukesh got married. The happily married couple is blessed with two children, Pallavi Luthra and Meera Luthra.
Both the daughters of Vandana Luthra and Mukesh Luthra are married. While Pallavi is married to Varun, Meera is hitched to Anurag. Vandana and Mukesh are also proud grandparents of four adorable grandkids, Yuvi, Avina, Vidhaan and Vardaan.
Vandana Luthra’s net worth
According to multiple reports, VLCC’s founder, Vandana Luthra’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 1,300 crores.
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