HYDERABAD: With the elegant look she adorns, she looks like an embodiment of her own enterprise. Vandana Luthra, founder of VLCC, a slimming, beauty and fitness brand, after completing 25 years in wellness industry, is quite an inspiration for a woman who dreams to have her own enterprise and also for one who wants to take it to the next level.
Being a first generation woman entrepreneur, convincing the world that wants to start her own enterprise, was surely not a cake walk for her. Though she had to go through a lot of hurdles and challenges, she decided to become a job provider rather than a job seeker. Recalling what made her decide to get into a wellness industry, she says, “I always wanted to get into wellness industry. My mother ran a yoga ashram. Inspired by her, I decided to do something through which I can give a healthy life to people.”
A graduate from Delhi University, she later pursued further education in nutrition and cosmetology from Germany. She made her entrepreneurial debut in 1989 with her first branch in Delhi. Explaining her journey towards her first enterprise, she says, “I wanted to give a one-stop solution to all the problems faced by a person. I took a bank loan of `2 lakhs and then started off with whatever I could. Obesity was one of the issues faced by populace so it was a good time to start the business.”
At the time when people were stuck with government jobs, achieving a feat in entrepreneurship for Vanadana Luthra came with a lot of disagreement and criticism. The Padma Shri awardee says, “I worked with doctors and gained their trust. It took me around five years to convince them. I would conduct seminars. They would make a mockery. Currently 60 per cent of our clients are sent to us by doctors. To make it a serious business, I concentrated more on fitness than on glamour.” Vandana says that women lack financial support which makes them stay away from starting their own enterprise. Suggesting a solution to this, she says that they should be given loan without guarantee. On a lighter note, she advises government to set up a committee whose job will be churn out woman entrepreneurs and she is excited to be a part of it.
To motivate women to spend some time taking care of her health, she says, “Women have to multitask and to do it with ease, she should spend time making herself fit.”
VLCC branches are all over the globe. Comparing the industry in India from abroad she says, “It’s only the environment that changes from one country to other. Requirements of people in every country is same.
Everyone wants to look good, feel good and be confident.”
Talking about the aim of the programmes at VLCC, she says that they focus towards testing the scientific know-how of the person to be able to suggest them best treatment. The best way to keep one fit is by following a strict diet. “Taking stairs up and down eight times in a day or skipping rope 50 times can also do wonders.”