How this Delhi fellow constructed a Rs 65 crore extravagance salon brand with 1100 workers from a solitary outlet in 2014

Hailing from a family that was into the land business, Danish Batra struck out all alone at age 31 and began his most memorable Hair Experts salon in a 1,000 sq ft region in a cellar at Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, in 2014. Today, Hair Experts has developed into a 30-outlet chain with a consolidated turnover of Rs 65 crore. The power source is situated in NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and two or three different states.

Hailing from a family that was in the real estate business, Danish Batra struck out on his own at age 31 and started his first Hair Masters salon in a 1,000 sq ft area in a basement at Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, in 2014. Today, Hair Masters has grown into a 30-outlet chain with a combined turnover of Rs 65 crore. Danish started his first salon with 11 employees, and quickly added more outlets, all of them offering a five-star ambiance, which has now become the USP of Hair Masters outlets. "Our salons have an international class with an Indian flavor,” says Danish.

“I made visiting the salon an experience, not just a place where people came for hairdos and makeup. “Just like the five-star hotels where people don't go just to stay and sleep but to experience the ambiance, services, music, and vibes." But they take time out to relax and experience the service, ambiance, and music," says Danish.

After completing college, he joined his father’s real estate business and worked with him for a few years. In 2011, his father sent him to London to explore business opportunities in that country and settle there. I always had a feeling that I could do something in India," says Danish.

The spark for a business idea came during his regular visits to Headmasters, a salon chain in the UK. I am a creative person and the place inspired me so much that I thought of starting a salon business of my own in India,” says Danish. He didn’t reveal his plans to anyone but decided to enroll in a few short-term courses in hairstyling and makeup works in London. Back in India, he had to rejoin his father’s real estate business. "However, there were a lot of arguments between me and my father,” says Danish.

But my father wanted me to continue his business." Eventually, about three years after returning from London, he told his father that he wanted to quit and start a salon, for which he needed Rs 25 lakh. The family, Danish says, did not like the idea in the beginning. Within six months of starting his business, he moved from the basement area to a three-story building. “On one floor we trained the employees; the second floor is for female salon and beauty services. The third floor is for male salon and beauty services,” he says.

For instance, the Punjabi Bagh outlet is spread over 10,000 sq ft and has 120 employees. An outlet in Chandigarh is on a 20,000 sq ft area with 200 employees. “My salons are so big that they look like a mall,” says Danish. Today, around 1100 employees work in 30 Hair Masters outlets. While the business focuses on an affluent clientele, Danish offers opportunities for his low-level employees to grow in the organization.

He sends his employees to London to receive training in various beauty services. “I pick those who are working in my salon for small salaries like helpers and others for the training,” says Danish. Now, he is back focusing on what he does best, his salon business.

Since last year, he has started offering franchises for the brand. There are two franchise models for the Hair Masters brand – a 1,000 sq ft outlet with 20 employees for Rs 50 lakh and a 2,000 sq ft outlet with 40 employees for Rs 1 crore. I don’t let them manage the outlets, but assure them a minimum guaranteed income every month,” says Danish, who has plans to double the number of outlets in the next two years.

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