Leaders

The cosmetics and beauty industry is flourishing, and recent technological developments have the poten­tial to completely transform the market. Remarkable new developments in beauty technology are trans­forming the way people use cosmetics and care for their ap­pearance. Tanishaa Lakkhani, a pioneer in the cosmetics and beauty sector, founded Protouch with a similar goal in mind, with a belief that actual problems in the realm of self-care may be addressed more simply and professionally with the use of cutting-edge technology and products.

For the last seven years, Tanishaa has worked in the thriving personal care and cosmetics industry. She has been an integral member of the founding teams of successful firms, including Beardo, Renee Cosmetics, Bare Body Essential, and many more. Tanishaa has participated in the introduction of 110+ products across different brands and categories. Tanishaa became an entrepreneur in 2021 when she introduced the world to Protouch, a personal care brand, ideal for consumers that have a comprehensive view of their health and wellness.

Tanishaa has shared her story as an entrepreneur and the challenges she encountered while growing the Protouch brand, in an interview with Women Entrepreneur magazine.

Give us a brief overview of Protouch.

Protouch is a cutting-edge, one-of-a-kind Brand that produces innovative appliances and appliance and cosmetics for personal care. The concept behind Protouch is to provide professional-quality services& treatments directly at one's home and within their comfort zone, eliminating the need for them to take time out of their busy schedules to fix a appointment. Also, going to a salon might cost anywhere from Rs 3,000 to 5,000, which is more than some of us would want to spend on our regular visits. Protouch provides products that are professional-grade equipment and very convenient to use. A simple gadget summarizes the complicated, multi-layered 10-15-step skincare and haircare routines. We have handy devices or tools with a complementary product that simplifies skin and hair care without compromising on quality.

What motivated you to establish Protouch? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the company and some of its most unique features.

From a young age, I knew that I wanted to go out and start my own company. I have first-hand experience of how everyone in current times is so advanced and aware of the necessity of self-movement, and how they recognize the luxury of taking care of themselves. I set out to find a way to make a difference by creating something innovative and game-changing for consumers. I researched what the beauty and haircare market lacked and it prompted me to look into the appliance industry.

"Inspiration for the creation of protouch: to provide indian consumers access to innovative and effective professional quality personal care appliances & treatments"

My research revealed that hair straighteners and hair dryers are the only extents of personal care appliances accessible in India. Personal care and beauty appliances make up a sizable portion of the worldwide appliance industry. Many reputable companies make high-quality products in this space, and consumers tend to approve. That was the inspiration for the creation of Protouch - to provide Indian consumers access to innovative home equipment for grooming and cosmetic purposes.

 What are the various responsibilities you shoulder as the founder of the company? What are your primary focus areas in terms of leading Protouch?

Launched just eight to nine months ago, Protouch is still in the early stage of development. I was the lone member of the team when the brand was introduced to the public. Therefore, I was handling everything related to the business, from market research and ideas, to launches, marketing, operations and sales. Now that I have a small workforce, my work is centered on marketing, expanding the company, and developing a product that meets the needs of the Indian market.

In your opinion what are some of the most significant milestones that you have achieved throughout your professional journey? What has been the driving force behind your success as a business leader?

One of the most remarkable things I feel, I've accomplished is starting Protouch. It was very challenging to learn about the requisite technicalities and then develop a few novel products that are one of its kind and 1st time available in India.

And as we all know how COVID had severely disrupted all the market and that time I was working to get things started. Hence, so far I would say my crowning accomplishment was unquestionably the effective introduction of a new brand and eying to archiving many more!

What is your vision for Protouch's growth in the near future?

Presently, we provide a total of six products, three of which are appliances and three are cosmetic products. Gradually we want to increase the category's availability to a wider consumer base while also introducing innovative products that solve problems encountered in people's daily lives. Our goal is to establish a premium brand for lifestyle led, functional and effective personal care appliances & products.

Tanishaa Lakkhani, Founder, Protouch

Tanishaa completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business and Commerce from Indira Gandhi National University. In her professional journey, Tanishaa has been part of various prominent beauty and cosmetic products companies like Beardo, Renee, and Bare Body Essential.