The ongoing global financial crisis has made industry giants go on cost-cutting sprees to keep margins in line with expectations. But given the high expectations of Punjabis on how they must look, the beauty industry in Punjab and Chandigarh continues to thrive. Head honchos of other sectors may be downsizing, but entrepreneurs in this sector are expanding in the region and beyond - going even overseas.

Strands, a chain started by Naunihal Singh, in 2005, has salons in Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali, Patiala, Ludhiana, Panipat and New Delhi, with one opening in Faridabad next month. This week, Naunihal launched the Strands Academy in Chandigarh for “beauty, hair, make-up, nails, spa.” In the first week of August, he is opening in training academy in London for hair and beauty courses. He has Strands Aroosh in Trivandrum, and will open a spa on Kovalam beach later this year.

While that’s quite a handful, Naunihal, based at Chandigarh, is cool about it. “We have plans to go all over the country with our franchise model, and have more than 70 queries in hand,” says the 34-year-old. Recession or cost-cutting are not among his worries as he travels four to five days a week, setting up his beauty business.

Sisters Richa Agarwal and Ritu Kolentine, both in their late 30s, are also taking their spa-and-salon chain ‘Cleopatra’ places. They started in 2005 and have outlets in Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali, Jalandhar, Mumbai and will now be in Gurgaon by September. In addition, they have a Cleopatra Beauty Academy in Chandigarh, and one in Jalandhar too. Further expansion is on the cards. “We are planning to open salons in Ludhiana and Jaipur, and other cities in the region,” says Agarwal.

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