Klaus Peter Ochs, President, Intercoiffure, Mondial suggests that the natural beauty lies in loving one’s hair and treating them with the best products avaialble and shares the insights about the brand, beauty and tips to do away with beast in an interview with Zola Marquis.

What made you consider India as your 51st destination?
First of all, I would like to acknowledge that I am very proud to welcome India in the big family of Intercoiffure! India is an amazing country that is developing quickly in so many fields that this is really fascinating! And India is so rich on the cultural front. Intercoiffure definitely had to be in India!

Are you eying smaller cities as well or limited to metros?
Intercoiffure has to be represented in huge dynamic capitals worldwide. Nevertheless, the idea is to develop first-rate hairdressing in as many cities in the world as possible, whether big or not. Because talent has no boundaries!

The confederation of Indian industry official estimates that the Indian beauty and wellness market will reach approximately Rs4,000,000 billion by end 2008. What is Intercoiffure’s expected market share in it?
You know, hairdressing has become a huge business. Intercoiffure represents over 1million clients a day, and we keep developing everyday! Intercoiffure and its creativity, modernity, fame and values definitely have the ability to have its share in this fast growing Indian beauty market.

What was the criterion of selecting Indian hairdressers as members of ICD India?
The criteria of selection are the same for all Intercoiffure members: our members need to be extremely skilful, to own stylish salons, to be involved in Beauty and to share the moral and ethic values of our association. You know, Intercoiffure stands for the number one worldwide organization of hairdressers! Our members are handpicked…

How is the response from the 50 countries part of your organization? What are your expectations from Indian chapter?
As I mentioned earlier, Intercoiffure Mondial is first and foremost a big family. As Intercoiffure is neither involved in religion nor in politics, every Section is always willing to welcome new countries in our organization and share their talent. So I’m pretty sure many Intercoiffure Sections are already very excited about getting the opportunity to meet with the Indian top-level hairdressers and share their skills!
I have no special expectations regarding India as an Intercoiffure Section: I’m sure I will be amazed and smitten anyway! What is more, Intercoiffure is a good opportunity for the young generation of ICD India to have access to a wide-open window on the world. I’m sure they are aware of it and that they will take advantage of this wonderful chance they are now given.

The sale of luxury cosmetics brands is expected to double by 2008 in India. Currently 10% of the total retail sales are from luxury brands. What opportunities do you see out of this?
India is undoubtedly a huge potential market and Intercoiffure, as a luxury brand, definitely wants to work hand in hand with this fast growing country, to spread the talent of the best Indian hair designers all around the world, to learn from them and to show them how creative and skilful Intercoiffure is, in order to make communication between the best hairdressers in the world easier. Our partner P&G/Wella also found a good opportunity to develop in India and has been actively participating in the creation of the ICD India Section. This is what I would call a winning situation for the three of us: ICD India, Intercoiffure Mondial and P&G/Wella!!

What are the trends in the consumer market? What are people looking for?
People need to be inspired so that hair trends are constantly in the making.
And what is funny is that most of our inspiration is derived from the looks and haircuts of the people from the street.
This is the reason why nowadays almost every style is fashionable: you can wear your hair very short, straight and dark or have them long blond and curly and still be in. There is definitely room for everyone, which is a good thing I think.
In any case, people want to match their haircut with their lifestyle.

What do you see as the main challenges and difficulties in the Indian market?
People from India (especially the inhabitants of the big cities), like most developed countries, now have access to modern life notably thanks to communication devices and to the media, especially television. This inevitably affects the Indian haircuts that used to be longer and darker: nowadays, women tend to wear their hair mid-long and to brighten them.
The difficulty India may have is to make the Indian culture and traditions coincide with TV and modernity. It is rather hard to fight against progress and modern technologies that flood the market!

If you are asked to improve two-things in the Indian market, what would you choose?
The idea is not for us to improve the Indian market like any Section’s market, but to connect the best hairdressers worldwide so that they pick what they think could be successful and useful in their own countries. One of our wishes is to make the ICD stylists meet, share, learn and develop their own creativity in order to put it into practice “at home”.

What is the secret of building a profitable business?
Three things are essential when it comes to making your business work: love what you do, work hard and communicate about it. Passion, hard working and communication are a must in any business I think!

What is the brand’s outlook for 2007?
For the year 2007, Intercoiffure identified 4 beauty trends that are all adaptable to Indian women and hair, with a touch of Indian tradition and culture:
Energy: For the outgoing and seductive woman, the ultimate “fashion-victim”.
Simplicity: For an authentic woman; natural colors
Independence: For the sparkling, dynamic, extremely sophisticated woman; clean-cut & flowing lines
Femininity: For the haute couture, ultra-chic woman; classic with a sprinkle of romanticism

For further details contact zolamarquis@gmail.com