Anoushka Poddar is a 13-year-old student of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai. She has started a teenage-focused personal care line Snazz and earns Rs. 1.2 lakh monthy.
Anoushka Poddar, as an adolescent, recognised the issues that tweens and teens experienced when it comes to personal care.
“I understood that teenagers and young adults were dealing with concerns like acne, eczema, and outbreaks, and that they required the correct nutrients for their diverse hair and skin types.”
Last summer, while using my mother’s “very renowned” brands, I had skin allergies.
“After doing some research, I discovered that, while there are numerous brands for adults and children, there are relatively few major personal care products for teenagers in India,” she adds.
Anoushka, a student at Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, says she has always dreamed to make it big in business and has been inspired by entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates – who have developed massive commercial conglomerates while having a significant influence on people’s lives. Anoushka realised she wasn’t the only one going through this “period” after doing research and talking with her pals. As a result, the idea for Snazz, a teen-focused personal care product line, arose.
Anoushka says, “Snazz is tailored to the skin and hair needs of teenagers and tweens, and treats common issues such as acne and hair breakouts. We hope to help bewildered youth finally find their personal care answer by providing the proper level of nutrients, unique smells, environmentally sustainable packaging, and eye-catching themes. This brand idea is aptly captured by Snazz’s tagline “Be What You Want.”
She joined the Thapar Entrepreneurs Academy (previously YEA! ), which helped her understand the fundamentals of business, such as sales and marketing, financial management, supply chain issues, and so on. It also assisted her in developing and realising her business concept through ongoing discussions and advice from her tutors, classmates, and industry professionals.
Anoushka’s father, Abhishek Poddar, provided the initial funding after conceptualising the idea and developing a business plan.
“The final composition for Snazz was created after numerous experiments and prototypes.”
These formulations were created in laboratories by lab scientists following weeks of research and testing to ensure that we have the optimal mix for Snazz’s shampoos and conditioners.
Anoushka created Snazz in collaboration with a Mumbai-based manufacturer, who advised her on the best product formulas. Dhule, Maharashtra, is the location of the production factory.
The first products from the brand are “Apple Addiction” shampoos and “Argon Amber” conditioners. They are tailored to the target market’s skin types and contain natural ingredients and nourishments. The brand adheres to PETA rules and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and it contains no toxic ingredients such as sulphates, parabens, phthalates, or phosphates.
Snazz, which costs Rs 600 a bottle (250ml), is aimed at urban luxury clientele looking for suitable personal care goods. Snazz, according to the entrepreneur, made Rs 1.2 lakh in sales within a month of its inception.
Currently accessible for delivery inside Mumbai via its website and Instagram account, the firm plans to employ ecommerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Nykaa to make products available across India.
Anoushka admits that being a young entrepreneur is difficult, and that winning people’s trust and attention was the most difficult obstacle of all.
She explains, “Multiple manufacturers and packagers were dubious about the strength of a small-scale brand, especially one being ‘conceptualised’ by a kid, and continued refusing to cooperate or connect themselves with Snazz. I was finally able to get a team on board with the idea and launch the product after hours of persuading and support from my parents. All of this while managing school routines and related extracurricular activities.”
Anoushka’s three-year goal is to establish Snazz as a recognised teen brand “with satisfied customers and new product lines available throughout India.”
She intends to expand production, professionalise sales and marketing, and add up to two full-time staff in the future.
