Beautifying World

Please take us through your entire journey of business so far? 

Previously, it was Dr Nishita’s clinic and we changed the name to Looks Health Services in order to get a good corporatized feel. We started off with two branches. At this juncture we currently have six branches in total. We are coming up with 30 to 40 branches all over India and abroad very soon. 

What is the basic business model of yours? 

We are into the cosmetic medical treatment, which includes cosmetic dermatology, cosmetic surgery and cosmetic dentistry. It is the only company in India which is providing all the services under one roof. There are many players which cater to different segments, but there is none which provides all the services under one roof. 

Where did this idea to get everything under one roof come to your mind from? 

Our aim was to come out with something very different. Basically I am a dermatologist and we had been doing cosmetic surgeries along with my cosmetic surgeon friends and then got into dentistry. We thought that as we have two branches why not include cosmetic dentistry also. 

Given the fact a small entrepreneur faces a lot of challenges while starting off with a new venture. What has been your experience on this front? 

It was challenging. Managing everything under one roof is of course a challenge. We now have 60 to 70 people under our pay roll. But now we have different persons who are in charge of the different departments. So that way we have grown despite the challenges that we faced. 

As far as finances are concerned, what was your source of funding when you started off the business and then did you go in for bank funding? 

We were in practice for seven to eight years and then we started this. Then we went public to raise funds. 

Who gave you the idea of going public? 

There are many of my patients who are merchant bankers who gave us the idea to become a public limited company. Then we looked out and this SME platform came to our mind. When we heard about this we knew that this is the right platform for us. 

Did you get the amount required by you or did you fall short? 

No, we are happy with the way things have worked out and are working out right now also. 

Basically, going public means becoming more transparent, did you find that to be a challenge going forward?

When you have branches, you have to be transparent with your staff or else managing the business will be difficult. 

Being transparent with the staff is different, and being transparent as a public company is different 

We do not have branches only in Mumbai. We have branches in Delhi, Goa, and if we are not transparent to our staff then we cannot be transperant to everyone. So transparency begins at home is what we believe in. 

How do you see the market panning out in the segment that you cater to? 

It is good because when we started competition was less as well as the number of persons availing this kind of treatment was also less. But as time progressed competition has increased as well as the number of persons availing these kinds of treatments has also increased. 

How do you find interacting with agencies like SEBI and exchanges now that you are listed? 

We have a different department which is handling all these issues. Our accounts department is also different. We are basically into counseling, marketing and operations.