Britain-based Truefitt & Hill, one the oldest barber shops in the world, opened its first door in India here with a promise to “introduce a new level of indulgence for the metrosexual man.” An Indian firm Lloyds Luxuries, owned by 21-year-old Krishna Gupta, has won the master franchise to start its salons in India and sell grooming products in neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Nepal. Lloyds has hired Istayak Ansari, former chief executive of Gold’s Gym chain, as its managing director and partner.
“We will have a price of Rs 1,200 for a 30-minute hair cut and shave, and up to Rs 6,000 in our VIP lounge under a royal package,” Gupta said. “We will add three more salons by 2015.” The company has entered into a 10-year agreement with the London chain with the option to extend it for another 10 years. “Our plan is to build salons by 2024, half of them owned and the rest sub-franchised,” Gupta said. Its first store in India has opened at Khar, Linking Road in Mumbai in June.
