Success Story of Meera Kulkarni, Founder of Forest Essentials, an ayurvedic cosmetic brand

Success Story of Meera Kulkarni, Founder of Forest Essentials, one of the most iconic and well-known skincare brands in India

Meera Kulkarni is the founder of Forest Essentials, one of the most iconic and well-known skincare brands in India.

What started as a single store in 2001 has today become a thriving business with over 100 stores across the country and a loyal following of millions of consumers.

But it hasn’t always been easy for Meera. In an interview, she recounted how she was turned away by almost all the big players in the beauty industry when she first tried to get her products made in bulk. “Everybody told me that I was crazy,” she said. “They said no one will ever buy these products because they’re too expensive.”

Meera born in a middle class family in Tehri Garhwal in Rishikesh had a very normal childhood, as she grew up between forests and nature, she adopted nature very well , and she made her own brand inspired from forests and nature which is now able to bet the country’s Ayurveda Luxury cosmetic and skincare brand.

It was never in her mind to start it as a business, as she enjoyed being in between nature . She started her small home grown business just as her hobby back then in 2000 and now her hard work, passion , love for her work has brought her to the success she deserved.

Initially she started making homemade soaps which were made up of natural oils which were extracted from the plants and trees through a cold press process.

She always wanted that her made products should have the potency of nature, Ayurveda, and her made soaps should contain the nutrition of oils with values of soaps in it, her constant efforts which she put continuously for 2 years by the start of 2002 forest essentials got their customers , her customer wanted her brand to be introduced in her hotels, this was the stepping stone for her business to grow and was the best step taken by her.

She always says this in her interviews that she hardly gets time for her personal life in past 15 years of her entrepreneurial journey as she has been so successful in her business and she loves doing so , along with her 2 children are also now involved in her business and now along with her family she is already to expand her business in the nation wide, she now wants to expand her business to the international market too, as her plan is to expand the knowledge of Ayurveda in the international world.

Today, Forest Essentials is a multi-million dollar business with a strong focus on quality and sustainability.

All of their products are made using natural ingredients, many of which are sourced from local villages in India. And unlike many other big brands, Forest Essentials has never tested their products on animals.

Meera’s success story is an inspiration to all women entrepreneurs who are passionate about their product and are willing to go the extra mile to make it successful. With hard work and dedication, anything is possible!

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