Meet Sargam Dhawan Bhayana – The driving force behind Tressmart and PHL’s remarkable success

An interview with Sargam Dhawan Bhayana, founder of Tressmart and Planet Herbs Lifesciences (PHL)

In an exclusive interview with Sargam Dhawan Bhayana, the visionary leader behind Tressmart and PHL, we delve into the strategies that propelled these brands to unprecedented heights.

Under her guidance, Tressmart achieved an astonishing 2,463% growth in online sales within just one year, a feat that has captured the attention of the industry.

Sargam shares her insights on innovation, market trends, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that have defined her journey.

Can you share your journey and what inspired you to start Tressmart and PHL?

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana: My journey with Planet Herbs Lifesciences (PHL) and Tressmart has been driven by a passion for innovation, wellness, and accessibility.

PHL started with a mission to bridge herbal wisdom with modern science, initially focusing on exports and contract manufacturing.

In March 2024, we expanded into the Indian market, achieving remarkable online sales growth by making high-quality, science-backed wellness solutions affordable and accessible.

Tressmart was born to introduce cutting-edge beauty technology to India, bringing international brands like DAFNI, Makeup Eraser, and StylIdeas to revolutionize the industry.

Both brands share the same vision—blending science, innovation, and sustainability to create solutions that truly impact lives. Our focus remains on scaling globally, innovating responsibly, and shaping the future of beauty and wellness.

Achieving a 2,463% growth in online sales in just one year is remarkable. What key strategies did you implement to drive this growth?

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana: Our 2,463% growth in online sales within a year was driven by a combination of strategic expansion, digital transformation, and consumer-centric innovation.

One of the key factors was our shift from a primarily export-focused business to a D2C model, making our products more accessible through e-commerce platforms and our own website. This allowed us to connect directly with Indian consumers and address their evolving wellness needs.

We also leveraged data-driven digital marketing, investing in targeted Meta and Google ads, influencer collaborations, and content marketing to educate consumers on the efficacy of our formulations.

Our product development strategy focuses on blending modern nutraceuticals with Ayurvedic science, ensuring we meet the growing demand for preventive healthcare solutions while maintaining competitive pricing.

Building consumer trust and retention has been another crucial factor in our success. We emphasize transparent labelling, clinical backing, and post-purchase engagement, ensuring long-term customer relationships.

By aligning innovation with accessibility, we’ve successfully scaled PHL into a fast-growing, consumer-trusted brand in the Indian wellness market.

As a driving force behind Tressmart and PHL, how do you foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within your team?

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana: At PHL and Tressmart, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration starts with creating an environment where creativity, curiosity, and adaptability thrive.

We empower our teams by encouraging ownership and autonomy, allowing them to experiment with new ideas, take calculated risks, and contribute meaningfully to product innovation and business strategies.

A consumer-first mindset drives our approach, ensuring that every innovation stems from a deep understanding of evolving customer needs.

Market research, real-time feedback loops, and data-driven decision-making play a crucial role in shaping our products and strategies.

Collaboration across R&D, marketing, supply chain, and digital platforms ensures that our product launches are backed by both science and branding, delivering solutions that are effective and accessible.

By fostering an ecosystem that values innovation, collaboration, and adaptability, we ensure that PHL and Tressmart continue to lead in beauty, wellness, and health-tech solutions, setting new benchmarks in the industry.

What trends in the beauty and personal care industry do you believe contributed to your brands’ success?

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana: The beauty and personal care industry is evolving rapidly, and several key trends have contributed to the success of PHL and Tressmart.

Consumers today are far more informed and discerning, they demand clean, transparent, and high-performance products that align with their values.

From the very beginning, we have focused on ingredient transparency, science-backed formulations, and toxin-free solutions, ensuring that our products meet the growing demand for safe and effective personal care.

The rise of e-commerce and D2C brands has been another game-changer. We made a conscious shift from an export-driven business to a direct-to-consumer model, allowing us to connect directly with our customers, educate them, and build lasting relationships.

Personalization and problem-solving beauty are also shaping consumer preferences. People want targeted solutions rather than generic products, which is why we focus on cutting-edge, research-backed formulations that deliver real results.

What are your future plans for Tressmart and PHL? Are there any new products or markets you are looking to explore?

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana: The future of Planet Herbs Lifesciences and Tressmart is focused on expansion, innovation, and deeper market penetration. For PHL, we are scaling our direct-to-consumer presence by expanding our product portfolio in nutraceuticals, herbal supplements, and wellness solutions.

With the growing demand for preventive healthcare, we are working on new formulations that combine Ayurveda with modern science, targeting key areas like women’s health, immunity, and lifestyle-related conditions.

Internationally, we are strengthening our export business while also expanding within India’s offline retail and pharmacy networks.

For Tressmart, we continue to bring cutting-edge global beauty innovations to Indian consumers. We are expanding our brand portfolio, introducing new-age beauty tech and sustainable personal care solutions, and strengthening our e-commerce and marketplace presence.

The focus remains on high-performance, clean beauty products that cater to evolving consumer needs.

What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the business world?

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana: My advice to women entrepreneurs is simple – own your vision, stay resilient, and never let doubt dictate your journey. The business world can be challenging, especially for women who often have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. But the key is to believe in your ideas and back them with action.

Build a strong network, surround yourself with people who support and challenge you. Seek mentors, connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, and never hesitate to ask for guidance. The right support system can make all the difference.

Embrace innovation and adaptability. Markets evolve, consumer needs shift, and businesses must be agile. Stay informed, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to pivot when needed.

Most importantly, be unapologetic about your ambitions. Women are often conditioned to downplay success, but true leadership comes from confidence and conviction.

Trust yourself, take bold risks, and build something that reflects your passion and purpose. The world needs more women-led businesses, and every step forward is a step toward reshaping the landscape for future generations.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your journey or the brands that you think is important for our audience to know?

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana: The journey of building PHL and Tressmart has been one of passion, perseverance, and purpose.

What started as a vision to bring science-backed, high-performance wellness and beauty solutions to consumers has evolved into something much bigger, a commitment to transparency, sustainability, and making a real impact in people’s lives.

With PHL, we are not just creating products, we are redefining holistic wellness by blending the best of modern science and Ayurvedic wisdom. Our goal is to make preventive healthcare and clean, effective solutions more accessible to consumers worldwide.

For Tressmart, we have always focused on introducing global innovations that align with the evolving needs of Indian consumers. It’s about curating the best, ensuring quality, and delivering an unmatched experience.

At the core of everything we do is a deep belief in conscious consumerism, where performance meets purity, and science meets sustainability.

As we continue to grow, we remain focused on innovation, accessibility, and building brands that truly add value. There’s so much more to come, and I’m excited about the future we are shaping!

Sargam Dhawan Bhayana’s remarkable achievements with Tressmart and PHL serve as a testament to her strategic acumen and leadership.

Her ability to adapt and thrive in a competitive landscape has not only transformed her brands but also set a benchmark for success in the e-commerce sector.

As she continues to drive growth and innovation, Sargam’s story inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace challenges and pursue their visions with unwavering determination.

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