Bombay Shaving Company: Disrupting Men’s Grooming Space By Offering Terrific User Experience

In India, men’s grooming is usually considered as a pointless exercise which has been done just “for the sake of it”. In order to change this perception, IIM Lucknow alumni, Shantanu Deshpande, along with his three partners Rohit Jaswal, Deepu Panicker, and Raunak Munot, founded Bombay Shaving Company.

Together, they have changed the way in which men’s grooming is done, turning it into an enjoyable pastime for people. The company has now become a high-end personal care and grooming products platform dedicated to providing exceptional experiences to its clients. 

Let’s delve deeper and know more about the success story of Bombay Shaving Company. 

How Did It Begin? 

Shantanu Deshpande came up with an idea of launching a men’s grooming platform in India after having a discussion with a friend. Before jumping on the entrepreneurial wagon, Shantanu was working as a software engineer at McKinsey in the USA. During his stint in the US, Shantanu met a friend who was an intern at Harry’s, a New York-based grooming brand.

While having a casual discussion with his buddy, Shantanu realized how American shaving companies are competing with the likes of Gillette and PRO and he thought India might also benefit from a breakthrough in the grooming sector.

Therefore, he decided to quit his job and disrupt this neglected and nearly monopolised market in India by focusing on delivering a good consumer experience. 

In 2015, Shantanu along with his three friends – Rohit Jaswal, Deepu Panicker, and Raunak Munot launched Bombay Shaving Company. Being a startup, Bombay Shaving Company had a little to say at the beginning of their journey as they were only focusing on providing an amazing unwrapping experience to their customers.

Many would be surprised to know that the company’s first 500 customers came exclusively through word-of-mouth recommendations and referrals. 

Growth of Bombay Shaving Company

Shantanu’s team worked together on aromas, raw ingredients, production advances, and packaging innovations with well-known experts and suppliers across the world to offer a great experience to their users. As a result, they got terrific responses from people across the country, especially from the young age group.

Bombay Shaving Company first tasted success when several customers started sharing photographs and videos of their unpacking experiences on social media, which enhanced their overall reputation in the market and also boosted the sales of their products. 

The company has accumulated $9 million in investment since its inception in the industry and today it provides over 40 items across eight product categories including Shave, Trimmers, Hair, Beard, Perfumes, Skin, Bath, and others.

During the COVID-19 induced lockdown in 2020, the grooming startup claimed to have recorded a 3X growth in its revenue and one of the major factors behind that expansion was its foray into the women grooming market as well. 

Reason Behind The Success

One thing that sets apart Bombay Shaving Company from its competitors is its holistic approach to men’s grooming. The brand goes beyond just a shaving category itself and considers every facet of a man’s personal-care journey.

The company aims to cater to all the grooming needs of men and women, revolutionizing the personal care industry in India. The brand’s commitment to quality and innovation has resonated not only with the male demographic but also with anybody who enjoys the art of self-pampering.