Priyanshu Mohanty 
Dibyaranjan Dash is the CEO of Herbage Herbal. He is the visionary founder of a renowned cosmetic brand and has changed the very nature of skincare in addition to revolutionising the beauty sector. Mr. Dibyaranjan has been leading the way in the cosmetics industry because to his continuous dedication to creating great herbal products.
Mr. Dibyaranjan has successfully harnessed the power of botanicals to create products that resonate with both skin and spirit thanks to his great awareness of nature’s riches. His life is a living example of how innovation and nature can coexist peacefully, leaving a legacy that not only promotes healthy skin but also a deep respect for the gifts of the environment. Along with achieving exceptional success under his direction, the brand has also helped to bring about a deliberate change towards natural beauty products that highlight the very best aspects of wellbeing.
Could you highlight your business’s route and challenges?
In Odisha, starting a business is difficult because there aren’t many active cosmetic industries at the moment. There were two to three enterprises when we set up business in 2003.Government organisations like the department of industry, msme, and others did not assist us. And anyone looking to create their own business or sector shouldn’t rely on the department in any way.
When we first launched our business and began manufacture in 2004, it was challenging to find a market.It was extremely challenging to obtain funding for marketing and other purposes since odisha requires a large expenditure . Although the journey has been difficult, we progressively gained market share in 2007 and 2008 and started marketing in kolkata, Bangladesh, and a few other cities.
We currently have no plans to extend our services to other parts of India, but we are making preparations to do so. You can see that the road is really challenging and that it cannot be explained simply, but we will succeed.However, I believe that opportunities are greater and obstacles are less common in other states. There is no active work culture and no industrial work culture in Odisha.
In Odisha, there are hardly any raw materials available. A separate significant industry in Odisha is steel. However, there are plenty of raw materials in other states.It is a very difficult undertaking to bring raw materials from other states and execute them. Thus, we only have minor logistical concerns.
Can you share the founding story of your company and what motivated you to start a herbal product business?
I launched my business in 2004 since I work in cosmetic manufacturing and have a post-graduate degree in cosmetotology. I was inspired to launch my own cosmetic manufacturing business.
What differentiates your herbal products from those of your competitors in the market?
In reality, we manufacture items of exceptional quality, yet the cost we’ve maintained is standard .As other significant businesses do, we use urban goods as the raw material for our products, but we charge at an affordable rate so that customers may afford to purchase them. As a result, you can see that we provide a lower price than other businesses in this industry.
In what ways do you engage with local communities and support ethical sourcing of herbs?
The truth is that the plants that are readily available in and around Odisha lack the quality necessary for both cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Therefore, the herbs grown in our neighbourhood are ineffective since we get home extract from various companies throughout the world and from various parts of India.
What challenges have you faced in gaining consumer trust for your herbal products, and how have you addressed them?
There are several challenges in the industry, and everyone agrees that the customer is king.Gaining consumer trust requires putting your best foot forward in the marketplace, adhering to moral principles, and producing high-quality goods.
How do you foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within your company to drive growth and success?
The two terms “culture of innovation” and “collaboration” cannot be used interchangeably. In a culture of innovation, everyone is aware of the types of products that are now on the market, and research and development are ongoing as we go towards the most modernised culture possible.
As far as collaboration goes, we haven’t worked with any businesses. However, we just agreed to collaborate with a German business to establish a 100% export facility in Raipur, Delhi.
What do you think about companies who advertise that their products are completely herbal? Is it possible to provide completely herbal products in the cosmetics industry?
The phrases “herbal organic” and “organic” are market-driving, and Patanjali is utilising them in the same way that we are.Unless every product has a chemical base as its fundamental component and every other firm adds active incident to it, there will be a difference if some companies add 0.5% and some add 1%.
