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VICCO - From a Chawl in Mumbai to International Brand

 

What’s the last advertisement that you remember or like very much? I am sure, that must be from your childhood, because they don’t make those anymore. VICCO is one of the brands that comes to mind after this, well who can forget the famous,

“Vicco turmeric Nahi cosmetic vicco turmeric ayurvedic cream Keel muhaason ko jad se mitaye haldi chandan ke gun isme samaya tvacha ki raksha kare ayurvedic cream vicco turmeric ayurvedic cream !”

Vicco Toothpowder and Toothpaste:

“Vajradanti, Vajradanti, Vicco Vajradanti, Vicco powder, Vicco paste, Ayurvedic jadibootiyon se bana sampoorn swadeshi, Vicco powder, Vicco paste, Viccooo Vajradanti!!!”

Decades before, make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat was even thought of, Vicco positioned itself as a full Indian manufactured product.

In 1952, Keshav Vishnu Pendharkar established the Vishnu Industrial Chemical Company or Vicco at a chawl in Mumbai (at that point Bombay). It connected with individuals by persuading them about the advantages of Ayurveda.

Why was this company started?

Starting a business dependent on ayurvedic items were decisively incubated when they saw the frightening reactions of the fluoride stuffed toothpaste on the oral strength of the general public.
The wellbeing dangers that these items welcomed, were very horrifying and this was the essential factor that drove their jump into this sector.

Arranged with no synthetic concoctions and from normal sources like plants, minerals, and herbs, the Vicco items were promoted as free from any kind of side effects. At that time, the turmeric cream was the first of its kind in the country. Till then, ‘snow’ and ‘winter’ creams held sway in the market. One of Vicco’s claims was that their skin cream prevented the penetration of the harmful ultra-violet rays.

Sales problems?

In the starting, people felt that the yellow color of the cream will not get off the skin. This was a big notion in the mind of the consumer and a big problem for the company. 

Well, we Indians are best at frugal innovation aka “Jugaad”. Vicco instructed all its salesmen to carry a pocket-sized mirror with themselves. They tried the cream in front of the people and showed the results on the spot and later asked the consumer to try out. Well, the mirrors were used for the consumer so that 100% trust in the product can be attained. By 2010, Vicco turmeric cream was a key player in the market in this category.

Vicco grows its own raw materials at a 100-acre farm in Butibori, Nagpur. It has factories at Nagpur, Goa, and Dombvli. Only pure, de-mineralized, zero-bacteria water is used for production.

Marketing

Gajanan Pendharkar took over the family business and is renowned as one of the forerunners of home-grown Indian FMCG marketing. 

The brand was advertised before the screening of movies in theatres and it also sponsored daily soap TV serials. They also reached out to consumers by adding commercials to video cassettes of films in multiple languages.

Indians who lived abroad watched these movies, this video cassettes promotional the strategy took the Vicco products to the international market.

In an ever-changing consumer-centered world, the Vicco brand has diversified into new products like sunscreen lotions, shaving creams, and herbal face washes.

Who owns the company?

It is a privately held organization with 13 partner organizations that are completely run by family members. It has ventured into business exercises, for example, speculation, exchange, instruction, and promoting too. There have regularly been gossipy tidbits about the organization going public or of certain items being auctions off to different firms. However, Vicco has always denied this and emphasizes that it is a debt-free, privately held organization.

Awards

Vicco products are exported to various countries and have also fetched substantial foreign exchange for the country in the last 25 years. For the company’s dazzling performance to supply its safe and natural quality products to the valued customers, Vicco Ayurvedic Products received a Compassionate Business Award from PETA.

“The Greatest Marketing Influencers 2016”, is presented by BBC Knowledge and is endorsed by CMO Asia. BBC Knowledge offered the award with the title of “Cult Brand” to Vicco Laboratories. Vicco Laboratories, Cult Brand fall into the category of benign cults which can be defined as a following where members are truly attached or intensely devoted to the product/service the brand provides.

References:

https://viccolabs.com/vicco-stories/

https://bloncampus.thehindubusinessline.com/columns/brand-basics/viccos-journey-from-the-backyard-to-a-national-market/article8399693.ece

https://www.inventiva.co.in/interviews/inventiva/what-started-in-1952-as-a-small-homegrown-brand-has-today-cemented-its-position-as-one-of-the-most-revolutionary-global-brands-in-the-personal-care-segment/

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