Once Upon a Shave…
In 2015, Shantanu Deshpande, inspired by a friend’s stint at New York’s Harry’s, saw a glaring gap in India’s grooming market: men didn’t enjoy shaving, and the experience felt more like a chore than self-care. Determined to change this, he teamed up with friends Deepu Panicker, Rohit Jaiswal, and Raunak Munot to launch Bombay Shaving Company—a brand on a mission to make grooming delightful, modern, and personal for Indian men.
Building a Brand, One Razor at a Time
2016: The company rolled out its first product—a premium six-part metal shaving kit, priced around ₹3K, challenging legacy giants like Gillette
Customer Experience: Bombay Shaving Company didn’t just sell razors—they delivered a memorable unboxing experience, even letting customers engrave their names on the handle for free
Social Buzz: Early adopters began sharing their unboxing moments on social media, turning customers into brand evangelists and fueling organic growth
Evolving with India
Pandemic Pivot: The brand doubled down during the pandemic, expanding its product line from men’s shaving to a full suite of grooming solutions, including hair, beard, and skincare
Unisex Revolution: In 2022, they launched “Bombae,” a dedicated women’s personal care range, making Bombay Shaving Company a unisex powerhouse
Product Range: Today, the company boasts 50–55 thoughtfully crafted products and a team of over 220 people
Ambitious Targets for 2025 and Beyond
Revenue Goals: Closed last fiscal year at ₹255 crore net revenue, with a target of ₹400 crore in FY2025-26
User Base: Aiming to reach 100 million users in the next three years
Retail Expansion: Plans to scale physical presence from 65,000 stores to 3–5 lakh stores within 2–3 years. However, nearly 80% of the revenue is coming from online channels
IPO Ready: Planning an IPO by 2027
What Sets Bombay Shaving Company Apart?
Relatable Branding: No fancy jargon or complex formulas—just simple and effective solutions
Personal Touch: Customization, thoughtful packaging, and a focus on customer delight
Purpose-Driven: Products that are good for your skin, wallet, and the planet
From a single shaving kit to a grooming revolution, Bombay Shaving Company is not just a brand—it’s a movement, redefining what it means to look and feel your best, every single day. The journey is just getting started!
Amardeep is a retail analyst who studies global retail trends and forecasts across diverse sectors, offering insights into the market dynamics, opportunities, and challenges faced by businesses. Her expertise spans both market-wide and city-level analysis, helping organizations navigate the complexities of the retail landscape with informed, data-driven perspectives.
Radhika is a retail analyst specializing in tracking multinational retailers on their strategy, with a focus on "Go-To-Market" approaches. Radhika examines each potential retailer in-depth, across the geographical scope of the USA, APAC, UK, and Europe
