Ananth Narayanan Leading the Charge to Take Indian Brands Global with Mensa Brands

In a country as vast as India, home to 1.35 billion people, there’s a noticeable gap in the fashion, beauty, and home brand landscape. Fewer than 30 brands have surpassed the $100 million valuation mark in these sectors, leaving a substantial untapped opportunity. It’s this gap that inspired Ananth Narayanan to establish Mensa Brands, a mission-driven endeavour to construct a global technology-driven portfolio of brands originating from India.

The Mensa Vision:

Mensa Brands was born from a recognition of several critical factors. First, there exists a significant void in branded fashion, beauty, and home products within the Indian market, where more than 80% of offerings remain unbranded. As India’s GDP continues to rise, the demand for meaningful and purposeful brands among consumers also grows. Secondly, the landscape of distribution and brand building has transformed dramatically. Platforms like Flipkart, Myntra, and Amazon have established a robust infrastructure that enables brands to reach over 26,000 pin codes in India within three days, all at a cost-effective price point.

The third factor Ananth identifies is that while India has long been known for its manufacturing capabilities, the country hasn’t successfully developed global brands. Ananth sees a unique opportunity to change this narrative over the next decade. He believes that by harnessing the critical mass and scale, Indian brands can transcend borders and become household names worldwide. Taking a brand global is no simple task, but Ananth contends that once growth-hacking tactics, such as those used by Amazon, are mastered, they can be applied anywhere in the world. Reviews and ratings garnered in India carry over to international markets, providing a solid foundation for global expansion.

An example Ananth offers is Karagiri, a saree brand that has expanded into the US market, where about 20% of sales originate from the Indian diaspora. While the audience targeting may differ, the fundamentals of growth hacking through platforms like Google and Facebook remain consistent. Logistics challenges are mitigated by established carriers like DHL and FedEx. Ananth shares valuable insights for budding direct-to-consumer (D2C) entrepreneurs. First and foremost, he emphasizes the paramount importance of customer satisfaction and positive reviews. No amount of optimization in areas like Amazon spending or SEO can compensate for poor ratings and reviews. Building genuine customer love for your brand is a cornerstone of success.

Secondly, he advises diversifying across multiple channels rather than relying solely on a single platform. Expanding beyond one channel enables healthier growth and provides entrepreneurs with more control over their outcomes. Lastly, Ananth underscores the significance of balancing D2C and offline presence. Offline retail can make a brand feel tangible and real to consumers, while D2C offers continuous consumer engagement. Striking the right balance between these approaches during the initial 18-24 months of scaling is crucial for sustainable growth.

In conclusion, Ananth Narayanan, with Mensa Brands, is at the forefront of a mission to transform Indian brands into global powerhouses. His vision, driven by a deep understanding of market dynamics and a passion for purposeful brands, promises to reshape the landscape of the fashion, beauty, and home sectors in India and beyond.