Victor Bolorunduro
Doha
The friendly atmosphere in Qatar, as well as the ease of doing business, has made it one of the most sought-after destinations for new businesses, particularly in the region, Herra Hair Perfume CEO James Davis said.
Speaking exclusively to Qatar Tribune recently, Davis, whose revolutionary range of personal care products are redefining hair grooming, said,"I've been coming to the GCC region for the past 15 years now and I can boldly say that residents and citizens of Qatar are among the friendliest people I've come across in life. Every person I've met has been very supportive and they leave you with the feeling of being ready to be help. It is simply amazing and mind-blowing."
"The impression I had when I first visited Qatar coupled with the great interests and drive of our partner, Omran al Sherawi and the SPA Qatar team, gave us the confidence that Qatar is the place to establish our hub for the region, as it is a kind of market that can influence other markets and if you get it right here, the rest of the GCC will get to hear about it," Davis, who is also the founder of Clay Hair Salon, one of UK's top-five salons, added.
Davis said that Qataris are renowned for their sense of style and fashion and they appreciate quality products which make them stand out wherever they are in the world.
Hence the reason Herra is introducing a new fragrance Arabia into the market by the end of the month.
"Qataris like to smell good besides looking good. Hardly will you come across a Qatari without perceiving a pleasant odour emanating from the person. Since we are the global pioneer as well as the biggest brand in hair perfumes, we thought it worthy to create a fragrance that is unique to the people of this area. The fragrance, Arabia, which is the seventh variety in the brand, is made from ingredients sourced from oud and its acceptance has gone beyond expectation since its soft launch," Davis, a hairstylist with over 20 years' experience said.
He added that it took Herra about two years to come up with the perfect blend for the fragrance.
"A lot of research and testing went into this product and we had to ensure that we came up with a product with a great market appeal but also one with no adverse effect on hair, whether it is used by a man or a woman. Arabia, like the other six varieties, has the UK certification and it has been endorsed to be of the highest quality," he said.
Speaking on how the business started, Davis said,"It all began with a simple question. Why after nearly 20 years of working in the hair industry as a stylist and platform artist using a variety of product ranges and in turn running my own salon for the past 5 years, had I never come across a luxury finishing product designed to protect the hair from the daily damages of living in the 21st century?"
"That was how curiosity got the better of me and I began to research for over two years before I came up with the first product in 2012. It has been an awesome experience since then," he said.
The Briton added that settling down in a place like Qatar in the nearest future is something that cannot be ruled out as the place not only suits the brand but himself as a person.