US-based makeup brand Nars Cosmetics aims to become one of the top five premium beauty brands in India in the coming three years. After launching in the country this month, the brand expects swift growth as it gears up to open its first brick-and-mortar store. 

“India as a market has been developing a lot over the last few years,” said Shiseido APAC’s CEO and president Nicole Tan, the Economic Times reported. “And in the last few years, we begin to see a lot of demand for international brands, as Indian consumers become more aware, and exposed to international brands… But I think at this point, India is in a different place, with the strong growth in GDP and consumer trends. Many other brands [are] indicating interest to enter the market and we are all probably looking at the same sets of data.”
 
Nars Cosmetics plans to open its first store in India in November this year then launch another offline location next year. Nars Cosmetics is part of the Shiseido Group of companies which has partnered with Shoppers Stop’s subsidiary SS Beauty Brands Limited for distribution in India. 

The brand is confident that the Indian beauty market will continue to grow in the years to come. “I don’t think any of us really expect to see any massive slowdown in India,” said Tan. “In fact, it will accelerate.”