This follows the herbal cosmetic company's decision to revamp its entire packaging -- developed way back in 1993 -- in a bid to give the brand a modern and trendy look and subsequently aim for an increased marketshare of the Rs 60-crore premium herbal care market.

``We'll be importing some new P&M in the next six months so as to develop blister packs currently the international trend in the cosmetics industry,'' Lotus Herbals chairman-cum-managing director Kamal Passi said while talking to The Financial Express. The new packaging will hit the market September/October which is apparently the hot season for new products.

Lotus' other plans for the year 2000-2001 include an investment of Rs 50 lakh in R&D in the current financial year to develop at least three new innovative products such as an anti-ageing cream gel; a water based hair oil for falling hair and a one-stop solution for all eye treatment problems such as dark circles, puffiness, crow's feet and others.

Immediately, however, Lotus plans to launch a gel-based skin care range consisting of a fairness gel, sunscreen gel, pimples and anti-wrinkle gel this week. Lotus, claims Passi, is the first company to launch a gel skin care range priced at Rs 90 onwards.

Following the launch of the skin care range, Lotus will gear up to launch a `slimming gel and soap', an innovative product which will be positioned as an alternative to other slimming medicines which, says Passi, usually have `side-effects'. The product will be sold as a combi-pack and will be priced at Rs 200 for a 120 ml gel and Rs 40 for a 75 gm soap. While the clinic trials for the product have been completed, the distribution will begin shortly. Passi expects the product to contribute about Rs 1 crore to its overall domestic sales and Rs 3 crore to its international turnover.

Realising that advertising will not yield high returns for a premium brand like Lotus, the company has largely adopted the trial method for its products where the brand is displayed at a prominent outlet in a locality and then consumers are invited to sample the product before they buy it. Nevertheless, the company has set apart a nominal ad budget of Rs 20 lakh for the current year.

Started in 1993, the Lotus Herbals range was initially targeted at the export market-to countries like the US, Malaysia, South Africa, Kuwait and Hong Kong. Today it has grown into a Rs 6 crore domestic brand with Rs 4 crore coming from exports. For 2000-2001, it has targeted a turnover of Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore from the domestic and international markets, respectively. Lotus claims to hold a 20 per cent marketshare of the premium segment of the herbal care market in India.

The company sources the herbs from different parts of the country and even imports some through its group company.