Gillette India launches ‘Barber Suraksha Programme’ to help #GroomTheirFuture

Gillette India has announced the ‘Gillette Barber Suraksha Programme’ aimed at educating, protecting, and providing resources to the barber community as they return to business. 

Gillette and Barbers have a special bond as partners, and together they are a part of the essential fabric that grooms everyone, every day. To help #GroomTheirFuture, as part of the ‘Barber Suraksha Programme’, Gillette will provide an insurance cover of up to INR 1 lakh to barbers, educate them on safe operations via videos co-created with renowned stylist Aalim Hakim and provide them back-to-business support via specially curated product kits covering the requirement for 2 months. To start with, Gillette will support 50,000 barbers across the country.

At a time when people are concerned about revisiting barber shops, Gillette will co-create education videos with renowned stylist Aalim Hakim on safety and hygiene measures, that will help barbers create a safe salon experience. These videos will cover concerns regarding maintaining social distancing while attending to clients, effective hand cleansing, and tool disinfecting techniques among others. This will enable barbers to protect themselves and their customers.

Gillette has also curated a special product kit comprising of the face shield, sanitizer, and Gillette products covering their two-month supply of essential products. Given the nature of their work, the barber community is at a high risk of COVID-19. Keeping this in mind, Gillette India will provide 50,000 barbers with a special Health insurance cover of up to INR 1 lakh under its Gillette Barber Suraksha program.

Announcing the Gillette Barber Suraksha program, Karthik Srivatsan, Country Category Leader - Grooming Indian Sub-Continent at P&G said, “Gillette has been a proud partner of barbers across the country. The barber community is among those whose income has been severely impacted due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The nature of their work also puts them at a higher risk of infection. During these tough times, Gillette wants to stand in solidarity with the barber community as they reopen their business. Through Gillette’s ‘Barber Suraksha program’ we want to provide the much-needed back-to-business support to barbers across the country through education, protection, and health assistance resources. We hope we can help them in a small but meaningful way as they get back to business.”

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As a part of the campaign, Gillette India has also launched a film supported by Brand Advocate Sachin Tendulkar that takes consumers through a nostalgic journey reminiscing the various instances they must have experienced at barbershops. Through the film, Gillette showcases the holistic support that is being given to barbers to enable them to get back to business.

Commenting on the Gillette Barber Suraksha Programme, Brand Advocate Sachin Tendulkar said, “While many have been affected by the lockdown, our barber friends are among those who have taken the maximum impact. Gillette Barber Suraksha is timely & very much needed right now. It's heart-warming to be a part of it to make a positive difference to their lives and truly #GroomTheirFuture.”

The campaign ‘Barbershop Girls of India’, story of two young Barbershop girls Jyoti & Neha is a testament to this camaraderie. In a world gripped by the pandemic, the impact on barbers has been profound as shutters stayed closed and the incomes are affected. As the community gears up to open shop once again, Gillette Barber Suraksha Programme comes as a relief to the community. Gillette is committed to be a partner and support the barbers in creating a safe in-salon experience that will help protect themselves and the consumer.