Nirma started as a small detergent manufacturing business in 1969 in India. Through a price-led strategy of selling detergent powder at Rs. 3/kg when competitors charged Rs. 13/kg, Nirma was able to gain a large market share, especially in rural areas. As Nirma grew, competitors like HLL launched new brands and promotional campaigns to counter Nirma. However, Nirma continued to succeed through low-cost production, product diversification, and expanding availability. By 1999, Nirma had over 35% market share in detergents and 20% in toilet soaps, becoming one of the largest detergent brands in the world.