ITV

Category: Brands

  • Unilever threatens to pull the plug on digital advertising

    Unilever threatens to pull the plug on digital advertising

    MUMBAI: International major FMCG player Unilever has threatened Facebook and Google that it will withdraw its advertising on the social media platforms if they fail to remove content that creates division in society and promotes hate.

    The biggest multinational player said in a conference held at California that, “As one of the largest advertisers in the world, we cannot have an environment where our consumers don’t trust what they see online.”

    Unilever’s stern step comes while technology and social media companies are facing major criticism for failing to protect children and to erase fake news, hate speech and extremism.

    Unilever chief marketing officer Keith Weed said at the conference that the brand cannot continue to prop up a digital supply chain that delivers over a quarter of their advertising to consumers – which at times is little better than a swamp in terms of its transparency.

    While mentioning that such messages are toxic for the society and only take us backward, Weed added, “Fake news, sexism, toxic content aimed at children, terrorists spreading hate messages are all a part of internet now and we have ended up with a million miles from where we thought it would take us.”

    He goes on to add, “It is in the digital media industry’s interest to listen and act on this. Before viewers stop viewing, advertisers stop advertising and publishers stop publishing.”

    A third of the company’s advertising spend is on the digital medium today and Unilever has decided to cut down on the 3000 ad agencies it uses globally and further cutting costs by making 30 per cent fewer ads. Unilever has promised to boost more ‘responsible content’ that will tackle concerns like gender stereotypes. It will only work with digital networks that agree to use industry standards of ad metrics and improve consumer experience. Discussions with Facebook, Google, Twitter, Amazon and SnapChat are already on.

    Facebook and Google are said to account for nearly three-quarters of the total digital advertising in the US. Last year Procter & Gamble (P&G) issued a similar warning before cutting $100 million of its digital ad spend without any negative impact on sales.

    On the other hand, in the UK, Facebook and Google have more than 60 per cent of digital advertising and 90 per cent of all new digital spending.

    A move like this could adversely impact the digital industry and major advertising agency’s revenue.

     

  • Hyundai launches ‘Swachh Can’ supporting Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

    Hyundai launches ‘Swachh Can’ supporting Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

    MUMBAI: Hyundai Motor India has launched ‘Swachh Can’, a portable bin for all Hyundai cars under its new CSR pillar for India- ‘Swachh Move’ supporting the nationwide campaign Swacch Bharat Abhiyan.

    The brand is the country’s second largest manufacturer of passenger cars and the number one exporter since inception. 

    Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO Y K Koo says, “As a caring manufacturer and in-line with the nationwide Clean India Movement, we have developed Swacch Can, a portable bin for all Hyundai Cars.” 

    Hyundai recently conducted a survey of car owners and found 98 per cent respondents deeply care about cleanliness of outside infrastructure such as streets, roads and more than 95 per cent respondents favoured they would prefer a portable covered bin inside the car in which waste items could be conveniently disposed-off, this led us to another innovation of Swachh Can. 

    Starting from 1 March 2018, the entire Hyundai product line-up will come with factory-fitted Swachh Cans.

    Hyundai Corporate brand ambassador, Shah Rukh Khan adds, “I admire Hyundai for their socially relevant campaigns that are so pertinent to every individual. Swachh Can is a simple yet powerful idea and I would like to request every single car owner to go ahead and use it and play their role in the Clean India Movement.”

    To reach the masses with a strong message of Clean India for keeping Indian Roads Clean, Hyundai will promote #SwachhCan across the country through distribution in all Hyundai dealerships and service workshops.

  • Hot Wheels debuts in Auto Expo Delhi

    Hot Wheels debuts in Auto Expo Delhi

    MUMBAI: Hot Wheels, the uber-popular and much-loved brand from the house of Mattel Toys, is revving up for its Golden Jubilee. Hot Wheels has kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration with an epic debut at Auto Expo – The Motor Show in New Delhi from 9 to 14 February 2018.

    The experience at the Hot Wheels pavilion promises to be a supercharged treat for fans of the iconic brand as it will showcase two life-size models inspired by Hot Wheels die-cast models. The showcase, representing best of classic and modern times, is designed as an ode to the Hot Wheels 50-year journey since its launch in 1968. While one car will depict the vintage, retro era of the 60s, the second car will display a modern, millennial style, representing designs and innovation of the 21st century.

    Featuring the unmissable Hot Wheels insignia – the red hot flames – the design of the classic car stays loyal to the brand’s signature style. The classic muscle sports a grunge look with its all black body and chrome highlights. The car features a lip spoiler on the rear tail and an air dam in the front (in line with the thematic). The interiors too star a unique chain design steering wheel and a skull head gear knob. Upholstery of the car is draped with red leather which compliments the stunning look.

    The 2018 car features particularly sporty details with the bumper designed with a bold horizontal line and broad air inlets that contribute to the car’s wide and sculpted impression. A swanky black roof, and a rear tail gate spoiler also add to the sporty appeal. The redesigned headlight clusters in black-cladding look feature LED technology, as do the fog lights, and tail lights. Features such as the spoiler at the rear of the tailgate are further elements of the car’s emotive and dynamic design.

    Riding the wave of its 50 year celebrations, Hot Wheels seamlessly integrates its latest campaign, Challenge Accepted, that aims at instilling the challenger spirit amongst young children. The campaign blends in Mattel’s philosophy of ‘play with purpose’ by showcasing concepts of physics, aim, angle and speed; driving children to exploring their truest potential.

    Mattel India head of marketing Lokesh Kataria says, “We are thrilled to set the wheels of our new campaign in motion and roll it out in an exhilarating way. As we celebrate a key milestone, we’re also reaffirming our efforts to grow the market in India by engaging with parents in meaningful ways to demonstrate the value of play with Hot Wheels.”

    Hot Wheels will roll-out an integrated campaign for the Challenge Accepted campaign that will include television and digital advertising, social media promotions as well as various on-ground initiatives to engage more closely with fans and consumers. The anniversary celebrations will also include various engagements targeted to collectors, consumers and parents. 

    During the 3-day extravaganza, Hot Wheels is playing host to an immersive and engaging experience at Auto Expo for participants across ages to witness their favourite cars come to life! The Hot Wheels booth will unveil the much-awaited life-sized cars, allowing fans and admirers to indulge in interactive games and challenges. Fans at the booth also stand a chance to win some exciting prizes while taking advantage of Hot Wheels Photo Stall and Challenge Accepted Selfie Contest.

    Mattel Toys has focused its efforts around the core philosophy of ‘Play with purpose’ – where each toy developed by the global leader has an intrinsic benefit linked to it. The toy-car of Hot Wheels not only engages a child, but also gives practical knowledge about physics & maths like speed, distance and gravity. Hot Wheels at Auto Expo 2018 is designed in a manner to establish the importance of play in the lives of children by boosting their creativity, imagination and letting them push their limits by igniting the challenger spirit.

  • Mortein fights dengue with Madhuri Dixit

    Mortein fights dengue with Madhuri Dixit

    MUMBAI: In its 25th year of launch in India, Mortein has announced Madhuri Dixit Nene as the face of Mortein Insta range of liquid vaporisers.

    Dengue mosquitoes are amongst the fastest flying mosquitoes. They are so fast, that they are almost invisible, and hence creating a need for a faster solution for dengue prevention.

    This alliance is aimed at creating a partnership between Mortein and Madhuri to create an awareness about the menacing mosquito threat where every unprotected second counts in the attempt towards dengue prevention. Mortein Insta powered with its double TFT formula gives 100 per cent faster protection versus ordinary repellents hence, enabling mothers to keep their families protected, with its new tagline ‘Mom aur Mortein Sabse Tez’.

    Actor Madhuri Dixit Nene says, “Every mother desires a 100 per cent protection for her family from the growing number of life threatening diseases like dengue and malaria. I am really glad to get an opportunity to work with Mortein a leading global brand in pest control with deep knowledge and expertise in creating superior products. I urge all mothers and their families to join me in this fight against mosquitoes”.

    On the announcement, Reckitt Benckiser Hygiene Home CMO of Marketing Director, South Asia Sukhleen Aneja adds, “We are pleased to announce UNICEF Goodwill ambassador, Madhuri Dixit Nene, as our brand ambassador for Mortein Insta. Madhuri exemplifies the contemporary Indian mother who is always on a look out for a faster and an effective solution to protect her family from diseases. We believe Madhuri will inspire mothers across the nation to choose a 100 per cent faster solution against vector-borne diseases.”

    Mortein has launched a new Tulsi fragrance within its range of Liquid vaporisers which will be available for Rs 72 for 35 ml and Rs 49 for a small refill pack.

  • Amazon India to launch in-house beauty products

    Amazon India to launch in-house beauty products

    MUMBAI: Online e-commerce giant Amazon India will soon launch its own line of in-house beauty and personal care products. Amazon India is talking to contract manufacturers and will be launching private labels (in-house brands) in a few categories within skincare and makeup.

    While Flipkart-owned Myntra has invested heavily in growing its personal care segment, Amazon is set to follow suit. With this, the race between India’s two top e-commerce majors to acquire customers will be further fuelled. 

    The cosmetics and personal care category is fast growing in India and dominated by smaller startups like Nykaa, Purple, etc. The category also has major international brands such as Loreal, Maybelline, Bobbi Brown, MAC among others that are well present offline and via online vendors.

    Amazon came to India in mid-2013 with a massive investment of $2 billion and launched its first in-house brand AmazonBasic in 2015. AmazonBasic had products like consumer electronic products like USB cord, backpacks, tripods, Alkaline batteries, etc. The brand also forayed into fashion segment with its Myx and Solimo a year later.

    According to Red-Seer consulting, the online beauty and personal care market in India is worth $300 million which is expected to cross $3.5 billion in 2 years. 

    Amazon declined to comment on the issue when a call was made from Indiantelevision.com seeking their confirmation on the same.

    If Amazon adds beauty and personal care segment to its category, the move would challenge its direct rival e-commerce platform Myntra that recently announced its plan to open beauty and offline stores. 

    Also Read :

    Amazon India to launch 10 originals in 2018

    Dairy Milk innovates Silk for Valentine’s Day 

  • Myntra targets to grow accessories category by 200%

    Myntra targets to grow accessories category by 200%

    MUMBAI: Fashion portal Myntra has grown its accessories category by 100 per cent and targets to grow year on year by 200 per cent. Myntra is bullish on the category and keeping in mind its long term prospects, has announced its association with premium watch brands like Lacoste, Coach and Hugo Boss as a striking addition to its existing portfolio, making way for consumers to shop for their favourite timepieces from a swanky collection.

    Daniel Wellington, one of the fastest growing brands globally, a social media phenomenon and the modern American luxury brand Coach, will be exclusively available online on Myntra. Some of the leading brands in the category are Fossil, Michael Kors, Casio and Titan. With the addition of new brands, Myntra now houses over 30+ top global brands in the category, making it one of the finest watch stores in the country to call.

    Myntra is also launching a special campaign for the first time in the category to promote the new collection, called, ‘Myntra Maxcessorise’, to be held on 7 and 8 February. Led by digital and social mediums, the campaign aims to showcase the variety and beauty of the collection, available exclusively on Myntra. Leading brands such as Fossil, Daniel Wellington, Police and Tommy Hilfiger are partnering with Myntra for the promotion.

    Myntra Head of Sports and International Brands and Chief Strategy Officer Ananya Tripathi says, “The demand for premium brands is on the rise owing to some of the trendiest global collections and we foresee more and more shoppers opting for international brands in the months to come. With the addition of Lacoste, Coach and Hugo Boss among others, we are on our path to being the most preferred destination for watches in the country.”

    ILG Group Regional Sales and Marketing Director, APAC Region Rajiv Mehra mentions, “With the ongoing success in the Indian domestic market for the Police brand of watches, we are now ready to take the plunge in the growing online channel. With this objective in mind, we proudly associate ourselves to launch the brand, with the dynamic lifestyle and fashion online partner Myntra. This will help strengthen our presence in the online space and grow the brand to the next level. We are confident that with this association, we shall be able to target the right audience for our brand of watches which is quite distinctive and unique in its offering and styling, with aggressive pricing. We look forward to this partnership which will help grow the brand as well as cater to the target audience with a product niche which is more or less not existing in the offline space.”

  • Wrangler stretches your ad for offers

    Wrangler stretches your ad for offers

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network’s digital agency, Isobar India has collaborated with Wrangler to help the brand launch its latest collection, ‘Stretch Plus’ in India. As part of the launch, the agency has devised and executed a digital media campaign for Wrangler that focusses on engaging followers with the product’s latest feature, ‘Extra Stretch’.

    In an age where brands are using banner ads on mobile devices to direct users towards discounts or generate other forms of marketing leads, Isobar India has created an interactive approach to engross consumers by extending the stretch feature of the product on the banner itself. Targeting users on touch devices, the agency asks customers to ‘stretch’ the product on the devise for a surprise offer. Every time they stretch the denim on the mobile banner, an offer pops up that leads them to avail discounts on the collection.

    The campaign has already garnered a total impression of 2,618,948 with an Engagement Rate of 1.8 per cent. The number of vouchers/coupons that have been generated until now are 1,147. The same number of new users have also been added to the database. For the record, the campaign has been executed in collaboration with mCanvas Advertising.

    Isobar India Vice President Suraj Nagappa says, “Our objective is to nudge the audience and make them experience the stretch feature and drive home the point, albeit in a non-preachy manner. We wanted to appeal to the viewer’s reason, and not just feeling. The brand positioning has witnessed a significant shift to adapt to the evolving consumer behaviour. The Stretch Plus campaign has rightfully delivered on the requirement of Wrangler’s new age consumers.”

    Commenting on the campaign, Wrangler Marketing Head Rohini Haldea adds, “Interactive ads are a good way for brands to get consumers’ attention and engage with them in a way that is meaningful to the brand. With the interactive ad feature, Wrangler’s Stretch Plus campaign is aimed at creating a digital experience that highlights the product benefits in an engaging manner and incentivises the consumer to try the product.”

  • Thums Up to launch in South West Asia by March 2018

    Thums Up to launch in South West Asia by March 2018

    MUMBAI: Coca-Cola India announced the launch of its largest selling cola brand, Thums Up in South West Asia (SWA) including Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka this summer. Thums Up believes in a unique expression of masculinity that challenges us to believe that “heroism is a choice.”

    “Coca-Cola India is accelerating forward towards becoming a total beverage company by broadening its product portfolio and entering new product categories in India,” said The Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia president T Krishnakumar. “We are taking key steps towards making India the fifth largest market for Coca-Cola company globally by giving the consumers more beverage choices. The launch of Thums Up in SWA market is a key milestone towards speeding the brand’s journey to become the first home-grown billion-dollar beverage brand.”

    Coca-Cola India recently launched Thums Up Charged, the first-ever variant of the brand to celebrate 40 successful years of Thums Up in India. Thums Up Charged is the result of Coca-Cola’s steadfast commitment to innovation and offering more beverage choices to its consumers. Continuing with the same Toofani image, Thums Up ‘Charged’ contains the strong taste and offers extra Thunder to the consumers.

    As the new Thums Up Charged makes it way to shelves across India, Coca-Cola India launched a new campaign – #TakeCharge featuring ever-energetic actor and Thums Up brand ambassador – Ranveer Singh and the Tollywood superstar and brand ambassador – Mahesh Babu in South India. The company has rolled out a series of initiatives including consumer-led engagement campaigns along with exciting marketing campaigns with its brand ambassadors through digital, social, traditional, and outdoor media channels.

    Originally introduced in 1977, Thums Up was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 1993. 

    Thums Up is on a journey towards becoming the first $1 billion Cola beverage brand from India by 2020.

  • Wavemaker India retains media duties for Tata Sky

    Wavemaker India retains media duties for Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: Wavemaker, GroupM’s new billion-dollar revenue, media, content, and technology agency created from the merger of Maxus and MEC has retained the media duties for Tata Sky. 

    Maxus (now part of Wavemaker) has been the media agency on record ever since the DTH service provider launched its operations in India in 2006. 

    Wavemaker South Asia managing director Kartik Sharma adds, “I am grateful to Tata Sky team for selecting us as their strategic media partners right from the start of their launch in India. Associating with Tata Sky for over a decade now has been an enriching experience for all of us. Tata Sky is one of our oldest client partners in India and we are extremely happy to continue our relationship with them.”

    Tata Sky chief communications officer Malay Dikshit says, “GroupM has been associated with Tata Sky for the past 10 years and it was time that we scanned the media industry for best practices, great leadership and sound commercials. While there were some brilliant and very strong contenders delivering on all of these requirements, team Wavemaker stood a step ahead with their strategic steer and detailed planning.”