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Category: Brands

  • HUL ranks number 3 globally among top companies for leaders

    HUL ranks number 3 globally among top companies for leaders

    MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has been ranked third in 2014 Global Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders survey.  

    HUL is the only Indian company that has been ranked in the ‘global top 10’ consistently since the ‘Top Companies for Leaders’ global survey was first launched in 2007. HUL’s ranking of number three globally this year is the highest ever ranking for any Indian company in the survey. HUL was ranked number one in the Top Companies for Leaders 2014 survey done by Aon Hewitt in India.

    HUL CEO and MD Sanjiv Mehta said, “It is extremely satisfying to be recognised as number one in India and number three globally among other esteemed organisations. This recognition is also special as it comes at a time when we enter the 60th year of our Unilever Future Leaders Programme (UFLP), a flagship programme which has over the years groomed brightest young minds within HUL into business leaders.”

    “At HUL we believe in inculcating a ‘Leaders build Leaders’ mindset and are committed to honing business and leadership acumen through a strong learning curriculum. Building thought leaders and leadership capability is an integral part of our talent principles and is a well articulated philosophy that we have been following for decades,” he added.

    HUL is well-known for its talent pool and as a source of leadership talent. Not only does HUL have formal processes for inculcating leadership, but it also provides a culture of coaching and mentoring at every level in the organisation. The approach of identifying and grooming top talent has established the company as a source of leadership talent, both for Unilever globally and the industry in general.

    Over 200 managers of HUL currently serve Unilever globally. There are several senior HUL managers working in leadership roles across Unilever markets and functions.

    The Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders study evaluates and recognises what it takes to execute best-in-class leadership and talent management around the world. This year’s winners were selected and ranked by a panel of independent judges, including well-known experts from Wharton School of Business, Indian School of Business, PUC Minas and Ivey School of Business using a number of criteria, including strength of leadership practices and culture, examples of leader development on a global scale, alignment of business and leadership strategy, business performance and company reputation.

    Aon Hewitt’s analysis found that top companies shared five key characteristics in their leadership approach:

    •      Assessment. When it comes to building leaders, top companies assess the whole leader early in their careers. This includes evaluating leaders’ experiences, competencies, values and organisational fit. This helps organisations understand the unique needs of their talent pipeline to fuel the right development solutions that move people forward faster.

    •      Awareness. Top companies have leaders who demonstrate tremendous self-awareness by understanding their personal strengths and weaknesses and using this information to become more effective leaders.

    •      Resilience. In today’s unpredictable and complex environment, top companies build resilience in their leaders by creating inclusive cultures where multiple perspectives and ideas are expected and fostered to help the organisation meet continued business challenges.

    •      Engaging leadership. Organisations leading the way focus on identifying and building engaging leaders who are stabilisers, demonstrate versatility and stay connected to people and events inside and outside their organisation.  

    •      Sustainability. Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders focus on building talent programs nimble enough to respond quickly to market demands, yet sustainable to deliver superior business outcomes.

  • Asus India launches convertibles under Transformer series, campaign plans on the anvil

    Asus India launches convertibles under Transformer series, campaign plans on the anvil

    BENGALURU: Asus India launched new additions to the Transformer series – Asus Transformer Flip Book – a 15.6” innovative laptop with 360-degree rotating touch screen that flips in an instant for use as a powerful laptop, a responsive tablet, or anything in between; Asus Transformer T200 – a 2-in-1 ultraportable laptop with 11.6” Tablet; and Asus Transformer Pad TF103 – a tablet with style, ensuring productivity on the go in Bengaluru yesterday.
     

    The company has plans to launch a campaign soon in India, but the details are still work in progress says a source at the company. A lot of the creative work is done in-house at Asus India as well as Asus in other geographies. Though the company does use some media buying agencies on a project basis, Asus India also buys media space directly.

     
    “We are ecstatic about introducing the all new additions to the much celebrated Transformer Series to India. India has been one of the key markets for the entire transformer series. It is our constant endeavour to effectively amalgamate our users’ needs with incredible experiences and deliver in the form of revolutionary hybrids, notebooks and tablets. Bringing these avant-garde devices is our step ahead in assisting the Indian masses to discover and have access to the unconceivable yet highly user friendly devices,” affirmed Asus India regional head – south Asia & country manager – system business group – Peter Chang.

     
    The products would be available in the market 14 November 2014 onwards, except for the Asus Transformer Book T200, which would be available from 1 December 2014.

     

  • Eicher launches Skyline Pro Series buses

    Eicher launches Skyline Pro Series buses

    BENGALURU: VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), the 50:50 joint venture between the Volvo group and Eicher Motors Limited (Eicher) announced the launch of Eicher Skyline Pro Series of buses in Bengaluru.  The new series will meet the demands of the emerging premium market segment providing enhanced passenger safety and comfort, says the company.

     
    VECV senior VP sales of sales, marketing and aftermarket Shyam Maller said, “The new generation Eicher Skyline Pro Series buses have been developed as per our philosophy of relevant modernisation to continuously improve transportation efficiency in India developing world thereby reducing cost of people transportation and increased productivity.”

     
    The company plans to market these buses through ground events involving users, social media and a bit of print advertising. For print, VECV uses local news media. “For example, in Bengaluru, Eicher would advertise in a local paper such as Deccan Herald rather than a Times of India,” explained an industry source who also revealed that, overall, the company spends around 3-4 per cent of its annual revenues of about Rs 5000 crore or about Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore in a year towards sales, marketing and advertising. This includes BTL activities as well as ATL.  TBWA handles its creative duties.

     
    The vehicle manufacturer witnessed a slight growth in numbers to 3052 units in October 2014 as compared to the 3001 units sold in October 2013.

     

  • A brick manufacturer that uses mass media communications

    A brick manufacturer that uses mass media communications

    BENGALURU: “We are probably the first and only brick manufacturers in the country that uses mass and social media for advertising our products,” says Wienerberger India  Private Limited (WIPL) managing director Appaiah Monnanda.

     

    To announce the launch of ‘Smart Brick Solutions’ in India, WIPL has used mainline newsprint and radio in Bengaluru and Chennai. Besides, the company has a presence on social media, including blogs and Facebook. Though the current marketing budgets are small, about Rs 1 crore, the company will spend more in the future once it moves to a pan-India presence from a mainly South India supply say company sources. The company also spends a portion of its marketing budget for BTL activities such as taking part in exhibitions and its own events that it holds to familiarise its products to the construction industry.

     

     iMagic handles the mass media creative and  Disha Communications the event creative for the company. “The concept is given to the agency and it creates the ad for us,” says WIPL marketing manager Anasu Mitra. So far WIPL has been buying media space directly. Its radio jingles – on 104 Fever and 93.5 Red FM in Bengaluru and Hello 106.4 FM were created by the radio stations. “Imagine the Radio Stations surprise when we went to them –‘ You want to advertise bricks!’ is what they asked,” says Mitra.

     

    WIPL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Austria headquartered Wienerberger AG, clocked revenue of Rs 100 crore last fiscal. The company has a number of brands in India, including Porotherm.  Wienerberger AG had revenue of € 266.29 crore (€ 2.66 billion) in 2013.

  • Airtel launches ‘One Touch Internet’

    Airtel launches ‘One Touch Internet’

    MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel, the telecom service provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, has announced the launch of ‘One Touch Internet’ – a first of its kind initiative aimed at simplifying internet services for millions of first-time users in India.

     Airtel’s ‘One Touch Internet’ is a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) portal designed with a simple, secure and intuitive interface that will allow first-time users to discover the internet easily and help them overcome common perception barriers around the mobile data experience. Now available for prepaid mobile customers on Airtel – ‘One Touch Internet’ will work as a single point destination for uninitiated internet users to see-try-buy a host of popular services (including social networking, videos, online shopping and travel bookings) through free tutorial videos and trial packs – all with just one touch.

    Bharti Airtel consumer business director Srinivasan Gopalan said, “The Indian telecom market has entered a phase of data led growth. As data networks expand and internet enabled devices become affordable – more and more Indians are getting online on their mobile devices. However, our market research has shown that there are millions of customers across the country who own an internet-ready mobile device and are keen on getting online, but are apprehensive due to reasons like lack of know-how and fear of incurring heavy data charges. Airtel’s ‘One Touch Internet’ will address these very customer challenges and play the crucial role of hand-holding first-time mobile users as they discover the internet. We believe that this initiative can play a transformational role in breaking perception barriers among customers and demystifying the internet not only for the young and urban, but for people from across generations and social strata – thus giving the Indian masses an opportunity to enjoy their first ever internet experience”.

    The rapid penetration of mobile telephony has played a pivotal role in transforming the socio economic growth in countries world over, including India. According to estimates – India has over 220 million internet users today, of which, about 59 per cent get online over a mobile device. Projected to reach a whopping 385 million by 2017, the smartphone penetration in India is only growing stronger and contributing to a rapidly increasing base of internet users, which is expected to more than double to 480 million by 2017.

    To self-learn or have family and friends explain the internet to them easily, Airtel prepaid mobile customers can now call 111 or simply visit http://one.airtel.in on their mobile phones’ web browsers. Currently available in English and Hindi, ‘One Touch Internet’ will soon also be available in 8 Indian vernacular languages in weeks to come.

     To promote the launch of ‘One Touch Internet’, Airtel is also launching a full-blown 360 brand campaign. The insight for its Television Commercial (TVC) film comes from the brand’s core territory of enabling relationships, and evokes a strong emotional connect compelling viewers to teach someone how to discover the joys of the internet. The TVC will also be supported by a strong digital leg.

     

  • Emami ropes in Kangana Ranaut as brand ambassador

    Emami ropes in Kangana Ranaut as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: The FMCG major, Emami, has taken a relook at the competitive body lotion category, with the launch of the all-new BoroPlus Total Results Moisturising Lotion. The body lotion is expected to drive the winter sales and bolster the growth momentum of Rs 400 crore BoroPlus portfolio which contributes significantly to the company’s overall turnover.

     
    The company has signed actor Kangana Ranaut for the new product. The company believes that the actor with the rare combination of mass and niche appeal epitomises an independent-minded modern woman and essentially a beauty with brains—a trait which resonates with the TG of the brand.   

    Talking about her association with the brand, Ranaut said, “I am thrilled to be associated with BoroPlus, an iconic brand that is synonymous with protection. Hailing from a small-town in Himachal Pradesh, I am well aware  of the havoc which winters can create to one’s skin. After all these years, I have finally got a body lotion which combats 8 signs of dryness effectively making the skin look luminous and glowing. BoroPlus Total Results Moisturising Lotion is now my answer to all my winter woes.”

    Emami director Priti A Sureka said, “Winter Lotion is a category on a high growth path, both in urban and rural centres, with more than 800 crore in value sales in 2013-14. The category being populated with many players, competition is cut-throat. We have reworked on the overall capability by infusing new advanced product formulations, packaging etc which will deliver heightened customer satisfaction. The all-new BoroPlus Total Results Moisturizing Lotion differentiates itself through its efficacy of treating 8 signs of dryness, thus offering total results.  Kangana, with her rare combination of mass and niche appeal across urban and semi urban cities gels well with our brand persona and is a perfect choice as one of our brand ambassadors…”

    The brand endorsers’ list of brand BoroPlus has a legacy of star power of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonakshi SInha and Bipasha Basu.

    The launch of BoroPlus Total Results Moisturising Lotion would be supported by a 360 degree integrated communication, including digital media.  Directed by White Light Moving Pictures,   a TVC featuring Kangana Ranaut will go on air soon this month.  The campaign would be supplemented by a formidable modern trade and point of sales approach to connect with customers nationally along with print, outdoor and digital promotions.

     

  • Maruti ropes in Sidharta Mahadevan for ‘Breathless’ type anthem

    Maruti ropes in Sidharta Mahadevan for ‘Breathless’ type anthem

    BENGALURU: Indian car major Maruti Suzuki India launched the new Alto K10 in Bengaluru on 4 November. The announcement was made by Maruti marketing and sales executive director RS Kalsi in the city while it has already been launched in the NCR region and Mumbai.

     

    The company has planned a month long 360 degree media campaign created by Lowe Partners. Television, print, outdoor and digital are the mediums on which the campaign will play out on. The theme of the campaign is ‘Chase your dream’.

     

    The new Alto K10 TVC has started playing out across major HSM, English and regional GEC’s and news channels since the car is targeted at the young among the masses. The TVC has been produced by Chrome Pitctures and directed by Manoj S Pillai.

     

    The company is also toying with the idea of utilising a ‘Breathless’ type ‘New Alto K10 Anthem’ that has been rendered by Shankar Mahadevan’s son Sidharth.

     

    The Alto brand has been one of the most successful of Maruti’s brands in terms of number of units of sold and has won a number of awards for the company. Since the launch of the first Alto K10 in 2010, the company has sold around 430,000 units. The new Alto K10 has CNG and auto gear shift models. The company expects these variants to increase volumes by around 10 to 15 per cent.

     

    Having won millions of customers, Maruti decided to upgrade an already successful car with a full model change that makes the Alto K10 taller, wider and roomier and about 15 per cent more efficient says the company. The car comes in six colours with Tango Orange its signature colour.

  • Barbeque Nation to firm up mass media communication plans for fiscal 2015

    Barbeque Nation to firm up mass media communication plans for fiscal 2015

    BENGALURU:  Indian casual dining restaurant chain Barbeque Nation (BN) opened its 39 restaurant in Ahmedabad on 22 October. The chain has six restaurants in Bengaluru. A typical opening is preceded and followed for a while by radio jingles, outdoor billboards within the catchment areas of the new restaurant and print ads in mainline media in that city.

     

    So far, industry sources say that, the chain had no firm media plans or strategy for brand building. All that is going to change says BN India head of marketing Vikram Varma. The company plans to come up with marketing and brand building plans for fiscal 2015. While Varma could not disclose the ad and sales promotion budgets that BN will set aside since this is  still in progress, industry estimates peg  spends of restaurant chains at between 5- 8 per cent of revenue.

     

     “On an average, we serve about 400 customers per day per restaurant,” revealed Varma to www.indiantelevision.com at the ‘Pat Chapman Grills the World’ festive season experience at BN’s flagship Indiranagar, Bengaluru restaurant. “The average area of our restaurants is about 4000 square feet, and we spend anything upwards of Rs 2 crore for setting up a restaurant,” said Varma.

     

      “We find radio to be quite an effective medium, especially during a new launch or for an event such as the one by Pat Chatman. We use mainline print, because we find it a lot more effective, and at present haven’t allocated funds for culinary publications. We are also on social media, contact customers through SMS and direct emails. Generally we’ve found that a campaign in a city adds about 30 per cent new customers, while about 70 per cent are repeat customers,” informed Varma.

     

    BN closed last year with revenues of about Rs 270 crore, and is expected to close this fiscal at about Rs 300 crore – based on industry estimates, this pegs its ad spends at between Rs 15  crore to Rs 25 crore for FY-2016, figures that would tempt any agency to pitch for the account. Fisheye handles the creative duties for BN. The company does its own media buying.

     

     At the Pat Chapman Grills the World festival, Chef Chapman presents his marinades range from the British Yorkshire and Jamaican Jerk Marinades to the Spanish Valencia and Albuquerque Atomic Marinades. BN has taken Chapman’s festival to its various restaurants in NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

  • Freecharge and Delhi Dynamos partner for the Indian Super League

    Freecharge and Delhi Dynamos partner for the Indian Super League

    MUMBAI: Freecharge, one of the pioneers in online mobile recharge has been named as the presenting partner for Delhi Dynamos which is one of the eight teams in the ongoing Hero Indian Super League (ISL). The association was activated by media agency MEC and GroupM ESP and will be leveraged on the digital platform and other channels through a series of social media contests and sweepstakes and other content.

     

    The contests will run for the complete season which ends in December.

     

    Freecharge CEO Alok Goel said, “As a young and aspirational brand, associating with football was a natural fit for us. We are happy to contribute our bit for the promotion of ‘the beautiful game’ in our country. Delhi Dynamos is an exciting team and we hope this turns out to be a mutually beneficial partnership.”

     

    MEC India head brand activation Sidhraj Shah commented, “Freecharge as a young vibrant brand has already struck a fantastic chord with the youth. Given that football is the ultimate water-cooler sport amongst youth, this association between Freecharge and Delhi Dynamos is a perfect match.”

     

    Freecharge is a concept where customers can recharge their prepaid, DTH or data cards subscriptions practically for free – because they get equal-value discount coupons from big brands such as McDonalds, Costa Coffee, PVR cinemas, Cafe Coffee Day etc.

     

    GroupM ESP specialises in evaluating, negotiating, developing, activating and measuring strategic content platforms and partnerships around movies, music, sports, live, celebs, characters and causes. Delhi Dynamos, owned by Den Networks, are the football team to hail from the nation’s capital.

  • Meet the Heart: Zomato shows its passion for food

    Meet the Heart: Zomato shows its passion for food

     MUMBAI: For Indians, food is love. We tend to show how much we love a person by feeding the other till he/she gets indigestion!

     

    Maybe that’s why the experiment called Zomato, which started six years ago, has crossed borders and is serving millions across the globe. “Looking back, we loved our food too much to go with boring, predictable choices. Or worse still, take a chance with a poor one. So we built something that would help everyone discover more than the usual. Before we knew it, our colleagues and friends were using this treasure trove of information, encouraging us to do more,” wrote the founder and co-founder Deepinder Goyal in a blog recalling how he and his team would have killed to get where they are right now.

     

    Currently available in 17 countries and five languages, Zomato, has rebranded itself to keep pace with the transition it is going through. “As a global brand, we felt we needed a logo that could transcend languages, cultures, and geographical boundaries, and be recognised easily by people the world over,” said the company’s CMO Rameet Arora.

     

    Goyal wrote that now people spend way too much time in front of screens on the digital social networks, and have stopped connecting with people in real life. “But we believe that a good meal, along with good company, is where we find answers to all of life’s challenges. A bad meal, even with good company, takes days to digest. This simple belief about ‘people and food’ gives us our wings and purpose.”

     

    And hence, came the “heart” in the restaurant search and discovery platform. The new logo signifies its connection with those who share Zomato’s passion for food. The idea for the logo came from within Zomato, based on its philosophy and constant interaction with its consumers over the years. “We worked closely with Helvetic Brands of Switzerland to develop the design for the logo; the brand identity was defined and created in-house,” informed Arora.

     

    And that’s not all. It recently announced the launch of its operations in Toronto providing detailed information for over 11,000 restaurants. “We currently see more than 30 million visits to our website and mobile apps every month. We are focused on becoming the world’s ‘go to’ restaurant search service and dining – our experts and our product pipeline are geared towards taking us there as we steadily expand our global footprint,” highlighted Arora.

     

    In the coming few months, it is focused on growing internationally with launches in Malaysia, Vietnam, Ireland, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Colombia in the pipeline.