ITV

Category: Brands

  • Arise India to spend Rs 60 crore on marketing in 2014-2015

    Arise India to spend Rs 60 crore on marketing in 2014-2015

    NEW DELHI:  After the successful partnership with ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Doobara’, Arise India has once again partnered with Balaji Telefilms for its up-coming romantic comedy ‘Mai Tera Hero’.

     

    The association is a part of an extensive brand promotion strategy of Arise India where it intends to reach out to the audience by increasing its brand visibility. For strategic cinema associations, the company has earmarked a budget of Rs 60 crore which is aimed to create a positive imagery by going all out with its media visibility program.

     

    Arise India MD Avinash Jain said, “Balaji Telefilms today creates some of the most heart-touching movies in Bollywood, and our association with them is based on the massive love and affection that they get from the audience. Our current association follows the earlier immensely successful association with ‘Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Doobara’, where we were able to create a positive vibe for the movie and our brand through a winning co-branded initiative. We seek to repeat the same endeavour with the current association and enable consumers to meet their favourite stars through the contest.”

     

     He added, “Through this association we also seek to increase our brand visibility as Bollywood has a huge consumer connect and this will help us in creating that important bond with them. We have earmarked substantial marketing spends for movie promotions, and seek to nurture this relationship with Balaji Telefilms for mutual success in the future as well.”

     

    The brand will sponsor the meet at Select Citywalk Mall in Saket (Delhi) with the cast and crew of the movie including Varun Dhawan, Illeana D’ Cruz and Nargis Fakhri along with director Ekta Kapoor. The contest is already on-air through radio promotions, online activations, co-branded TVC’s, BTL promotions and in-mall activations.

  • Coke’s slurp shuts noisy movie goers

    Coke’s slurp shuts noisy movie goers

    MUMBAI: In an era when marketing isn’t just showing advertisements on television or putting on newspapers, brands are finding ways to reach out to its customers.

    Every now and then, a brand engages in customer engagement initiatives to get audiences to notice it. The same was done by Coca Cola in Denmark, a couple of weeks back but with a twist. The exercise, this time, embarrassed the customers.

    In a cheeky manner, the cola giant along with its creative agency Saatchi Denmark helped encourage moviegoers to keep quiet by showing their noisy antics in a mock film trailer.  

    In India too, brands are leaving behind even global brands when it comes to engagement especially on the social media. The reason behind engagements is really simple: brands are no longer just about building awareness; they also need to bring themselves to the forefront of consumers’ consciousness by engaging with them. Engagement now is about clutter breaking and loyalty creating.

    For example, in 2013, Coca Cola had installed high-tech vending machines in the malls of Lahore (Pakistan) and New Delhi (India) – two cities separated by only 325 miles, but seemingly world apart due to decades of political tension. The brand then invited shoppers to set aside their differences and share a simple moment over a Coke.

    Click here to watch the video

    Japanese two-wheeler maker Yamaha saw a rise in its sales in the month of February, thanks to customer engagement programmes. New product launch along with innovative ongoing customer-centric activities boosted the volumes to an all new level, the company had said, then.

    Such stunts are increasingly used by brands to gain traction globally. Irrespective of where the stunt or activation was held (in this case, Copenhagen), chances of it going viral globally are high if the central idea and execution is great.

    However, with Indians being too touchy, Coke’s Slurp won’t work in India. Unless the audiences can laugh at itself, such initiatives can be harmful.  

    To think of brands which would use similar engagement programs is for telecom service providers. With most of the Indians lacking phone etiquettes, the telcos can think of coming up with something different. Hope Airtel or Vodafone are listening.

  • Arvind signs Indian JV with PVH for Calvin Klein

    Arvind signs Indian JV with PVH for Calvin Klein

    NEW YORK and BANGALORE: PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH], the owner of the Calvin Klein trademarks worldwide and Arvind Limited announced that Arvind Brands and Retail Limited, a subsidiary of Arvind Limited, has replaced PVH’s prior joint venture partners in Premium Garments Wholesale Trading Private Limited, the licensee of the Calvin Klein trademarks in India.  In connection with the transaction, Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH, entered into a new license with Premium Garments to distribute Calvin Klein Jeans apparel and accessories and Calvin Klein Underwear products in India.

     

    This new arrangement takes advantage of PVH’s control of the brand vision for these two Calvin Klein product categories resulting from its acquisition of The Warnaco Group, Inc. in February 2013 and Arvind’s operational expertise in the region, and is intended to maximize the market opportunities for these product categories throughout India.

     

    The joint venture will focus on the expansion and enhancement of the existing Calvin Klein Jeans apparel and accessories (including belts, bags, and small leather goods) and Calvin Klein Underwear (including sleepwear and loungewear) businesses.

     

    PVH and Arvind are also partners in a joint venture that licenses PVH’s Tommy Hilfiger brand in India.

     

    “By having Arvind – a true leader in the Indian apparel industry and established PVH business partner – join this venture, we believe we are well-positioned to execute against and expand upon the growth strategy for the Calvin Klein brand in India,” said Tom Murry, Chief Executive Officer of Calvin Klein, Inc.

     

    Mr. Sanjay Lalbhai, Chairman & Managing Director of Arvind Limited said, “Calvin Klein is one of the strongest fashion brands in the world and we are delighted to be JV partners with PVH for Calvin Klein in India. This relationship also strengthens our 20 years association with PVH, which started with the ARROW license and since has been extended to our joint venture with PVH for the Tommy Hilfiger business and the license for IZOD”.

     

     “Calvin Klein substantially strengthens our rich portfolio of brands, said J. Suresh, Managing Director and CEO, Arvind Lifestyle Brands Ltd. “By combining the strengths of the Calvin Klein brand and Arvind’s operational capabilities in the Indian market, we believe we can build Calvin Klein into India’s largest lifestyle brand over the next five years.”

  • Priyanka Chopra to continue as Nikon ambassador

    Priyanka Chopra to continue as Nikon ambassador

    NEW DELHI: Nikon India wants to continue with actor Priyanka Chopra as its brand ambassador as she reaches out to the youth, who are the greatest users of new and inexpensive cameras as well as to family audiences.

     

    Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of its latest offerings – Nikon D4S and the Nikon D3300, Nikon India Vice-President – Imaging Sajjan Kumar said that the group will shortly come out with a new television commercial for the new series, which will again feature Piggy Chops.

     

    He told indiantelevision.com that Nikon had set aside Rs 120 crore for marketing and advertising, which was the same as in the previous year. This included press meets, TVCs, hoardings and advertisements in the print medium and so on.

     

    It also included workshops by Nikon School, he said, adding that Nikon at present had 93 service centres in the country.

     

    The D-SLR series was unveiled by renowned photographer Raghu Rai who said he had commenced his career as a cameraperson with a Nikon camera and had remained faithful to the brand. Even when he tried other brand, he always came back to Nikon.

     

    The two series were released in the presence of Nikon India Managing Director Hiroshi Takashina and Nikon Communications General Manager – Corporate Communications Bo Kajiwara.

     

    With the introduction of latest D-SLR cameras, Takashima said Nikon continues to push the boundaries of professional image quality, speed and features. Nikon’s Flagship D-SLRs symbolises the evolution of a masterpiece, reinforcing Nikon as the choice for amateurs, photo enthusiasts and professional photographers.

     

    He added that the D-SLR camera business “has become more successful than ever with over 20 per cent growth over the last year. With these latest offerings in the D-SLR range, our aim is to enliven the basic principles of trustworthiness and creativity that Nikon as a brand stands for.”

     

    Nikon D4S will be available in the market from the end of this month at a maximum price of Rs 419,950. The model is available in Black colour. The sale of Nikon D3300 has started from February 2014 and it is available in Black, Grey and Red at an MRP of Nikon D3300 with D-ZOOM KIT (AF-S 18-55mm VRII + AF-S 55-200mm VR Kit Lenses) – Rs 46,950, Nikon D3300 with AF-S 18-55mm VRII Kit – Rs 37,950, and Nikon D3300 Body Only- Rs 32,450.

  • Soha Ali Khan joins P&G to help build a P&G Shiksha school in Kolkata

    Soha Ali Khan joins P&G to help build a P&G Shiksha school in Kolkata

    MUMBAI: Having impacted the lives  of over 420, 000 children till date, P&G’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility program P&G Shiksha continues to march forward with the motto ‘Padegha India, Badhega India. In its 10th year, P&G Shiksha makes the necessary infrastructure interventions by building and supporting schools across the country thereby giving children the access to education.  Supporting this endeavour, Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, who has been associated with the P&G Shiksha initiative for many years, paid a visit to a P&G Shiksha School in Kolkata to help paint the school walls and complete the on-going construction activities at the school. P&G Shiksha’s infrastructure interventions are key to enabling access to education to children across the country. The actress turned teacher for the day, involved the children in some interactive learning by implementing several fun tactics. She also engaged them in a rapid fire round, on a wide range of subjects and was very impressed with the confidence, intelligence, wit and exuberance demonstrated by the P&G Shiksha children.

    The actress also shared her vision of empowering under privileged children with access to education and together with P&G Shiksha urged consumers to make the simple brand choice and join the program’s drive by purchasing P&G products such as Tide, Ariel, Whisper, Pampers, Olay, Head &Shoulders, Pantene, Vicks, Gillette, Oral-B & AmbiPur. These purchases enable the company to channelize part of the sales proceeds towards building and supporting schools across the country.

    In West Bengal alone, P&G Shiksha has improved the lives of nearly 5000 underprivileged children through quality education, by building and supporting over 15 schools. With the objective of improving the quality of education and encouraging more children to stay in school in Kolkata, P&G Shiksha delivers key infrastructure interventions that enables access to education and motivates children to learn every day. P&G Shiksha has also been instrumental in the change by equipping schools with necessary amenities from building classrooms to building toilets, thereby bringing down the dropout rate and improving the overall literacy rate in West Bengal.

    Supporting this initiative, actress Soha Ali Khan said, “I have been associated with P&G Shiksha for many years now and today I feel proud and delighted to be a part of this initiative yet again. I truly believe that education is a basic right of every child and it is heartening to see a movement like P&G Shiksha facilitating education for underprivileged children and helping them realise their dreams and providing them a better standard of living. With 42% rural areas in India still not having access to primary schools and 30% of primary schools not having proper toilets; infrastructure is a key issue at schools across the country. I am thrilled that by painting the school walls today I have been able to play a small role in giving these children a bright and colourful future and ensuring they have access to a fully functional school! I encourage all of you to join the movement by making the simple brand choice of buying P&G products, as a part of the proceeds go towards building and supporting schools. Today, at the P&G Shiksha School, not only did I discover a teacher in me, but also had a lot of fun painting the kids’ lives that are the future of India.”

    P&G Shiksha has over the years received generous support from many thought leaders and celebrities such as Anupam Kher, Dr. Kiran Bedi, Anil Kumble, Rani Mukherjee, John Abraham, Abhay Deol, Farah Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sameera Reddy, Huma Qureshi, Sushmita Sen, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore, Konkona Sen, Neha Dhupia, Soha Ali Khan, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta, Jacqueline Fernandez, Jatin Das, Shaan, Chitrangada Singh, Soha Ali Khan,  Shruti Hassan and many more.

    P&G Shiksha also allows consumers to share in their support. This can be easily done by buying any P&G Product such as Tide, Ariel, Whisper, Pampers, Olay, Head &Shoulders, Pantene, Vicks, Gillette, Oral-B & AmbiPur and part of the proceeds will go towards building and supporting schools. Consumers can also visit P&G Shiksha’s online partner – Amazon.in (www.amazon.in/pgshiksha) to buy P&G products & support this cause.

    With a motto of ‘Padhega India, Badhega India’ – P&G Shiksha believes that the secret to a brighter India lies in the quality of education of our children.

  • Eric Cevis Appointed President of Global Wholesale at Verizon

    Eric Cevis Appointed President of Global Wholesale at Verizon

    MUMBAI: Verizon Enterprise Solutions president John Stratton has appointed Eric Cevis to lead the unit’s global wholesale division. Cevis most recently led the Verizon’s global wholesale sales organization for the Americas.

    Verizon’s global wholesale team provides a comprehensive portfolio of voice, data, Internet, Ethernet, Global IP, FiOS and advanced cloud and security solutions, as well as professional service engagements. In his new role as president of global wholesale, Cevis will lead an international cross-functional team including sales, marketing and operational support.  The global wholesale organization supports customers including wireless service providers, IXCs, CLECs, ISPs, ILEC, MSO/cable and other telecommunications companies, as well as aggregators, resellers and content providers.

    “Eric has a proven track record of driving innovation and delivering results for our wholesale customers,” Stratton said. “His broad expertise, leadership and customer focus are essential as Verizon strengthens itself as a globally connected company.”

    Cevis has been with Verizon and its predecessor companies since joining Bell Atlantic in 1986, as a staff supervisor for government systems. He has held a variety of roles, including delivering bundled broadband communications services to entire communities; developing new business channels for the retail markets team; and leading sales efforts in emerging markets.

    He is a member, and has served as the national program chair, of the National Eagle Leadership Institute (NELI); serves on the advisory boards of the Consortium of Information and Telecommunications Executives (CITE) and the National Association of Black Telecommunications Professionals; and sits on the board of the National Multi Housing Council.  He is the founding president of the Mu Mu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., on the campus of George Mason University. He is also the executive champion for Disabilities Issues Awareness Leaders (DIAL), a Verizon employee resource group.

    Cevis holds a B.S. degree in marketing management from George Mason University and has done post-graduate work at Wharton.

    Verizon Enterprise Solutions is a leading provider of advanced IT and communications services to enterprise and governments around the world. Visit Verizon Enterprise Solutions for more information.

  • Percept/H carries out the creative duties for Arise India’s ad campaign for Asia Cup 2014

    Percept/H carries out the creative duties for Arise India’s ad campaign for Asia Cup 2014

    MUMBAI: Percept/H the advertising arm of Percept Limited carried out the creative duties for its client Arise which has recently bagged the sponsorship rights of Asia Cup 2014.

     

    Three TVC’s were conceptualized for this campaign. The first TVC opens with two constables chatting at a tea stall. One of them says that if this year Rohit Sharma goes on number three, India will win the matches. The listening constable doesn’t believe him and asks if there is any guarantee. The second TVC shows two kids discussing cricket. While one of them is sure that if a certain technique is applied while pitching, the match will be theirs. The other child asks for a guarantee. Similarly, in the third TVC two women are seen talking in the beauty parlour. One of them speaks about how if there was a handsome sardar, we would win the match. Her friend doesn’t believe her and asks for a guarantee instead. The TVC then continues with a voiceover declaring that there is a guarantee in Arise products.

     

    Jayant Bedi, Associate Creative Director – Percept/H said “Cricket is the most favourite sport in India. But the funny thing is we all think we know the best about cricket. So we will decide how one should bat and what the umpire should have done. We behave like we are the next selectors. The campaign has been made keeping that humour in mind. But we also wanted to show that even if there is no guarantee of India winning, Arise will give you a guarantee of an assured prize. And ‘hai guarantee’ was already the brand slogan in earlier TVCs. We just decided to extend it with this as we thought this is the most opportune moment to create something for brand recall,”

     

    S.Suresh, Sr. Vice President – Percept/H The Asia Cup was a great opportunity for us to come up with a great campaign, specifically keeping the brand promise ‘Arise hai Guarantee’ in focus and extending the brand essence into entertainment zone and taking it the next level of ‘entertainment ki hai guarantee’. Since the brand was the Title Sponsor for the tournament. The idea was to enhance the brand’s image as well as to make an immediate impact with the TVCs. Cricket is big in India and it becomes easy to grab eyeballs during live telecast of matches if you have an effective idea to show. The theme of the films was based around cricket along with highlighting the promo, as Arise was guaranteeing prizes and gifts. As an agency, our task was to showcase the brand by getting people to relate to it, and ensure that ‘Arise hai Guarantee’ becomes the next oft-spoken term by the masses.

     

    Avinash Jain, MD – Arise India, said, “We all know the strong emotional connect that cricket has with Indians and in the Asia Pacific. It is thus to support the greater thrust of the sport that we have decided to be the title sponsor. This tournament is known for witnessing the most competitive cricket in the sub-continent, and with our association with the event, we seek to create an even stronger audience connect for the brand. Cricket is a game which is religiously followed across the sub-continent and this Endeavour will going forward help us in our ambitious expansion plans and in creating a viable space for the emergent brand across the sub-continent markets. This I’m sure will reflect the spirit of cricket and positive ties between the nations which we strongly advocate.”

     

    Manish Bhardwaj, Marketing & Media Head, Arise India, added, “Associating with the Asia Cup is a fantastic opportunity for us to garner great brand awareness across the sub-continent as this is the showcase cricket competition of the area. This association for us is not just a short-term strategy but is a long-term investment wherein we seek greater market penetration across the sub-continent markets. We  are confident that this association will aid in pushing through our consumer electrical appliances into these markets.”

  • Sennheiser joins hands with Farhan Akhtar’s MARD campaign on International Women’s Day

    Sennheiser joins hands with Farhan Akhtar’s MARD campaign on International Women’s Day

    MUMBAI: Sennheiser electronics India Pvt. Ltd, world’s leading manufacturer of microphones and headphones, has joined hands with Farhan Akhtar to further popularize his social campaign – MARD – Men Against Rape and Discrimination.Supporting the International Women’s Day, Sennheiser has redesigned arhan’s Sennheiser-SKM2000 microphone to embody his cause with the ‘MARD moustache’ design.

    Farhan performs live for his fans across India under the banner of Farhan Akhtar Live. In an interview, Akhtar stated that he wanted to bring the campaign to education institutions, such as schools and colleges, “to drive home the message that women need to be respected.”With the newly designed MARD microphone for Farhan, Sennheiser aims to reach out to all the fans of Farhan Akhtar Live across schools and colleges to spread the awareness about his campaign to sensitize the male community towards women.

    Akhtar conceived MARD after an incident in August 2012 after an incident where a Mumbai lawyer was sexually assaulted and then killed by her home watchman. Akhtar launched his campaign in March 2013. The campaign has been supported by Bollywood celebrities and women’s right activists across India.

    Talking about the MARD campaign and his partnership with Sennheiser, Farhan Akhtar said “The tools I use to connect with my audience are important means to spread the message about MARD. In a society where a moustache is associated with masculinity, I wanted a microphone that embodies that message and also strongly supports our campaign towards spreading awareness of gender equality. I have been performing with the Sennheiser SKM 2000 series microphone and feel very comfortable with it. I was pleasantly surprised when Sennheiser offered to support the MARD cause with the new design on my microphone. It sounds beautiful and looks even better now! (Smiles)”

    Gunjan Srivastava, Managing Director, Sennheiser India said, “Sennheiser strongly condemns any violence or discrimination against women. We are very happy to be associated with Farhan Akhtar’s MARD initiative. The new moustache design on Farhan’sSennheiser microphone embodies the core of MARD campaign – Men Against Rape &Discrimination. “

     

  • This Women’s Day, #SnapOutofIt with Tanishq

    This Women’s Day, #SnapOutofIt with Tanishq

    MUMBAI: Today, women are increasingly walking the tightrope between home and career, handling everything from household chores to boardroom meetings with consummate ease. No wonder, they’re left with little or no time to themselves, which is why, ahead of Women’s Day on 8 March, Tanishq, Tata Group’s jewellery brand, has decided to play Santa and gift these superwomen some much-needed ‘me time’.

     

    Mia, Tanishq’s contemporary line of work-wear jewellery, has launched a digital campaign called #SnapOutofIt, which, as the name suggests, offers women an opportunity to break free from their punishing everyday routine while allowing them to explore their creative side.   

     

    “In the light of long working hours, deadlines, meetings and commitments at home, taking time off for themselves is a luxury which isn’t enjoyed by most working women today. Keeping this in mind, the #SnapOutOfIt campaign calls for creative and fun entries from working women, who have one opportunity to convince the brand why they deserve a chance to snap out of their everyday hassles and routine they have to follow,” says Titan Company jewellery division GM marketing Deepika Tewari.

     

    The campaign is active on its own official website, facebook, twitter and YouTube and has been conceptualised by digital agency, Interactive Avenue.

     

    So far, it has recorded over 150 entries from women across Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Some of the entries read: #SnapOutOflt to get rid of my moody boss n foody hubby, bored of tight deadlines and right timelines, fed up of extra tensions at both home and office so forget actually who I am and my mom-in-law asks me to dress up every day like actresses from saas-bahu TV soaps, among others.

     

    Earlier campaigns around Women’s Day like ‘I Am Not You’ and ‘I Am Courage’ celebrated women power while #SnapOutOflt has a fun element attached to it. “This year, Mia wants women to celebrate their day with fun. With #SnapOutOfIt, Mia – as a mark of respect to the numerous roles a woman takes on – is looking to make this day super-special and fun with activities like para-motoring in Delhi, a vineyard tour in Bangalore, and yacht hunting in Mumbai on 8 March,” says Tewari.

     

    “This year’s approach to Women’s Day is very different. The winning entries will have to be witty, funny, and most convincing. In keeping with the brand’s personality of light-weight daily work-wear jewellery, Mia wants participants to really have fun with their submissions.”

     

    Mia by Tanishq takes pride in being an extension of a woman’s personality. “Mia by Tanishq has been at the forefront when it comes to celebrating women. This contemporary line was launched in 2011 for women on the go, who are engaged in various professions and have a well-established ensemble of accessories, unfortunately, excluding jewellery. Mia as a brand has always regaled women with interesting designs, concepts and campaigns like ‘My Expression’, ‘Love Appraisal’ and so on. With us, it is Women’s Day every day,” Tewari signs off.

  • Trent Ltd’s Ad Spend at Rs 8.56 crore in Q3-2014

    Trent Ltd’s Ad Spend at Rs 8.56 crore in Q3-2014

    BENGALURU: The Tata group’s department store operator Trent Limited spent the second highest amount of Rs.8.56 crores in Q3-2014 amongst the preceding seven quarters towards advertising and sales promotion (Ad Spend). Earlier, during Q3-2013 the company had an ad Spend of Rs 10.16 crore, the highest across seven quarters from Q1-2013 to Q3-2014. (Note : Rs 1 crore = Rs.100 Lakhs = Rs 10 million = Rs.100,00,000).

    Trent Limited was established in 1998 as a part of the Tata group. It operates the retail store chain Westside. In 2004 the company ventured into the hypermarket business with Star Bazaar. Also, Trent Ltd acquired a 76 per cent stake in the books and music retail store chain Landmark.

    In terms of percentage of Operating Income (Op Inc), Trent Ltd Ad Spend shows a downward linear trend. In Q3-2014, Ad Spend was 3.30 per cent of Op Inc., while in the year ago quarter it was 3.94 per cent (the highest in terms of value and percentage of Op Inc over the seven quarters under consideration). Trent Ltd., lowest quarterly Ad Spend was in Q4-2013 at Rs  4.02 crores.

    However, despite the downward linear trend in Ad Spend in terms of percentage of Op Inc, in value or rupee terms, the linear trend is upwards because of the increase in Op Inc. Please refer to Figures A and B.

    The company’s PAT too is moving upwards linearly, both in terms of percentage of Op Inc as well as in rupee or value terms. The company reported the highest PAT across the seven quarters under consideration in Q3-2014 at Rs 23.49 crore, while the lowest PAT across the seven quarters was in Q2-2013 at a shade under Rs 9 crore. (Refer Figure B below)

    As mentioned above, the company’s Op Inc has been moving linearly upwards, with the quarter ended December 2013 reporting the highest figure at Rs 282.43 crore, while the lowest Op Inc reported during the seven quarters under consideration was in Q1-2013 at Rs 218.71 crore. Correspondingly, the company’s Total Expenses (Tot Exp) figure is also following a linear upwards trend and Tot Exp has been highest at Rs 268.95 crore in Q2-2014 and the lowest in Q1-2013 at Rs 214.44 crore. Please refer to Figure C below.

    Figure D shows the Q-o-q change in Op Inc, PAT and Ad Spend. The change in Q1-2013 is in relation to Q4-2012.