ITV

Category: Marketing

  • Scapia launches Leap Year to fund year-long global trip for two Indians

    Scapia launches Leap Year to fund year-long global trip for two Indians

    MUMBAI: Who says you can’t buy time? Scapia, India’s travel fintech disruptor, is offering two lucky Indians the chance to trade in deadlines for departure gates with The Leap Year, a fully funded, 12-month adventure spanning four continents. Think flights, stays, visas, a daily stipend, curated experiences, and even mentorship all covered.

    The initiative reimagines the old-school “gap year” as a bold, purposeful leap into self-discovery. Open to all Indians aged 23 and above, including existing and future Scapia users, the contest requires applicants to upload a short video at scapia.cards/leapyear explaining what travel means to them and why they’re ready to take the plunge. The deadline is 31 August, with the two winners set to be revealed in September 2025.

    To ensure authenticity, Scapia has roped in a diverse jury: celebrity chef Sarah Todd, solo traveller Aakanksha Monga, and storyteller Gaurav Sharma (Wanderda), alongside its own team. Their task? To select two individuals whose stories capture travel’s power to transform lives. The prize isn’t just sightseeing, winners will co-design their itineraries with Scapia, ensuring each journey reflects their passions and personal goals.

    The campaign launches with a digital film reminding young Indians that “there’s never a perfect time to take the leap,” a message backed by a high-impact social push and teaser content designed to spark wanderlust. With over 7,500 plus pincodes already in its user base and a growing suite of credit and travel-first features from rewards to visa services Scapia isn’t just funding trips, it’s reframing travel as an investment in self. For the chosen pair, 2025 won’t just be another calendar year, it’ll be the leap of a lifetime.

  • SKY’s the limit as Skyscanner signs Suryakumar Yadav as brand face

    SKY’s the limit as Skyscanner signs Suryakumar Yadav as brand face

    MUMBAI: When cricket’s Mr. 360 takes flight, you know it’s not just sixes soaring into the stands. Suryakumar Yadav, soon to lead India in the Asia Cup, has just been unveiled as Skyscanner’s first-ever brand ambassador in India bringing his flair for all-round play to the world of travel.

    The partnership is no shot in the dark. With nearly half of Indians (47 per cent) willing to travel just to watch cricket live, sport-led tourism is booming, as revealed in Skyscanner’s Pitch Perfect Journeys report. Yadav’s adventurous personality and nationwide appeal fit neatly into the travel app’s push to connect with digital-first, lifestyle-hungry audiences. In short, cricket meets check-ins, and boundaries meet boarding passes.

    The tie-up kicks off with a fan-driven contest across Skyscanner India and SKY’s own social media, where travellers are invited to design his ultimate personalised itinerary from hidden gems to underrated hotspots. The 10 most creative plans will win fans an exclusive meet-and-greet with the star himself. For Skyscanner, which opened its first India office only last year, roping in SKY is more than just a marketing play, it’s a bold statement of intent to become India’s go-to travel buddy, whether fans are chasing wickets or wanderlust.

  • Simple Interest calculator: fastest way to calculate loan interest

    Simple Interest calculator: fastest way to calculate loan interest

    When you plan to take a personal loan, one of the first questions that comes to mind is – how much extra will I end up paying? This is where a simple interest calculator comes to your rescue. Instead of manually crunching numbers, this tool gives you quick results, helping you understand the total repayment amount in just seconds.

    Whether you are planning a small loan for emergency expenses or a big-ticket purchase, knowing the interest beforehand helps you make smarter decisions. A calculator not only saves time but also ensures you stay financially prepared.

    What is Simple Interest?

    Simple interest is the easiest way to calculate the cost of borrowing money. It is based on three components:

    ●    Principal amount – the actual loan you borrow

    ●    Rate of interest – the percentage charged by the lender

    ●    Time period – the duration for which the loan is taken

    The formula is straightforward:

    Simple Interest = (Principal × Rate × Time) ÷ 100

    For example, if you borrow Rs. 1,00,000 at an interest rate of 10% for 2 years, the simple interest would be:

    (1,00,000 × 10 × 2) ÷ 100 = Rs. 20,000.

    This means you will repay Rs. 1,20,000 in total.

    Why use a Simple Interest calculator?

    While the formula is easy, doing it repeatedly for different loan amounts and durations can be tiring. A simple interest calculator eliminates errors and gives instant results. Here’s why it’s helpful:

    ●    Time-saving – no manual calculations required

    ●    Accurate results – prevents mistakes in large numbers

    ●    Quick comparisons – helps you compare different loan offers

    ●    Financial clarity – know the total repayment amount in advance

    This clarity is especially useful when you are choosing between multiple lenders or loan tenures.

    Example: Rs. 50,000 personal loans

    Imagine you need quick funds for a medical emergency or urgent travel. Rs. 50,000 personal loans are often the go-to solution. Before borrowing, you’ll want to know exactly how much interest you will be paying.

    Let’s say you borrow Rs. 50,000 at 12% interest for one year.

    Using the formula: (50,000 × 12 × 1) ÷ 100 = Rs. 6,000.

    So, your total repayment will be Rs. 56,000.

    This simple example shows how a calculator can help you instantly understand the cost of borrowing.

    Benefits of knowing your loan interest

    When you are aware of your total repayment, it becomes easier to plan your monthly budget. You can:

    ●    Decide whether the loan fits into your financial plan

    ●    Avoid surprises during repayment

    ●    Compare offers and pick the most affordable option

    ●    Choose a suitable tenure based on affordability

    This financial foresight ensures that your loan becomes a helpful tool rather than a burden.

    How to use a Simple Interest calculator

    Most calculators available online are user-friendly. All you need to do is:

    1.    Enter the loan amount

    2.    Add the rate of interest

    3.    Select the loan tenure

    With just one click, you’ll see the exact interest payable and the total repayment amount.

    Final thoughts

    A simple interest calculator is the fastest way to estimate your loan cost. It allows you to make informed decisions, especially when exploring different personal loan options. Whether it’s a short-term borrowing like Rs. 50,000 personal loans or a higher amount, knowing the interest in advance ensures you stay in control of your finances.

    Before applying, always compare rates, check your repayment capacity, and use a calculator to keep your loan journey stress-free. 
     

  • Miele takes cooking outdoors, wires up pots and shrinks steam into a drawer

    Miele takes cooking outdoors, wires up pots and shrinks steam into a drawer

    BERLIN:  Miele, the century-old German maker of high-end appliances, is trying to reimagine the future of cooking. At IFA 2025 in Berlin, it unveiled what it called “a new era of cooking”: three headline-grabbing launches that stretch its brand from city flats to backyard terraces.

    The first is Dreams, Miele’s debut in the outdoor kitchen segment. A modular system that mixes minimalist design with over 60 accessories, it offers everything from gas barbecues and hobs to sinks, refrigerators and wine drawers. The centrepiece is the Fire Pro IQ, a smart gas grill fitted with multiple sensors that monitor and regulate temperatures more precisely than any backyard cook could manage. With an app connection and an AutoClean mode, the barbecue promises “perfect results without babysitting the flames” and a quick clean-up afterwards. “More and more people are embracing the outdoor living lifestyle,” said executive director for marketing and sales Axel Kniehl. “Dreams takes the Miele experience outside for the first time.”

    Indoors, the firm is touting M Sense, cookware that talks back. Pots and pans are embedded with touch controls and up to three temperature sensors, which communicate directly with Miele’s KM 8000 induction hobs. The system detects when food is about to burn or bubble over and automatically adjusts power. It is a small but telling example of how Miele is inserting artificial intelligence into everyday routines: pots send data, hobs listen, and dinner behaves. “Nothing burns. Nothing boils over. Just more time for what really matters,” said executive director and co-proprietor Markus Miele.

    The third novelty is a world first: a 14cm-high steam drawer that slips under an oven or microwave in compact kitchens. It combines baking, steaming and reheating in one, offering over 100 automated programmes powered by Miele’s DualSteam technology. The drawer is pitched at urban customers short on space but unwilling to compromise on cooking. With touch-open controls and full app integration, it can prepare meals for four people – from sous-vide vegetables to reheated leftovers – while freeing up oven space for bigger dishes.

    Beyond the headline launches, Miele used the IFA stage to trumpet a broader strategy. Digitalisation is seeping into every corner of its range. Its MasterCool fridges now come with cameras that snap photos when the door shuts, making it easier to check supplies while shopping and to reduce waste. Ovens are equipped with Smart Food ID, which recognises up to 50 dishes and adjusts settings accordingly. A step-by-step CookAssist function in the app will soon integrate with both M Sense cookware and the Fire Pro IQ grill, nudging even novice cooks towards professional results.

    The company also leaned heavily on its green credentials. It is branding its latest laundry and dishwashing models as Energy Heroes: a washing machine that undercuts the top EU energy-efficiency class by 40 per cent and a dishwasher by 10 per cent. At the fair, Miele underscored its commitment to circularity by building a trade-stand out of reusable, lightweight materials, cutting transport and storage costs by half. It has also pledged a 25-year guarantee on laundry appliance motors, a sign of confidence in longevity at a time when fast-obsolescence remains the industry norm.

    Founded in 1899 and still owned by the Miele and Zinkann families, the firm generated €5.04bn in turnover last year with around 23,500 staff across 19 production plants worldwide. Its strategy is clear: to extend its luxury image into new market niches and tie customers more tightly into its digital ecosystem. From outdoor living to AI-regulated cookware, the company is betting that the kitchen is still fertile ground for reinvention.
    “In a complex world, people want appliances that make life easier, not harder,” said executive director and co-proprietor Reinhard Zinkann. “Our task is to deliver that reliability – indoors and outdoors – with quality, innovation and sustainability.”

  • Pantaloons weaves Pujo magic with ‘Hok Tomar Agomon’ festive campaign

    Pantaloons weaves Pujo magic with ‘Hok Tomar Agomon’ festive campaign

    MUMBAI: When the dhaak rolls, the shiuli blooms, and Kolkata’s skyline glitters with pandals, you know Durga Pujo has arrived. But this year, Pantaloons wants the celebration to be as much about your arrival as Maa Durga’s. The fashion retailer has launched its heartwarming new campaign, Hok Tomar Agomon (Celebrate Your Arrival), turning the festive lens from collective joy to individual expression. Inspired by the iconic “Maa asche” call, the campaign captures how Pujo is not only about welcoming the Goddess but also about embracing one’s own journey with style, flair, and a fresh start.

    “Durga Pujo is a festival of joy, belonging, and new beginnings,” said Pantaloons and Style Up CEO Sangeeta Tanwani. “With Hok Tomar Agomon, we wanted to capture that spirit of arrival not just of Maa Durga, but of every individual stepping into the season with confidence and style.”

    Conceptualised with Talented, the campaign infuses nostalgia with modern flair. From kaash phool and joba blossoms to bamboo scaffoldings and boats symbols of Maa’s arrival Pantaloons’ visuals are paired with Indo-Western silhouettes, contemporary accessories, and a flair designed to spark that unmistakable IYKYK feeling among Bengalis.

    The festive collection features vibrant designs and easy-to-wear pieces curated for every mood of Pujo from pandal-hopping and adda sessions to family feasts. It promises memorable festive moments for a new generation, while staying rooted in cultural traditions.

    With a high-impact media rollout spanning television, digital, outdoor, and in-store activations across West Bengal and beyond, the brand aims to bring its campaign to life wherever Pujo is celebrated.

    This year, Pantaloons isn’t just dressing up Pujo. It’s inviting every individual to celebrate their own arrival with confidence, individuality, and style. Hok Tomar Agomon.

  • Ad volumes tune up as TV, radio and print steal the show in H1 2025

    Ad volumes tune up as TV, radio and print steal the show in H1 2025

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, action, India’s advertising pie in 2025 is anything but half-baked. The first half of the year has seen TV, radio, and print rise with renewed swagger, even as digital took a cautious breather, according to a trends report by Excellent Publicity in partnership with TAM Adex and RCS India.

    Television strutted confidently, clocking a 27 per cent surge in ad volumes and a 64 per cent jump in spends over 2023. Unsurprisingly, Star India ruled the charts, while Jio Hotstar topped brand visibility. Together, Sports and GECs claimed 84 per cent of ad time, proving that prime time still makes advertisers shine. Entertainment, e-commerce, and social media alone accounted for 25.6 per cent of volumes.

    Radio kept its local beat alive, growing 10 per cent in revenues over 2023. Real estate and cars dominated the airwaves, with Maruti Suzuki India the top advertiser and Jeena Sikho the loudest brand. The real showstopper? Commercial vehicles, which roared with a 24x spike in ad spends, underscoring radio’s rural and tier-2 pull.

    Print, once counted out, flipped back into relevance with 26 per cent growth YoY. Cars led the page with 8.9 per cent of spends, while Retail Departmental Stores made a debut in the top 10. Allen Career Institute continued to hold the spotlight, and two-wheelers raced ahead with a 31 per cent surge in spends, showing print’s enduring power in suburban and semi-urban India.

    Digital, meanwhile, had a paradoxical season. Though overall spends dipped 8 per cent YoY, the platform saw its highest number of advertisers in three years. Online shopping led the charge with 11.2 per cent of total spends, Amazon India as the top advertiser and Amazon the most visible brand. Quirky shifts included washing powders and liquids exploding by 21x and perfumes/deodorants by 6x, while programmatic accounted for 88.3 per cent of spends, cementing automation’s dominance.

    As Excellent Publicity co-founder Vaishal Dalal put it: “TV still captures attention, radio keeps it local, print earns back trust, and digital is sharper than ever. The winners are those who embrace each medium’s strengths while staying innovative.”

    India’s ad world, it seems, is learning to juggle tradition with tech – and in 2025, every medium is fighting for its close-up.

  • Pickleball goes under the hammer as GSP sets stage for Season 2 auction

    Pickleball goes under the hammer as GSP sets stage for Season 2 auction

    MUMBAI: The paddles are ready, and so is the gavel. Global Sports Pickleball (GSP) is set to host India’s first-ever live pickleball auction on 7 September 2025 in Mumbai, marking a defining moment for the fast-rising racquet sport. Season 2 of the Pro & Challenger League will see ten franchises bidding for five players each across both categories, making it the biggest player pool ever assembled for an Indian pickleball auction. For fans at home and abroad, the action will stream live on GSP’s official Youtube channel, turning the auction itself into a spectator sport.

    This milestone comes as GSP continues to build a full-fledged ecosystem for pickleball. Over the past two years, the organisation has gone beyond tournaments developing courts, retailing gear, and running grassroots clinics in India and Dubai. Its league calendar already includes flagship events like the Indian Open and the Grand Slam, both designed to put Indian pickleball on the global sporting map.

    GSP chief architect of pickleball growth Hemal Jain explained: “From grassroots clinics to national academies, our vision has been to craft a robust foundation for pickleball in India. This auction for our 2nd season is more than a sporting event, it’s a pivotal step in our shared journey to place pickleball on the world stage.”

    Hindi filmmaker and GSP co-founder Shashank Khaitan added: “Pickleball is no longer the hidden star of the racquet sports world, it’s ready for its moment. With this auction and Season 2 of the League, we’re not just creating teams; we’re creating benchmarks. And a platform where dreams can come true.”

    With ten teams, two categories, and a first-of-its-kind live auction, Season 2 of the Pro & Challenger League promises to be a turning point one where India doesn’t just play pickleball but takes it mainstream.

  • Siraj bowls into Skechers squad with 23 wickets and new shoe deal

    Siraj bowls into Skechers squad with 23 wickets and new shoe deal

    MUMBAI: Mohammed Siraj isn’t just making batsmen dance now he’s stepping into Skechers too. The fiery Hyderabad-born pacer, fresh off a dream run in the India–England Test series, has been signed by the Comfort Technology Company as its newest cricketing ambassador. Siraj, who helped India square the five-match series 2–2 with 23 wickets including a decisive five-for in the final Oval Test will now lace up in Skechers’ performance-driven cricket shoes for Gujarat Titans and the national side. His new partnership sees him join fellow stars Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, and Yastika Bhatia in the brand’s cricket roster.

    “For me, comfort and focus are everything when I’m on the field. Skechers gives me that confidence,” Siraj said, adding that the brand’s attention to detail mirrors the intensity he brings to every spell. Skechers CEO of South Asia Rahul Vira praised Siraj’s “relentless spirit and raw talent,” calling his Test heroics against England the perfect example of the brand’s ethos of resilience and performance.

    The Skechers Cricket line features the full-spike Elite with 11 metal spikes for maximum power, and the 7-spike Blade for agility gear tailored for bowlers who thrive on traction and control. With the cricket range available online and at select stores, fans can also catch behind-the-scenes content via @skechersperformanceindia.

    From topping the ICC ODI bowling charts in 2023 to scripting a dramatic comeback this summer, Siraj’s rise has been meteoric. And now, as he trades in one set of spikes for another, his journey from the gullies of Hyderabad to Skechers’ global stage is one that looks set to run on comfort, power, and plenty of pace.

  • Satyaki Pal joins DamGoodFish as senior manager for growth and marketing

    Satyaki Pal joins DamGoodFish as senior manager for growth and marketing

    MUMBAI: DamGoodFish has hired Satyaki Pal as senior manager, growth and marketing. Pal, who brings nearly a decade in digital and media roles, joins the seafood brand after stints at some of India’s biggest agencies.

    He was previously director, digital at Interactive Avenues (2022–24), where he led key accounts in Gurugram. Before that, he served as account director for client servicing (South) at Logicserve Digital in Bangalore, overseeing performance marketing mandates. His earlier roles include media planning leadership at Phd, Havas, iProspect and AdGlobal360, alongside business development at Linq Digital and Click Thru Network.

    Pal’s appointment signals DamGoodFish’s intent to sharpen its brand presence and accelerate growth in a competitive category.

  • playR suits up as UP Yoddhas’ kit and merch partner for PKL season 12

    playR suits up as UP Yoddhas’ kit and merch partner for PKL season 12

    MUMBAI: The UP Yoddhas are stepping onto the kabaddi mat this season with fresh fire in their kits, thanks to premium sportswear brand playR, which has been named the official kitting and merchandise partner for season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League.

    The new kits, revealed under the theme “Passion in every thread, elegance in every colour” promise to fuse resilience and pride with athlete-driven design and cutting-edge fabric technology. Designed for agility, comfort, and durability, the gear aims to keep players looking sharp while surviving the sport’s grit and grind.

    For playR, the tie-up is more than stitching uniforms. “Our partnership with the UP Yoddhas goes beyond designing kits, it is about capturing the team’s resilience, energy, and pride,” said iCOREts, founder of playR and director, Ravi Kukreja. “We are eager to see the Yoddhas showcase their spirit on the mat in kits that combine passion, strength, and elegance.”

    Led by a powerful mix of raiders and defenders including Surender Gill, Guman Singh, Dong Geon Lee, Sumit, Ashu Singh, and Mohammadreza Kaboudrahangi, the Yoddhas will debut their new look in the season opener against Telugu Titans on 30 August in Visakhapatnam.

    The deal not only strengthens the Yoddhas’ commercial roster but also cements playR’s reputation as one of India’s fastest-growing sportswear brands: balancing performance, fashion, and function for athletes and fans alike.