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  • Samantha Prabhu’s Saaki eyes a growth of 80% revenue in the next 6 months

    Samantha Prabhu’s Saaki eyes a growth of 80% revenue in the next 6 months

    Mumbai: Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Sushruthi Krishna’s D2C ethnic wear brand Saaki aims to scale its revenues by 80 per cent in the next six months on the back of a growth strategy that includes category expansion and improving brand visibility through a consumer-centric approach.

    The brand, which will generate two-digit crores in revenue this fiscal year, sees its customers as the primary drivers of its growth.Since its launch in 2020, it has always taken its customers’ feedback and suggestions seriously. This consumer-centric approach has enabled the brand to grow exponentially in the last two years, with 70 per cent of business generated organically from its much-loved community.

    40-50 per cent of the brand’s sales are driven from metro and tier I cities, while the remaining are from tier II and III cities, where the adoption of online shopping is happening at an accelerated pace. Saaki entered the international market in 2021 and currently ships to 15 countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. With 25 per cent of the total revenue generated from international business, Saaki is on the road to strengthening their presence in the global market.

    The brand will soon expand into yoga wear and home categories. Saaki is rapidly expanding its distribution channels and plans to become a Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore brand in the next three years.

    Speaking about the future growth plans, Saaki co-founder Krishna said, “Saaki is totally built on consumer love and confidence, and we hope to reach the 100 crore club soon with their support. Our current focus is to expand our product line and ramp up our digital and social media presence. We aim to invest in customer-centricity to allow for optimal journey mapping, repeat business, and loyalty interventions.”

    Popular south Indian actor and Saaki co-founder Prabhu commented, “It’s phenomenal to witness Saaki’s growth in the last few months despite my absence—all credits go to Sushruthi and the team. Looking forward to actively participating in Saaki’s growth journey in the times to come.”

    Apart from the brand website, Saaki is available on the top 4 marketplaces: Myntra, Nykaa Fashion, Flipkart, and Amazon.

  • YouTube dethrones Google, tops YouGov’s Best Brand Rankings 2022 in India

    YouTube dethrones Google, tops YouGov’s Best Brand Rankings 2022 in India

    Mumbai: Global tech giant YouTube has dethroned Google to top YouGov’s 2022 Best Brand Rankings in India, recording an increase of +2.5 to its year-on-year brand health score.

    YouGov’s latest rankings reveal the top ten brands in terms of overall brand health, according to urban Indians. The rankings are based on the index score from YouGov BrandIndex, which is a measure of overall brand health that indicates how well a brand is delivering on its brand promise on key attributes and is calculated by taking the average of the impression, quality, value, satisfaction, recommend and reputation scores collected in BrandIndex.

    Google moves down one spot to second (with a score of 54.9), and WhatsApp moves up to third (53.9) with a considerable increase in its year-on-year score.

    E-commerce giant Amazon moved down one spot to fourth, but its video-on-demand platform, Amazon Prime, moved off the list this year. Flipkart enhanced its brand perception over the past year but moved down three places in the 2022 rankings, to ninth (40.8).

    This year, many new brands make up the top ten list. Amul is fifth on the list with a score of 49.5. Tanishq follows in the sixth (42.2), Cadbury Dairy Milk in the seventh (41.3), and Dettol Disinfectant in the eighth (40.9). Zomato rounds up the top ten in tenth (40.0).

    The rankings also show the brands that have improved the most over the past 12 months. Air India is the most improved brand of the year, with a change in score of +7.1.

    Telegram is the second-best mover with a change in score of +5.2, along with other social media platforms such as Instagram (change in score +3.9) and WhatsApp (+3.5).

    Smartphone brands like Realme (+4.0) and global electronics company Apple (+3.4) appear in the list of improvers.

    Myntra (+3.3), Booking.com (3.0), Tata Motors (+2.8), and Flipkart (+2.7) are other brands to appear in India’s 2022 top ten improvers list.

  • Meta lays off 11,000 employees which equals 13% of its workforce

    Meta lays off 11,000 employees which equals 13% of its workforce

    Mumbai: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has sacked about 11,000 employees, which is about 13 per cent of the company’s workforce.

    As per media reports, in an official statement, Zuckerberg said, “Today I’m sharing some of the most difficult changes we’ve made in Meta’s history. I’ve decided to reduce the size of our team by about 13 per cent and let more than 11,000 of our talented employees go. We are also taking a number of additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending and extending our hiring freeze through Q1.”

    This is considered to be one of the largest layoffs in the US this year. As of September, Meta employed over 87,000 people across the globe.

    As stated in media reports, Zuckerberg informed employees on Tuesday about the job cuts. The social media company is looking at slashing costs after its feeble Q3 performance and due to the rise in the overall costs of the firm by a fifth in the previous quarter.

    He added, “I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here. I know this is tough for everyone, and I’m especially sorry to those impacted.”

    This mass firing comes some weeks after one of Meta’s largest shareholders, Altimeter Capital, wrote to Zuckerberg highlighting the need to cut costs at the company.

    In an open letter, Altimeter Capital founder & CEO Brad Gerstner mentioned, “Meta has drifted into the land of excess—too many people, too many ideas, too little urgency. This lack of focus and fitness is obscured when growth is easy, but deadly when growth slows and technology changes.”

    He had suggested that Meta would have to cut jobs and reduce capital expenditure to stay on track. This comes at a time when the social media firm is struggling with the current economic slowdown.

    The social media company, Twitter, under the new reign of Elon Musk, laid off a hefty number of employees across its offices. Biggies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have also announced a freeze in hiring.

  • Amazon Pay celebrates ease of digital payments for merchants

    Amazon Pay celebrates ease of digital payments for merchants

    Mumbai: Amazon Pay has unveiled the second leg of its digital campaign “#AbHarDinHuaAasan” to celebrate the way digital payments simplify the lives of millions of merchants across the country.

    Over five million merchants have now signed up for the Amazon Pay for Business app since its launch. The campaign film portrays day-to-day instances where merchants experience the convenience of Amazon Pay and underscores the simplicity of using payment tools to enable customers to pay anyone, anywhere, effortlessly, and get instant rewards.

    The “#AbHarDinHuaAasan” campaign film reflects on how business owners experience the ease of payment acceptance amidst the hustle and bustle in their stores and manage their businesses efficiently. It also shows the ease of credit access via the Amazon Pay ICICI Co-Branded Credit Card, which enables its customers to expand their budget instantly. Furthermore, it showcases how local store owners can grow their businesses with the Amazon Pay for business app through features such as account reconciliation and more.

    Speaking about the campaign, Amazon Pay India whole-time director Vikas Bansal said, “Our aim is to simplify lives and fulfil aspirations by solving the payments and financial needs of every Indian. We make digital payments trusted, convenient, fast, and frictionless, and enable the widest choice of payment options for both our merchants and customers. Our continued focus is to empower SMBs and micro-merchants through payment tools and solutions that help enhance their digital payment experience across multiple customer touchpoints. “#AbHarDinHuaAasan” is our endeavour to raise awareness and further strengthen the need for the adoption of digital payments and encourage every merchant and customer, old or young, to transact seamlessly.”

    The first part of the #AbHarDinHuaAasan campaign launched in 2021, showcasing the ease of using digital payments post-pandemic and its impact on millions of customers and merchants. The film brought out the convenience, safety, and ubiquity of Amazon Pay and how it inspires small and micro business owners to seamlessly start adopting digital payments.

  • Amazon launches Prime Video mobile edition at Rs 599 per year

    Amazon launches Prime Video mobile edition at Rs 599 per year

    Mumbai: Prime Video has launched its mobile edition at Rs 599 per year. This single-user, mobile-only video annual plan offers everyone access to high-quality entertainment exclusively on their mobile devices and will now be available to all customers in India.

    Created especially for a mobile-first country like India, Prime Video mobile edition is a major step towards making premium entertainment across languages as ubiquitous as smartphones in the country.

    With this move, Prime Video is expanding the accessibility of its mobile edition, which launched last year as a telco-partnered product in collaboration with Bharti Airtel.

    Customers who want to enjoy the complete Prime Video experience, including multi-user access, streaming across devices including smart TVs, and the ability to enjoy content in HD/UHD in addition to having access to all Prime benefits, including free fast delivery on Amazon.in, ad-free music with Prime Music, Prime Reading, and other Prime benefits, can continue to sign up for or upgrade to Prime plans for Rs 1,499 annually.

    Prime Video mobile edition provides standard definition (SD) quality streaming to customers, giving them a chance to explore and watch Prime Video’s rich catalogue of Indian and international movies, Amazon Originals, LIVE cricket, including the eagerly-awaited upcoming India vs. New Zealand Men’s Cricket Series in November 2022, and much more on their mobile devices, all for Rs 599 per year.

    Talking about the launch, Prime Video India vice president Gaurav Gandhi said, “Over the last six years, we have seen a huge growth for Prime Video in India. With viewers from 99 per cent of the country’s pin codes, the service has become the preferred destination for premium content. Guided by our mission of making high-quality entertainment even more accessible across the country, we are excited to launch Prime Video Mobile Edition’s annual plan. This worldwide-first innovation saw an incredible response from Indian consumers when we launched it via a telecom association last year, and building on that success, we are extending its access, with it now being made available directly for subscription through Prime Video’s app and website.”

    Adding to it, Prime Video international vice president Kelly Day commented, “India is one of our fastest-growing and most engaged locales worldwide. Our success in the country can be attributed to innovations that are focused on creating an exceptional entertainment experience for customers. In fact, India is turning into an innovation hub for Prime Video. An initiative like Prime Video Mobile Edition, which had its genesis in India, is now being rolled out across multiple countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia. We are confident that the new Prime Video Mobile Edition annual plan will further help accelerate the growth of our India business and give an even larger customer base access to the high-quality content on the service. With this launch, we look forward to entertaining every Indian with our popular on-demand entertainment content and live sports.”

  • Wunderman Thompson reveals world’s most inspiring brands for 2022

    Wunderman Thompson reveals world’s most inspiring brands for 2022

    Mumbai: On Friday, Wunderman Thompson revealed that Google, Apple, Samsung, and Amazon are the most inspiring brands in the world.

    Wunderman Thompson’s proprietary diagnostic tool, “Inspire Score: Top 100 2022,” proves that inspiring brands are able to grow their market share more quickly and charge a higher premium for their products and services than their competitors.

    Wunderman Thompson’s Inspire Score is a proprietary diagnostic tool that measures a brand’s inspiration status and uncovers the brand attributes that fuel business growth through their ability to inspire people.

    As per the report, Google once again takes the top spot as the most inspiring brand in the world today, while Apple, Samsung, and Amazon remain in the top four for the second year running, cementing their position as powerful inspiration engines thanks to their ability to place themselves at the centre of people’s lives — and stay there.

    Colgate has taken the fifth spot for 2022 as they strive to reimagine a healthier future for all people, their pets, and our planet.

    Commenting on the report, Wunderman Thompson global chief executive officer Mel Edwards said, “As the world’s foremost researcher on inspiration, we have again proven that there is a strong correlation between inspiration and brand growth. The Inspire Score demonstrates how inspiring brands can drive growth in market share and command a price premium, which is increasingly important in the face of these changing economic conditions. The brands at the top of our list have shifted with the zeitgeist and placed themselves at the centre of people’s lives, perfectly positioning themselves to take advantage of inspiration as a powerful lever for growth.”

    “This year’s Inspire Score has taught us that a brand’s inspiration status and, therefore, propensity to grow, is highly dynamic. As the focus of people’s lives changes, so may the things that inspire them. Google, Apple, Samsung, and Amazon have once again scored highly given their ability to elevate consumers, make them feel like they’re making a popular, exciting choice, and motivate them to accomplish their goals, but 30 per cent of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Brands in the World for 2022 were not in the Top 100 last year. This reminds us that there is everything to play for when it comes to inspiration—these are metrics that brands can impact, thereby moving the needle on growth,” added Wunderman Thompson global chief strategy officer Neil Dawson.

    Other key insights from the study include:

        There have been strong gains for mobility brands such as Tesla and Uber as the world has opened up again post-covid, with a large number of automotive brands also featuring in the top 100.

        Social media brands have also seen gains, showcasing their role in animating people’s lives and social interactions, both physical and virtual. The inspiring power of brands such as Instagram and WhatsApp also continues to grow, with TikTok making the top 100 for the first time this year.

        Streaming brands continue to inspire, too. Netflix is now in the top 20, and Disney+ is a new entrant in the top 100, out-inspiring even its master brand.

        Impulse brands have done well, perhaps because life is becoming a bit more spontaneous again, and beer, spirits, and treats have all risen.

    The Inspire Score: Top 100 was first launched in 2020 as part of Wunderman Thompson’s global brand study, Inspiring Growth, the world’s largest ongoing research project into inspiration. This chapter explores why brands need to be inspirational, how inspiration drives growth, and what brands can do to inspire their customers. Meanwhile, the annual list of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Brands in the World tracks and analyses the brands that are best at inspiring their customers, revealing how inspiration affects a brand’s ability to drive growth in market share and command a price premium.

  • Amazon India to recognise delivery associates’ efforts with ‘#DeliverThanks’ campaign

    Amazon India to recognise delivery associates’ efforts with ‘#DeliverThanks’ campaign

    Mumbai: Amazon India has announced the third edition of “#DeliverThanks,” a campaign to encourage customers to extend their gratitude and thank delivery associates across the country.

    Through this campaign, Amazon India aims to acknowledge the efforts of tens of thousands of delivery associates across all e-commerce companies who work tirelessly to make the festive season more joyous, hassle-free, and memorable for all customers.

    This edition of the campaign urges customers to thank the delivery associates by posting thank you messages on social media to create India’s longest thank you note. The message could be a drawing on paper, a self-composed poem, or a song, among other creative ways to express their gratitude. Customers must then photograph or record a video of the thank you message and post it to their social media accounts with the ‘hashtag DeliverThanks’ and tag Amazon handles.

    The contest will be live from 6 to 20 October and the most creative entries will win Amazon gift cards. 

    Commenting on the campaign, Amazon India director of customer fulfilment, supply chain & transportation services Abhinav Singh said, “We are grateful to the tens of thousands of associates who go above and beyond to bring smiles on the faces of our customers during the festive season. This campaign is a celebration of all those who are part of the fulfilment and delivery network. Thousands of messages and well wishes were sent to our associates last year during the second edition of the “#DeliverThanks” campaign. This year, we urge customers to extend their gratitude to these associates across the retail and e-commerce industries in India. Through this campaign, we would like to share with associates the appreciation of the people of India.”

    This edition of the campaign by Amazon India has been launched with a digital film that shows customers supporting and appreciating the continuous efforts of delivery partners who are always available to help consumers with their hunger pangs, medical emergencies, grocery shopping, or festive shopping. The video also gives customers ideas on how they can express their gratitude towards delivery associates by posting their thank you messages via video, tweets, and posts on social media. This is aimed at encouraging the audience to participate in the campaign.

  • Prime Video celebrates James Bond’s 60th anniversary by streaming 25 007 films

    Prime Video celebrates James Bond’s 60th anniversary by streaming 25 007 films

    Mumbai: Amazon’s streaming platform Prime Video has announced that 25 James Bond films will be available to stream in India, the US, the UK and other key territories as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the film franchise. Prime Video also unveiled the official posters and trailers for the 60th anniversary celebration and for “The Sound of 007.” This is a Mat Whitecross-helmed feature documentary about the history of six decades of James Bond music that will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide. All 25 of the Bond franchise films and “The Sound of 007” will be available on 5 October.

    Additionally, following the live 4 October EON Productions and David Arnold-created charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Prime Video will globally stream an exclusive recording of the show, The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall. At the event, guest vocalists and a host of stars will perform Bond themes.

    The 25 films coming to Prime Video in India, the US, U.K., Australia, Italy, Japan, Mexico/Latin America (excluding Brazil), Spain, and Southeast Asia for a limited time are “Dr. No, From Russia with Love,” “Goldfinger,” “Thunderball,” “You Only Live Twice,” “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” “Live and Let Die,” “The Man with the Golden Gun,” “The Spy Who Loved Me,” “Moonraker,” “For Your Eyes Only,” “Octopussy,” “A View to a Kill,” “The Living Daylights,” “Licence to Kill,” “GoldenEye,” “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “The World Is Not Enough,” “Die Another Day,” “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace,” “Skyfall,” “Spectre,” and “No Time To Die.” With the exception of “No Time To Die,” the 24 films will be available for a limited time in territories including Germany, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Brazil.

    “The Sound of 007” was directed by Bifa and Bafta-nominee Mat Whitecross (“The Kings,” “Oasis: Supersonic,” “The Road to Guantánamo”) for Prime Video and MGM. The feature documentary pulls back the curtain on the history of six decades of James Bond music, taking viewers on a journey from Sean Connery’s “Dr. No” through to Daniel Craig’s final outing in “No Time To Die.” Produced by John Battsek at Ventureland, MGM, and EON Productions, the film charts the history of the music, true tales behind the tunes, and famous faces who have recorded soundtracks for the james Bond movies.

    The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall is an exclusive recording of the official charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 4 October. Guest vocalists will join a line up curated by five-time Bond composer David Arnold. The concert marks 60 years since the world premiere of “Dr. No,” the first 007 film, on 5 October 5 1962. Honoring the franchise’s long tradition of supporting charitable causes, the proceeds of The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall will benefit two music charities: Nordoff Robbins and The BRIT Trust. Following the concert, a custom Duesenberg guitar signed by Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, David Arnold, and the artists will be auctioned online at Christie’s to raise additional funds for the music charities.

    Additional Amazon activations in celebration of the franchise’s 60th include a [RE]DISCOVER: James Bond playlist. Amazon Music customers will be able to listen to the playlist, which will spotlight the songs that have defined the Bond franchise. Amazon Music’s [RE]DISCOVER series showcases playlists across various genres and takes listeners on a career-spanning journey of discovery, or re-discovery, through an entire body of musical work.

  • New York Comic Con 2022: Prime Video announces programming block and consumer experience

    New York Comic Con 2022: Prime Video announces programming block and consumer experience

    Mumbai: Amazon’s OTT platform Prime Video has announced its programming block and consumer experience for this year’s New York Comic Con, which takes place next month from 6-9 October. The lineup will feature live, in-person panels from returning and new series, including The Legend of Vox Machina, Good Omens, The Wheel of Time, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and The Peripheral.

    The panels will offer fans a chance to hear directly from some of their favourite Prime Video talent through moderated Q&As, as well as the opportunity to be among the first to see exclusive first looks and never-before-seen footage from a stellar lineup of Prime Video titles. The panels will also be livestreamed at www.thepopverse.com, prior to being made available for Vod playback to ReedPop members and digital ticket holders.

    Prime Video panels at New York Comic Con:

    The Legend of Vox Machina

    The executive producers and cast of The Legend of Vox Machina will offer a sneak peek of what’s to come in the animated series’ highly anticipated second season. Based on the characters and adventures of Critical Role’s first live-streamed tabletop role-playing game campaign, this fantasy adventure quickly grew into an animated sensation. After saving the realm from evil and destruction at the hands of the most terrifying power couple in Exandria, Vox Machina is faced with saving the world once again—this time, from a sinister group of dragons known as the Chroma Conclave.

    Good Omens

    In 2019, Aziraphale and Crowley helped save the world from the apocalypse. Next year, they’ll return to solve a mystery that takes in all of heaven and hell. It’s time for a celebration of all things Good Omens, and some of the creators and cast will return to New York Comic Con for a fan Q&A.

    The Wheel of Time and The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power

    Prime Video presents a programming block for fantasy fans. The Wheel of Time and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power take to New York Comic Con’s Empire Stage for back-to-back panels with series talent from each show.

    The Wheel of Time: Following their season-long adventure that culminated in a showdown with The Dark One and the shocking reveal of The Dragon Reborn’s identity, the cast and creative team behind The Wheel of Time will assemble in New York for their first in-person Comic Con. Join series stars and showrunner Rafe Judkins as they reflect back on their season one journey, both on and off screen, as well as drop a few hints of what audiences can anticipate from the hotly anticipated second season.

    The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: The cast of the series welcomes all fans at New York Comic Con to join them for a panel discussion about the first seven episodes of this critically acclaimed show. Beginning in a time of relative peace, The Rings of Power follows an ensemble cast of characters. They confront the reemergence of evil in middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the misty mountains, to the forests of Lindon, to the island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.

    The Peripheral

    Fans can also immerse themselves in the world of The Peripheral. The series stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Jack Reynor, Gary Carr, T’Nia Miller, and JJ Feild, as well as executive producers Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, creator and showrunner Scott B. Smith, and director Vincenzo Natali, as they give fans a first look at sci-fi thriller The Peripheral. The series centres on Flynne Fisher (Moretz), a woman trying to hold together the pieces of her broken family in a forgotten corner of tomorrow’s America. Flynne is smart, ambitious, and doomed. She has no future until the future comes calling for her. The Peripheral is based on William Gibson’s best-selling novel of the same name, and gives viewers a hallucinatory glimpse into the fate of mankind – and what lies beyond.

    Prime Video consumer experience: Fans can also visit the New York Comic Con show floor to experience Forever Fab, a 3D print shop storefront inspired by the upcoming Prime Video original sci-fi series The Peripheral. Forever Fab invites attendees to step into the world of 2032 and see the future printed before their eyes, only to find that the future may have something else in store for them.

  • Saregama launches first ever keypad phone with pre-loaded songs

    Saregama launches first ever keypad phone with pre-loaded songs

    Mumbai: Saregama has launched Carvaan Mobile. It said that this is a utility-based product that not only serves functional needs but at the same time gives an added feature of pre-loaded songs, which it claims is unheard of in the keypad phone market.

    Carvaan Mobile is a first ever keypad mobile with pre-loaded songs, speakers, a long-lasting battery, dual sim, FM, a LED torch and other features. Saregama plans to launch the phone in all regional languages.

    Just as Carvaan reinstated a lean-back listening experience for its users with pre-loaded songs, Carvaan Mobile aims to do the same while being on the go. It is a one-in-all mobile for users who still swear by the keypad phone experience. Pre-loaded songs are organised based on artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Md. Rafi, and many other legendary artists, moods like happy, sad, etc., for seamless and hassle-free selection of songs by the users. No internet is required to play pre-loaded songs, and there are no ad breaks to disturb the listening experience.

    Apart from 1500 pre-loaded Hindi songs, the phone is power-packed with features like wireless FM, digital camera, LED torch, aux out, multi-language support, voice recording, call recording, dual sim, 8GB memory card with 2GB free space for any personal music collection, videos or images, and many other features.

    According to the company, it has a large display and a 2500 mAh battery for a long talktime. It comes loaded with a MediaTek processor, which gives the phone superfast processing power and an unmatched user experience. It is backed by a one-year warranty too.

    Carvaan Mobile comes in two screen sizes-2.4 inch and 1.8 inch, priced at Rs 2,490 and Rs 1,990, respectively. There are three colours to pick from: emerald green, classic black, and royal blue.

    It is currently available in Hindi and Tamil across retail markets and e-commerce platforms like saregama.com, Amazon and Flipkart.