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  • Beauty, food delivery & grocery are most purchased online categories in India: Report

    Beauty, food delivery & grocery are most purchased online categories in India: Report

    Mumbai: Live shopping and conversational commerce are gaining popularity in India, with nearly nine out of 10 people saying they enjoyed the shopping experience, as per a report released by global data and measurement-driven media agency Essence on Monday. Beauty (39 per cent), food delivery/ takeaway (30 per cent), and grocery (29 per cent) were the most purchased categories online in the country, stated the report. More than half of the respondents spent between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 on average on a single transaction on social media, even as there is a growing preference for newer payment methods such as digital wallets and mobile payments.

    88 per cent of the respondents said they are likely to buy via social media, as per the report which aims to help brands unlock the potential of social commerce. Essence has unveiled its first-ever social commerce report, which investigates the rapidly growing trend of consumers buying products and services directly on social platforms. The report illustrates the significant opportunity brands have in social commerce, with three out of four people surveyed globally saying they are likely or highly likely to buy through social media in the future.

    According to the Essence survey, 41 per cent of respondents worldwide made purchases or intend to make purchases involving social platforms. While social media platforms have always provided an environment for buyers and sellers to interact, the survey demonstrates a shift towards organised commerce on platforms. Increasingly, social commerce enables discovery, browsing and purchasing to take place on one platform without the need to interact with any external websites or applications. Ultimately, it creates a seamless experience with fewer clicks and higher potential revenue and conversion rates.

    Global Trends

    China, unsurprisingly, is the leader in social commerce, which is forecast to account for 13 per cent of total e-commerce sales in 2021, the report indicated. According to the Essence survey, almost 80 per cent of consumers in China purchased items on social media. India came a close third after Singapore followed by Indonesia, with 49 per cent of consumers.

    Transaction Value

    In most countries, the average transaction value on social commerce is higher than the average transaction value on e-commerce transactions. Respondents in Japan recorded the highest average transaction value, between $96.74 to $483.67 for social commerce, followed by the United States, which had an average transaction value between $101 and $200.

    The higher value transactions look to be driven primarily by men (35 per cent) and by millennials in the 25 to 44 age segment (72 per cent), noted the report. Both the male and the 25 to 44 age segments are skewed towards the purchase of higher-value categories such as hardware, home cleaning, luxury, and furniture.

    Live Shopping and Streaming

    Social innovations have propelled the growth of virtual shopping. Live shopping and conversational commerce experiences increase the propensity to buy on social media. Four out of five respondents are likely to buy on social media if they have watched a livestream or participated in conversational commerce. Livestreaming has emerged as a major factor in luxury social e-commerce.

    “We expect that the future of online shopping – and not just social commerce – will be discovery-driven. Customers tend to be exposed to new and innovative products as they browse more on social media or encounter algorithmically mediated recommendations from friends and family on social platforms,” said Essence technology and e-commerce senior director Aniket Basu. “E-commerce is maturing as a field, with social media giving brands and retailers new ways to reach audiences and new growth opportunities. In this environment, social commerce serves as a key future-proofing method for the next five years and beyond.” 

    While the use of livestreaming in e-commerce was primarily centred in the Asian market, it is now commonplace worldwide. Luxury brands including Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Burberry all launched their Fall or Winter 2021 shows by livestreaming worldwide. Brands such as L’Oréal are also driving growth in the luxury beauty segment, partly because social media enables the brand to interact with consumers, influencers, beauty advisers and salespeople on the same platform. These innovations and collaborations are driving sales of luxury items both online and offline.

    The research indicates that most consumers enjoy the livestream shopping experience, with almost half (43 per cent) of respondents claiming to have enjoyed it and 39 per cent of respondents highly enjoyed it. These statistics held up not only in China, but also in other markets where social commerce is still in its infancy. Globally, 85 per cent of the respondents who watched shopping livestreams report that they are more likely to purchase via social media.

  • Essence launches Essence Data Health Check consulting service

    Essence launches Essence Data Health Check consulting service

    Mumbai: GroupM’s Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency, on Tuesday announced the introduction of its Essence Data Health Check (EDHC) consulting service, developed to help brands achieve effective business outcomes from their digital marketing activities by advancing audience data strategy.

    EDHC is a service product developed through Essence Global Ventures, the agency’s Singapore-based innovation, research and development hub. The product was built to be a strategic and tactical aid for marketers to accelerate their digital marketing transformation and business growth. In addition to helping brands navigate the seismic shifts in data, identity and privacy due to the confluence of changes in user sentiment, regulations and technology, the offering enables marketers to maximise value from their audience data and optimise consumer brand experience, the company stated. The features of the product are informed by years of providing data services for brands across APAC, including those from the technology, retail, travel, luxury and financial services sectors, the agency said in a statement.

    Part of Essence’s consulting solutions, EDHC provides a meticulous review of marketers’ technology stack, data collection setup, audience management approach and data deployment practice, along with actionable recommendations to increase the effectiveness of data-driven paid and owned marketing activities. This review is done with respect towards current and future shifts in legislation and technology pertaining to consumers’ online identity and privacy. Designed for both in-house marketing teams and external agency service models, the offering also recommends measurable implementation roadmaps to track progress and capture value. 

    Essence VP- data strategy, APAC, Vincent Niou, said, “Data has never been more integral to more aspects of marketers’ businesses, but the space has never been more confusing and uncertain. With Essence Data Health Check, we are excited to help marketers navigate these shifts, while applying our best practices to drive campaign impact and business growth from their audience data, as well as provide the best possible brand experience for their customers across both paid and owned channels.”

    Essence VP, advertising operations, APAC, Shane Dewar said, “With consumer sentiment, public policy and the advertising industry as a whole moving towards an ecosystem that puts privacy at the forefront of how it operates, brands and advertisers will be challenged to ensure that the people, processes and tools they have are capable of navigating the new privacy-first world. Essence Data Health Check is designed to help marketers evaluate what they are doing well in, provide a roadmap to improve their data strategy, and ultimately, enable brands to achieve their goals.”

    Essence executive VP Kunal Guha, who oversees the strategic direction and delivery of Essence Global Ventures’ research and development efforts, said, “We are now at the dawn of a new era of marketing – one that is defined by consumers’ expectations around their data and privacy, and an industry looking to bring more personalised experiences to their consumers. Essence Data Health Check will underpin the foundations for this privacy-first world, where the ethical compass on consumers’ data is paramount. Through Essence Global Ventures, it is our ambition to continually innovate solutions that will ensure marketers globally can lead with new strategic advantages, today and in the future.”

    Through Essence Global Ventures, the agency will further develop and incubate marketing technology products that use predictive data signals and automation to improve business performance, customer experience and brand governance for companies. Similar to Essence Media Health Check and Essence Data Health Check, these solutions will be commercialised and deployed across APAC and globally via Essence’s network of offices, the agency said.

  • Essence appoints Magda Wolder as head of experience, APAC

    Essence appoints Magda Wolder as head of experience, APAC

    New Delhi: Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency which is part of GroupM, on Tuesday appointed Magda Wolder as head of experience, APAC. Based out of Singapore, she will lead the agency’s creative, content innovation and studio capabilities in the region. 

    Joining Essence in 2018, Wolder was previously head of creative Strategy, EMEA at the agency’s London office. With over a decade of experience bringing advertising and ideas together in the media, technology and entertainment industries, she earlier worked as a senior researcher for EMEA at Netflix in the Netherlands, as well as a lead creative strategist and head of customer closeness at Sky in the United Kingdom.

    “In addition to my focus to drive personalisation at scale for our clients in APAC, I am keen to help nurture emerging creative talent and imagination in this region. We have a very talented creative team on the ground here and I cannot wait to see what we will achieve together in 2021,” said Wolder on the new role.

    Essence’s Experience capabilities utilise data science and machine learning to deliver more relevant, meaningful and effective personalised experiences, while protecting consumers’ data privacy. In APAC, Wolder will head a team of creative strategists, conceptual thinkers, design experts and technology-powered production partners to create data-driven creative innovation for Essence’s clients in the region.

    “We are delighted to have Magda join our APAC team. With her impressive brand experience, as well as her deep understanding of Essence’s unified approach to data that brings creative and media closer together, we are looking forward to the creative innovation she will bring to media channels and content programmes for our clients in this region,” said Essence senior vice president, client partner, APAC and managing director, Singapore, Monica Bhatia

    “With Magda’s leadership, I am excited about the creative technology and experience products our Experience team will continue to deliver through Essence Global Ventures, which will be scaled to help brands across APAC and globally succeed in the new economy,” said Essence CEO APAC, T. Gangadhar.

  • Sonali Malaviya appointed as managing director Essence India

    Sonali Malaviya appointed as managing director Essence India

    MUMBAI: Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency which is part of GroupM on Thursday announced the appointment of Sonali Malaviya as the agency’s managing director for India.

    Malviya will be responsible for leading continued client-centric innovation in data, analytics and technology, as well as business growth and company culture for the agency in the market. Based out of Delhi, she will report to Essence APAC CEO, T. Gangadhar and GroupM South Asia CEO, Prasanth Kumar. She will join Essence’s APAC leadership team and GroupM India’s executive committee as part of her role. Meanwhile, Anand Chakravarthy, previously managing director for Essence India, has moved on from the agency to pursue new opportunities.

    Joining Essence in 2018, Malaviya most recently led the agency’s Google business in India and Southeast Asia as senior vice president, client services. Previously, she served as chief operating officer at Colorbar Cosmetics and country marketing lead at Twitter in India. With over 20 years of industry experience, she has also held senior roles at Mindshare, PHD, Roy Morgan Research and MediaCom in India, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

    “Sonali comes with rich experience in management, marketing and media across industries and markets, as well as a deep understanding of Essence’s business, work, people and culture. In addition to building strong, collaborative partnerships with clients and employees alike, she is an advocate of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. India continues to be a priority for Essence in APAC and globally, and with Sonali at the helm, I am very excited about our next phase of growth and development in the market,” said Essence APAC CEO, T. Gangadhar. “We would also like to thank Anand for his efforts in helping to establish our business in India over the last three years. We greatly appreciate his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavours.”

    “We are glad to see Sonali take over the role of Essence India managing director. With her background and significant achievements, she will add to the capabilities of Essence and work with our teams to improve the client experience. As we continue to develop leaders internally, Sonali is also part of our growing pool of talent taking on various leadership roles across GroupM India. I look forward to working with Sonali and leveraging her expertise,” said GroupM South Asia CEO, Prasanth Kumar.

    “I am truly honoured to have the opportunity to lead Essence in India. Over the past three years, I have witnessed and been part of our incredible growth story in this market, and am very proud of what our agency, clients and employees have achieved together. I am looking forward to partnering with our highly talented teams and leveraging our industry-leading capabilities to help even more brands in India achieve data-driven growth and transformation, as well as valuable connections with consumers,” said Malaviya.

  • Essence Impact to accelerate digital transformation for non-profits

    Essence Impact to accelerate digital transformation for non-profits

    NEW DELHI: Global media agency Essence has green-flagged its pro-bono initiative Essence Impact, that aims to help non-profit organisations raise greater awareness, attract more donations, and recruit new volunteers via their websites to support their causes and effect accelerated change.

    Essence Impact was introduced during the Covid2019 pandemic to aid non-profit organisations in their digital transformation, as many historically depended on tentpole physical fundraising events for their operational needs. As part of the initiative, Essence helps eligible charities apply for Google Ad Grants which provides up to $10,000 per month of in-kind search advertising. Leveraging Essence’s best-in-class digital, data, analytics, and technology capabilities, the agency also assists organisations in setting up, managing, and optimising their advertising campaigns to drive traffic to their websites. The Essence team comprises diverse employees who volunteer and contribute to the initiative in roles including business development, client services, marketing, media activation, and project management.

    Originating in APAC, Essence has since piloted Essence Impact for ACRES which supports animal protection; Bethesda Care Services which serves children, youths, families, and the elderly in need in the community; Club Rainbow which supports and empowers children with chronic illnesses and their families. Following a discovery meeting with these organisations, Essence created Google Ads campaigns targeting local and regional audiences, and set up keywords, ads, and bidding based on the agency’s best practices for clients. Essence further partnered with the charities to optimise the campaigns and expand reach to attract more visitors to their websites, and continue to collaborate with them to improve visitors’ onsite experience through website audits and conversion rate optimisation.

    Essence AVP – client services APAC Matt Holland, who leads Essence Impact in the region, said, “It has been challenging times for charities amid Covid2019 and its resulting lockdown restrictions, as the organisations have not been able to carry out their usual fundraising events. Essence Impact is supporting charities to” help drive increased awareness, donors, and volunteers online, as the organisations pivot their activities to be more digitally-led.”

    With Google Ad Grants available in 68 countries around the world, Essence aims to roll out Essence Impact across APAC and globally via its network of offices.

  • Gaming revenue surged 20% in 2020, audience more diverse: Essence report

    Gaming revenue surged 20% in 2020, audience more diverse: Essence report

    MUMBAI: Last year, the world stayed at home. Outdoor divertissements like live sports and events, and catching a movie at the multiplex were off the table, owing to the Covid2019 pandemic. People had to find new ways to distract themselves from the grim reality; apart from online video streaming, gaming saw a marked uptick in adoption. In fact, 2020 was a breakthrough year for the gaming industry, with revenue spurt of 20 per cent over the previous year, according to a report published by global media agency Essence, a part of GroupM.

    The 'Gaming in the 2020s: Reach, rewards and the new meditation' report is aimed at brands and will help marketing heads understand the full scale of the opportunity presented by this up and coming category, and what they can expect to gain from their efforts. 

    "In recent years, the gaming sector had been steadily growing in note amongst the marketing community but was yet to become a mainstream consideration. It had neither been seriously appraised for its reach potential nor wholeheartedly embraced as a lever for driving brand connection," wrote Essence in their study report. 

    The report stated that an enforced focus on home entertainment and folks spending more time with their children due to the shelter at home guidelines has played a crucial role in elevating the popularity of the gaming sector. 

    Contrary to the previous belief, the Essence report suggested that gaming is not just confined to young people –  it is considerably more diverse, and 83 per cent of all women, and 85 per cent of all men can be classed as gamers. The study report also noted that a massive 71 per cent of 55-64 year-olds engage in the gaming space. 

    "Mobile gaming, in particular, has broad appeal across genders and age groups, and it’s here that older generations certainly feel most comfortable," the report claimed. 

    One of the many effects was a huge increase in exposure to and exploration of gaming, resulting in a greater understanding of its appeal amid widespread news coverage of family-friendly, stand-out titles such as Animal Crossing. All of a sudden, gaming exploded into the general consciousness of consumers and marketers alike. 

    Essence suggested two main reasons for brands to engage, which in turn determine how building gaming touchpoints into the communications plan should be approached. 

    · Incrementality for non-endemic brands — gaming touchpoints should be evaluated in line with any other video, display or out-of-home opportunity.

    · Building equity in the service of growth —  gaming touchpoints can be leveraged in the service of campaigns that are not specifically relevant to the genre, just like all kinds of campaigns can sit happily on the cinema screen, for example.

    Key highlights of the report 

    The global gaming market was valued at $151.55 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach revenue of $256.97 billion by 2025. The pandemic helped spur a revenue surge of 20 per cent to $179.7 billion in 2020.

    For marketers engaging with the gaming sector for the first time, there is an appreciation that gaming is not a ‘channel’ but a form of entertainment around which a unique set of consumer behaviours have been built. These behaviours are broad and exhibited across a hugely fragmented space, inclusive of vastly differing devices, platforms, locations and types of content.  

    NewZoo estimates that the global audience for esports – organised forms of competitive gaming using tournaments or leagues – totalled 495 million in 2020 and will rise to 646 million in 2023, with around 45 per cent watching at least once a month. 

    Beyond esports, streaming has been harnessed by individual players who also broadcast their gaming to live audiences. Users typically employ one of three major platforms, which vary in popularity around the globe. YouGov claims that 49 per cent of Indian gamers engage with YouTube Gaming.

    When it comes to the choice of engaging with rewarded ads versus making an in-app payment, a vast majority of mobile gamers prefer consuming the ad. However, as per a proprietary Mobile Annoyance study conducted by Essence India, mid-game banner ads scored the highest on the Annoyance Index when compared to a range of other mobile ad formats (served both in-game and across other types of publisher content).

  • Purplle appoints Essence as its media agency in India

    Purplle appoints Essence as its media agency in India

    Mumbai: Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency that is part of GroupM, today announced that it has been awarded integrated media agency of record duties for beauty and personal care e-commerce platform Purplle in India. Led out of Mumbai, Essence’s mandate will include strategy, analytics, media planning, media activation and content innovation for Purplle’s brand marketing campaigns offline and online.

    Launched in 2012, Purplle is an early mover in the online beauty and personal care marketplace. The platform showcases cosmetic, skincare, haircare and wellness products, as well as fragrances and accessories from over 800 leading brands around the world. In addition, it offers digitally-native private label beauty brands including Purplle and Good Vibes.

    “As a key player in the online beauty and wellness segment, it is essential to connect effectively with the burgeoning consumer base in the ever-evolving beauty landscape. Essence’s expertise in the media ecosystem will help us reach the right set of audiences, and engage with them through both new age and traditional mediums. This strategic partnership will help drive the next phase of transformation and growth for Purplle,” said Manish Taneja, Co-Founder and CEO, Purplle.

    “The team at Purplle has been building an impressive online space and shopping destination for beauty and wellness needs. With our new partnership, we are looking forward to helping Purplle further scale its efforts and accelerate its business growth. Leveraging Essence’s expertise in data, analytics and measurement, as well as experience with fast-growing, technology-driven direct-to-consumer brands, we are excited to create even more valuable experiences for Purplle’s existing and future customers,” said 

    Essence VP, media planning, India Atrayee Chakraborty

    Purplle joins Essence’s rapidly expanding portfolio of clients in India, which includes Airtel, Britannia, Faces Canada, Flipkart, Games24x7, Google, Honda motorcycles and scooters, Livspace, Mamaearth, Melorra, Vedantu, Wakefit and Zee5.

  • Mamaearth assigns media mandate to Essence

    Mamaearth assigns media mandate to Essence

    NEW DELHI: Personal care brand Mamaearth has appointed Essence, part of GroupM, as its integrated media agency. The account will be managed out of Essence’s Delhi office.

    The agency will be responsible for media planning and activation for Mamaearth’s brand building and awareness campaigns.

    Mamaearth co-founder and chief executive officer Varun Alagh said, “As a digital-first brand, we are constantly connecting with millennials on a product and brand philosophy level. With ever-evolving consumers and the way they consume content, it is important to be present across new age media platforms to be able to speak to them. Our partnership with Essence will help us achieve this goal by identifying the right media mix and expedite the next phase of our growth journey.”

    Essence VP client services India Yoginder Jain said, “In a market where there is increasing consumer consciousness towards personal health, the environment and cleaner living, brands with the right purpose are set to win. Mamaearth has created a distinct space for itself and is perfectly placed to ride this growing opportunity. Our team at Essence is delighted to help scale Mamaearth’s business with our approach to data and analytics.”

    The brand recently launched its first national campaign and is aiming to clock Rs 1,000 crore revenue in the next three years. It partnered with Bigg Boss season 14 and is working towards scaling its operations and creating a wider brand presence. 

  • Essence appoints Monica Bhatia as MD for Singapore

    Essence appoints Monica Bhatia as MD for Singapore

    NEW DELHI- Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency that is part of GroupM, has appointed Monica Bhatia as the company’s managing director for Singapore. Bhatia will be responsible for driving continued client-centric innovation in data, analytics, and technology, as well as business growth and company culture for Essence in Singapore. As part of Essence’s APAC leadership team, Bhatia will report to APAC CEO T. Gangadhar (Gangs).

    Alongside her new position, Bhatia will continue in her current role as Essence’s senior vice president client partner, APAC, leading the agency’s Google business across the region and reporting to Dave Marsey, Essence’s president, global client partner. Prior to joining Essence in 2017, she headed the digital practice for GroupM’s Maxus in APAC, building its product proposition across 14 markets. With over 17 years of experience in the industry, Bhatia has worked on the brand side at L’Oréal and Godrej Group in India, and Dabur in Nepal. She has also held client services and strategic planning roles at creative and media agencies in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and India.

    “Monica’s impressive experience in marketing, advertising, and media, and her deep understanding of Essence’s business, clients and culture, make her the best person to lead our Singapore office. A believer in true partnerships as well as diversity and inclusion in the workplace, she constantly strives to nurture strong collaborative relationships with both clients and employees. I am really excited about our next stage of growth with Monica’s steady strategic leadership and direction, as she continues to champion our clients, work, and people in Singapore,” said Gangs.

    Read more news on Essence

    “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the highly talented, entrepreneurial, and dedicated team at Essence in Singapore. Having worked closely with the team over the past three years, I am truly proud of the industry-leading capabilities we have built-in data, analytics, and technology. Brands today are increasingly looking to achieve transformational data-driven growth, and I am looking forward to leveraging our unified approach to media and creativity to deliver breakthrough work for our local, regional, and global clients in Singapore,” said Bhatia.

    Since Essence’s entry into APAC with its first office in Singapore in 2013, the agency has rapidly expanded to seven countries and 11 offices across the region. Essence’s portfolio of clients in Singapore includes the Financial Times, Google, NBCUniversal, and Scoot.

  • Essence elevates T. Gangadhar as APAC CEO

    Essence elevates T. Gangadhar as APAC CEO

    NEW DELHI – Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency which is part of GroupM, has appointed T. Gangadhar aka Gangs as the company’s CEO for APAC. Succeeding Essence’s global CEO Kyoko Matsushita, who previously served as APAC CEO, Gangs will be responsible for driving continued client-centric innovation in data, analytics, and technology, as well as business growth and company culture across the agency’s fastest-growing region. Based out of Mumbai in India, Gangs will work closely with Essence’s global and APAC leadership teams and will continue to report to Matsushita.

    Gangs most recently served as president, growth and strategy, APAC for Essence, in charge of the agency’s business strategy, development, and growth. He first joined Essence in 2018 as chairman, India with more than two decades of experience in marketing, advertising, and media. He previously held the role of managing director, south Asia at MEC & senior vice president, head of marketing at Sony Entertainment Television in India, and began his career in creative agency account management and strategic planning.

    “Gangs’ extensive experience in the industry, his knowledge of Essence’s culture and our clients, and his vision for our business in the region make him the ideal person to lead us into our next phase of growth and innovation in APAC. As the most senior member of our regional leadership team, Gangs has done an outstanding job in partnering with me to navigate our business through the challenges of 2020 and I am truly excited about what we will be able to achieve with him at the helm in APAC going forward,” said Matsushita. 

    “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this truly special agency in APAC. Essence is pioneering the use of data, analytics, and technology at a time when more and more companies are looking to take advantage of data-driven media and creativity. I am excited about leveraging our best-in-class capabilities to discover new ways to add value for our clients, consumers, and employees – in these current times and in the post-Covid2019 future ahead of us,” said Gangs.

    Since Essence’s entry into APAC in 2013, the agency has expanded rapidly across the region, opening offices in Beijing, Bengaluru, Delhi, Jakarta, Melbourne, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo. Essence’s diverse portfolio of clients in APAC now includes Airtel, Britannia, Coty, Faces Canada, the Financial Times, Flipkart, Games24x7, Google, Hermès, HMD (Nokia), Honda motorcycles and scooters, Livspace, Roborock, NBCUniversal, Nitori, Scoot, Toytron, Vedantu, Wakefit, War Horse, and Zee5.