Following a multi-agency pitch, J Hampstead has appointed Saints & Warriors as its creative partner. The agency is also expected to advise the company on decisions in regard to media planning.
Imagine a new world order in advertising: WPP on top ahead of Omnicom, and Interpublic on the bottom, bested for the third spot by French arriviste Publicis. The world of advertising holding companies appears to be on the verge of tectonic shifts.
If India, Inc. is waiting for the next frontier in marketing, it may just have arrived. The blurring of traditional gender roles, expectations and behaviours, is increasingly forcing marketers to figure out ways to rethink their age-old targeting paradigms. And if it means de-sexing their brands, so be it.
European direct sales company, Zepter, is making its foray into India. The privately-held organisation is one of the most diversified direct sales companies in the world, with a product portfolio including cookware, home furnishings, writing instruments, watches, beauty and skincare products, nutritional supplements, fashion jewellery, perfumes, portable medical equipments and clothing accessories.
ActiveMedia has introduced an innovative marketing tool which offers intelligent mobile applications. The company now provides a mobile fulfilment solution that allows companies to advertise and popularise their brands using Bluecasting on mobile.
When can Internet actually be said to have touched the lives of Indians? “When a wife beaten by his drunken husband in a remote village will take the help of the Internet to find out who exactly she can seek help from,” observed Laveesh Bhandari, Director, Indicus Analytics, and Chief Mentor, Raftaar.com in a seminar on ‘Internet Governance’, held in the Capital on September 2.
It protects one from unwanted pregnancy and unwanted sexually transmitted diseases, yet people cringe from approaching the chemist when it comes to buying condoms. Keeping this in mind ICICI Bank with funding from USAID has launched the ‘Condom Bindaas Bol’ campaign to remove the feeling of embarrassment while buying a condom.
The business of fashion is a serious one and the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in the Capital is showcasing the best of Indian haute couture. Apart from the designers and their muses, the event is seeing the participation of over 150 buyers – both domestic and international.
Erehwon, an organisation engaged in imparting the mantra of innovation, has built up an impressive clientele. Asian Paints, ESPN-STAR Sports, Gillette, Hero Honda and Wipro are some of the companies that have imbibed Erehwon’s innovation techniques. The company is now seeking to expand to Europe.
Metro cities garnered 32 per cent share in retail advertising while 12 per cent share came from Mini Metros in the 1st half of 2006. Retail advertising across Metros witnessed 30 per cent growth whereas Mini Metros had a 5 per cent rise in Jan-June ‘06 over Jan-June ’05. Among Metros, Mumbai topped in retail advertising while Kochi topped among Mini Metros. Pantaloons Retail India used maximum print innovations.
Consumer groups have expressed their happiness regarding the TRAI notification on tariff issues in CAS areas, but have demanded a regulatory mechanism to address the complaints of consumers when a cable operator or MSO fails to comply with the TRAI Quality of Services norms.
Broadcasters are up in arms against TRAI’s order fixing the MRP for any pay channel at Rs 5, terming it as against the fundamentals of market forces. However, Zee Group, which is both into broadcasting and distribution, has whole-heartedly supported the various provisions or the TRAI order.
Broadcasters are gearing up to challenge the TRAI order on capping the MRP of pay channels at Rs 5 in CAS areas and are seeking legal options. Though at the outset everybody is saying that they are weighing all options, including the legal one, industry sources say TRAI’s order may be challenged within a week’s time.
There is a change in Mumbai Mirror’s creative custodian. The compact has signed David as it creative agency. Prior to this, Leo Burnett was taking care of the brand ever since its launch in May 2005.
JWT emerged as the Agency of the Year (National) at the third edition of the Advertising Club Calcutta’s Consumer Connect Awards held on September 2, 2006. Response India was the Agency of the Year (Kolkata). Lowe’s Prem Mehta was the new inductee into the Adverting Club Calcutta’s hallowed Hall of Fame.
Lodestar Universal has bagged the media duties of Exide following a multi-agency pitch. JWT has been awarded the creative mandate. The business is in the region of Rs 15-20 crore. The other agencies contesting for the creative duties included McCann Erickson, Saints and Warriors, and Genesis. MindShare was in the fray for the media business.