MxMIndia

Author: mxmadmin

  • Offices also in Singapore and Australia

    Singapore’s Adtomica enters Indian market

    By Our Staff

     

    Adtomica, a boutique independent marketing agency, has expanded its into the Indian market. With its office in Gurugram, Adtomica is currently in the process of building and further expanding its team in India.

     

    Adtomica’s creative team across the region is being headed by Abhay Kaul, co-founder. He will also handle the business and administrative side of things.

     

    Said Kaul: “Having Jess on board will add tremendous value to our larger vision and her experience will help us flourish across the globe. Within a short span of a month since she joined, we have already produced 2 short human stories filming People with Intellectual Disabilities, as well as an exciting event launch with Activision in Singapore.”

     

  • The scope of the mandate will include creating cornerstone digital campaigns, social media as well as online response management, among other things

    Burger King gets Havas for digital creative

    By Our Staff

     

    Burger King India has assigned its digital mandate to Havas Worldwide (Creative) India, the creative arm of Havas Group India. The scope of the mandate will include creating cornerstone digital campaigns, social media as well as online response management, among other things.

     

    Said Kapil Grover, Chief Marketing Officer, Burger King India:“We are excited to have partnered with Havas Worldwide India, which comes with a track record of path-breaking digital campaigns for brands across markets and categories. We are confident that their expertise and market understanding will help us deliver innovative and groundbreaking digital campaigns; thereby further strengthening Burger King India to become the most lovable brand in the digital space. We look forward for a long and fruitful partnership.”

     

    Commenting on the partnership with Burger King, Manas Lahiri, Managing Director, Havas Worldwide (Creative) India added: “In today’s cluttered digital ecosystem, only brands that come up with engaging, differentiated content make people sit up and take notice and we at Havas Worldwide India have been doing exactly that over the past few years. Burger King is one of the most audacious brands in the world today, known for creating truly innovative campaigns that become the talk of the town and we’re confident we will be able to create more such path-breaking, meaningful work for them.”

     

  • Talks about bringing families closer through meals

    Bergner kitchenware rolls out campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Bergner has launched a campaign for Diwali season. The campaign, titled ‘Pyaar, Parivar aur Bergner’, talks about bringing families closer through meals.

     

    Talking about the ‘Pyaar, Parivar aur Bergner’, Aruni Misha – CEO, Bergner India said: “As a brand, our core philosophy is all about bringing families together, and this reflects in our latest campaign. Pyaar, Parivar aur Bergner talks about making special memories at the dining table with Bergner.”

     

    The ad film, conceptualised by Interactive Avenues,  is live on all platforms, and has seen a warm reception all over the internet, its emotional theme resonating with many on social media.

     

  • Highlights the new range of towels and bedsheets

    Akshay Kumar endorses Welspun

    By Our Staff

     

    Welspun, the flagship brand from Welspun India, has unveiled its new ad campaign “Life Se Maango More”, featuring Akshay Kumar as its new brand ambassador.

     

    Sharing her thoughts on the campaign Manjari Upadhye, CEO – Domestic Business, Welspun Global Brands, said: “Welspun is already India’s No.1 distributed brand in towels category, but we strive for more – we are on a mission to make #HarGharWelspun. This requires a deep understanding of the aspirations and ever-evolving lifestyles of the new-age Indian consumers. Today’s consumers refuse to accept status quo and demand innovative solutions to their needs. Our QuikDry Towels and Reversible Bedsheets leverage Welspun’s technological prowess and address real problems faced by our consumers. Our brief for the campaign was simple – to bring out the real benefits of our products in an impactful and fun manner.”

     

    Added Gaurav Sarda, VP & Head of Marketing – Domestic Business, Welspun Global Brands: “In our consumer’s homes, their bedrooms reflect the multiple roles our consumer’s themselves don – from being the extension of the living space as they host guests to becoming their WFH office space to being an online classroom for their kids. This is in addition to being the regular rest space! Akshay Kumar with his multi-faceted persona – action hero, masterchef and father fits seamlessly in personifying brand Welspun for its consumers. The TVCs – conceptualised by Shreyansh Innovations – bring out our product’s USPs in real life situations with a dash of Akshay Kumar’s signature humour, and also encourage them to ask for more.”

     

  • Targets younger generation which aspires to live in their own homes

    Tata Capital unveils its latest digital campaign to promote home loans

    By Our Staff

     

    Tata Capital, the financial services company of the Tata group, has unveiled a digital campaign this festive season to promote its online home loan offerings.  The film, developed by Infectious, is targeted towards the younger generation aspiring to live in their own homes.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Abonty Banerjee, Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, Tata Capital said: “As we approach the festive season, this campaign is our way of celebrating and offering innovative digital solutions to customers. The campaign highlights how quick loan solutions can help people get home loans easily, digitally and at competitive interest rates.”

     

  • Our Wizard with Words is decidedly the most qualified to address this question. Here goes: Dr Bhaskar Das in the October 14 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | It’s World Student’s Day tomorrow. And who better to talk about it than the person who is near-70 and working on his third PhD. A word of advice to those who would like to study, but can’t manage the time or feel ‘odd’ studying’?

    Bhaskar DasOur Wizard with Words is decidedly the most qualified to address this question. Here goes: Dr Bhaskar Das in the October 14 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

     

    If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

     

    Q. It’s October 15 tomorrow, which is World Student’s Day. And who better to talk about it than the person who is near-70 and working on his third PhD. A word of advice to those who would like to study, but can’t manage the time or feel ‘odd’ studying after the wrong side of 30/40/50++?

     

    A. In knowledge society , only knowledge workers can survive. And knowledge is a moving target in sync with emergent reality. In fact, more often than not the today’s knowledge is tomorrow’s ignorance. Hence a future backwards up-skilling plan has to continue in a sustained basis to future proof oneself.

    Learning has no age barrier. What one needs is a curious and explanatory mind and the desire to get out of one’s comfort zone ( resting on the laurels of past knowledge ) which might not be relevant for future progression.

     

  • Ganguly will help amplify the brand message of the Bank and endorse the products and services of the Bank

    Sourav Ganguly is Bandhan Bank Brand Ambassador

    By Our Staff

     

    Bandhan Bank has announced that it has roped in Sourav Ganguly as its Brand Ambassador. Ganguly will help amplify the brand message of the Bank and endorse the products and services of the Bank.

     

    Commenting on the development, Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, MD and CEO, Bandhan Bank, said, “Sourav has been one of the most successful captains of the Indian cricket team due to his foresight, dedication and commitment to the game. There is a lot of congruence in the values that Sourav and Bandhan Bank embody. He is also a global icon and commands respect from all quarters. We are confident that this partnership will help us garner more attention, leading to greater awareness of the brand, and thus propelling us further in our growth story. This association is another step towards connecting strongly with consumers across the spectrum and reinforcing our ongoing mission of inclusive banking.”

     

  • The Nickelodeon characters are created by Cosmos Maya

    It’s 10 years for Motu Patlu

    By Our Staff

     

    Leading kids’ entertainment channel has informed that its popular toon icon Motu Patlu has completed 10 years of existence.

     

    Notes a communique: “From being born as characters in kids’ magazine Lotpot, to coming to life on television to being the first ever Indian animated character duo – brought to life by Cosmos Maya – to have their statues at Madame Tussauds, Delhi, Motu Patlu’s meteoric journey has been unmatched

     

    Speaking on the milestone, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment & Kids TV Network, Viacom18, said: “Nickelodeon has truly been revolutionary in changing the face of kids entertainment in India. Ten years ago, the Indian kids’ entertainment category was in need of indigenous characters and stories and Nickelodeon, with the launch of Motu Patlu, successfully paved the way. With Motu Patlu, we built not just endearing characters but an iconic brand that has gone to be a category gamechanger amongst all stakeholders- kids, parents and our advertisers. We are thankful to our patrons and delighted on completing 10 very successful years and look forward to the next 10 with enthusiasm and zeal.”

     

    Added Anu Sikka, Creative, Content & Research, Kids TV Network, Viacom18: “A decade ago, when we decided to give life to Motu Patlu on television it was a leap of faith. Not only were we introducing kids to our first homegrown indigenous IP but also introducing kids to two adult but adorable characters in a world dominated by international kid toons. Apart from being an exemplary piece of great storytelling, it is the affability and relatable camaraderie that made the duo a runway hit. From being launched as our homegrown IP to becoming global icons today, Motu Patlu’s width and depth of stories and immense fandom makes it the most successful and largest kids IP in the country. Motu Patlu’s success is a testimony to our deep understanding of kids content and propels us to continue tapping white spaces, launch new IPs and enthrall kids with great stories and characters for India. We are extremely thankful to Lotpot and Cosmos Maya for being a part of this legendary success story.”

     

    Said Ketan Mehta, founder & MD, Cosmos Maya: “Motu Patlu have grown to become icons that have carved a space for themselves in India’s story of homegrown toons and we are elated on being a part of this journey. We are very happy that we were able to bring characters to life that have become an intrinsic part of a kid’s childhood. We are delighted to have partnered with Nickelodeon on this journey which was truly visionary and one that opened avenues for growth for animation industry in India.”

     

  • The data give a comparative analysis of product category insights between 2021 and 2022 observed during the Indian peak shopping season sales

    Online sales up 20% in peak shopping season: Criteo

    By Our Staff

     

    Criteo, the commerce media company, has released the trends observed during the Indian peak shopping season sales 2022 period, highlighting the opportunities created for all the retail and buyers with the deals across verticals and product categories in the post-Covid times. The data give a comparative analysis of product category insights between 2021 and 2022 observed during the Indian peak shopping season sales.

     

    According to Criteo’s insights, recovery sales increased by +20% during the Indian peak shopping season sales in 2022 compared to the previous year’s events. Additionally, sales were up almost 30% on July 31, and 21% this year, four days before Raksha Bandhan (August 11, 2022), compared to the average in July 1-14, 2022.

     

    Notes the communique: “As we enter the festive season, the Indian peak shopping season sales showcased an overall increase in online sales to a +30% increase during the period compared to a +19% increase during the 2021 sales event. In fact, on the first day of the sales event this year, online sales increased by +28% compared to 2021.”

     

    Highlighting the surge observed in the trending product categories from numerous verticals during the Indian peak shopping season sales:

    • Hats were the most trending in 2022, with an 87% increase in sales, whereas bridal party dresses showed an increase of +101% during 2021’s event
    • In electronics, while flash Memory saw a 100% surge in daily sales during the event, Storage Devices stood out with an uptick of +41% in 2021 event
    • Televisions were the most trending category amongst Indian consumers. The category saw +44% increase in unit sales during 2022 and +32% during 2021 event.
    • During the Indian peak shopping season sales, Food Gift baskets have always seen a major hike, irrespective of the pandemic. In 2021, there was a +99% hike in unit sales on the last day of the event. During the event in 2022, Wine was most preferred, with a 34% sales growth overall. Last year, dried fruits were popular during the event with an uptick of +24%.
    • During the Indian peak shopping season salesperiod, Hair Styling Products had an overall uptick of +70% compared to the body weight scale (55%) during the 2022 event. Travel Pillows were popular in both years with (+83%) in 2021 and (53%) in 2022. Massagers (+63%) were also trending during the Indian peak shopping season in 2021.
    • Candles and many other home goods were in high demand during the Indian peak shopping season salesperiod; the following categories’ sales were up in 2022 and 2021
      • Light Ropes and Strings: 218% (2022)
      • Trash Cans and Wastebaskets: 112% (2022)
      • Electric Kettles: 98% (2022)
      • Food Mixers & Blenders: 85% (2022)
      • Tablecloths: 102% (2021)
      • Slipcovers: 95% (2021)
      • Wallpaper: 51% (2021)
      • Home Decor Decals: 46% (2021)
      • Refrigerators: 44% (2021)
      • Candles: 44% (2021) and 75% (2022)
      • Artificial Flora: 29% (2021)
      • Bath Towels & Washcloths: 28% (2021)

     

    Said Taranjeet Singh, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and India, Criteo: “This year, the Indian e-commerce and retail industry saw a combined festive surge in the unit sales as consumers go hybrid in their purchasing preferences. The Indian peak shopping season sales saw some new categorial uptick, including coffee makers & expresso machines, travel pillows, futons, and sofas, and so on, indicating the economy’s recovery and growth as well. With new categorial uptick, we encourage marketers across sectors to continue to invest in digital advertising in the ongoing festive season with Commerce Media strategies that cover all the purchasing funnels and shopping channels”.

     

  • Appoints Dalip Daniel & Tulika Seth as Group ECD & Group CD respectively…

    Dentsu Creative strengthens North creative

    By Our Staff

     

    Dentsu Creative has announced the appointment of Dalip Daniel and Tulika Seth as Group ECD and Group CD respectively. Both will report into Joy Mohanty, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative India.

     

    Speaking on the appointments, Mohanty said: “Together with a superb body of work, Tulika & Danny bring with them a wealth of experience across formats. They will both play a key role in driving our agenda of creativity beyond silos. It is great to have them on board.”

     

  • The susceptibility of people to believe smartphone messages is comparable to the brainwashing that cloistered members of a cult receive, writes Ranjona Banerji

    The Message from Vadgaon

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiThe village of Vadgaon in Maharashtra has taken a radical decision: to switch off social media and television sets for an hour and a half every day. According to this BBC article, a siren goes off at 7 pm as a signal that “instruments of addiction” must now be switched off. The signal to restart is at 8.30 pm.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63169149

    One can successfully debate the pros and cons of this apparently collective decision, the ethics of enforcement and the various positions on freedom.

    What is harder to debate is whether social media, misinformation and fake news have a stranglehold on large swathes of society worldwide.

    The answer is more likely to be “yes it has” rather than an emphatic “no”.

    Some in Vadgaon did it because they were worried about their children. Not just that their school work suffered, but that they had stopped engaging with each other and at home.

    You could argue that humans behave like humans and you would be right. But we all know that our behaviour adapts as situations change. And the effect of technology on communication has been radical.

    None more so than in the media, the way it functions and is consumed. Just as newsgathering has been replaced by “debates” at TV prime time, newsgathering itself has become a collation of life on Twitter. Google gives us the news it thinks we want, and what it is paid to. Facebook pushes the news that it is paid to promote, and it has no interest in whether this news is made up or verified. The shadier the source, the better it seems to be protected. I name only two giants. But all of them hide behind the “algorithm” as an excuse. As if they have no control.

    The recent reactions of Meta to thewire.in’s expose on the BJP’s influence on Instagram demonstrate once again how little control we, the users, have on what is fed to us via social media.

    https://scroll.in/article/1034872/explainer-why-the-wire-and-meta-are-trading-charges-over-bjps-alleged-privileges-on-instagram

    This explainer from Scroll puts forward the cases presented by both The Wire and Meta. But interestingly, almost nothing from Meta counters the charges nor explains why those posts mentioned in the article were taken down. The labyrinth of technology is not easy for the lay person. But the past decade at least has demonstrated that we are vulnerable to mass manipulation.

    For instance, the susceptibility of people to believe the messages they receive on their smartphone, usually via WhatsApp is comparable to the brainwashing that cloistered members of a cult receive. Intelligence, age, education, exposure to the outside world makes no difference. Even if the information counters lifelong research and practical experience, people will believe rubbish.

    As far as the news media is concerned, rather that counter fake news and misinformation, many journalists, those who masquerade as journalists, and TV anchors, have seemingly decided that it is easier to give in. Give in to your employers, give in to politicians, give in to business interests and give into the vagaries of social media.

    One can but sympathise with the people of Vadgaon.

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal

     

  • … to spread the message about the value of health insurance, drive customer conversions and propel distribution growth across India

    ManipalCigna onboards Manoj Bajpayee as Brand Ambassador

    By Our Staff

     

    ManipalCigna Health Insurance onboards actor Manoj Bajpayee as Brand Ambassador_1

    ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited has announced the appointment of actor Manoj Bajpayee,as its brand ambassador.  Through this association with Manoj Bajpayee, ManipalCigna aims to spread the message about the value of health insurance, drive customer conversions and propel distribution growth across India.

     

    Said Prasun Sikdar, MD and CEO, ManipalCigna Health Insurance: “At ManipalCigna, our goal is to provide lifetime access to quality healthcare and ensure financial wellbeing in the lives of the millions of people in India. Manoj Bajpayee is a phenomenal ambassador for this mission and it is a moment of pride for us to be associated with a self-made, passionate, expert, and trustworthy personality like him who has a pan-India appeal. Sikdar further added, “As an actor, Manoj strongly resonates with our brand because ManipalCigna possesses all these values, expertise, and more. Over the years, we have built a comprehensive health insurance portfolio with a range of benefits, including inpatient, outpatient, and wellness benefits to take care of healthcare financing needs, and will continue to be there for our customers and their families, especially when they need us most”

     

    Added Sapna Desai, Chief Marketing Officer, ManipalCigna Health Insurance said, “We are excited to bring Manoj Bajpayee on board to raise awareness about our health insurance solutions and build a purpose-driven connection with our customers. Manoj inspires trust and has the expertise to be associated with a category like health insurance, thus with ManipalCigna, it is a seamless brand association. Further given his mass fan following across the country, we believe that this association will help us maximize our reach, strengthen our brand awareness and build a deeper connection with the consumers. We look forward to our engagement and an enriching partnership”