MxMIndia

Category: Media Agencies

  • After getting the digital rights for Visa and Wrigley’s, BBDO Proximity has now attained the digital mandates for Nissan India.

    Proximity is digital creative agency for Nissan

    By A Correspondent

    Proximity will handle all digital initiatives including social media for Nissan X-Trail, Nissan Teana, Nissan370Z and the Nissan Brand initiatives including the Student Brand Manager program.

    Proximity India is the youngest agency of Proximity Worldwide, and is globally aligned to BBDO Worldwide. Proximity India offers talented communications experts with skills across the full range of relationship, digital and direct marketing services. The agency is focused on providing solutions and initiatives that are designed to change individual consumer behavior by creating “acts not ads”.

    Commenting on the win, Mr Ajai Jhala, CEO, BBDO / Proximity said, “Adding Nissan to our roster is a real privilege. The critical role of digital in this space will give us an opportunity to create some really impactful interactive ideas.”

    Mr Ranjeev Vij, VP & Head, Proximity India added, “Nissan is a fantastic global brand and in India they have ambitious plans. We are really excited that we can partner Nissan in challenging the market leaders and be a navigator in their journey to meet their ambitious business goals.”

    Proximity India has offices in Mumbai and Delhi and has worked on campaigns like Aviva’s “Great Wall of Education” initiative, which helped collect over one million books for the underprivileged children.

    Earlier this month, Proximity India won the digital mandate for the VISA brand in India. They also manage the digital duties for Nicorette.

  • Anchor Electricals has called for a creative pitch. Industry sources close to the development have confirmed the news to MxM India.

    Anchor calls for creative pitch

    By Shubhangi Mehta

    Anchor Switches, a subsidiary of Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd, has called for agencies to handle their creative mandates.

    The account size could not be ascertained at the time of filing the report.

    In June 2010, where Anchor Electricals communicated its logo change and being a part of the Panasonic group, the company then launched the second phase of the logo revival campaign. The campaign was conceived for the end-user to understand and accept the benefits of this change and to showcase the Anchor range of products. The outdoor campaign had been conceptualized by Primetime Outdoors. The overall investment incurred for the OOH campaign was in the vicinity of Rs 7-8 crore.

    Anchor has been around for more than 47 years, constantly innovating and bringing quality products to the market. Anchor changed the way people look at switches by introducing India to the piano switch in 1976. It then went on to create offerings like Roma, the finest modular range of quality switches and accessories.

  • The Anchor: Dhunji Wadia on 5 reasons why it’s gr8 2B an A-Lister

    On Tuesday evening I was delighted to receive an A-List invitation from Campaign India. The function was at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai and I had a grand time traversing through the Bandra Fair crowds as I made my way to the event. It was not a long journey in terms of distance, but getting there took a couple of hours.

     

    I have spent a long time in advertising now, where one has seen a lot, and learnt more than a little – most of it, probably too late. This was a great time to reflect on ‘What’s behind an A-Lister’.

     

    In any field of work, you might as well be the best you can be. There’s no point be a D-Lister or being further down the alphabet track. So also in Advertising, being an A-Lister says a lot.

     

    #1 People Pay Attention To Your Work

    It’s a great way to prove that your work makes people pay attention – which is very important in our business. If the work doesn’t get noticed, then we’re not doing our job.

     

    #2 Brick-By-Brick

    In addition to recognizing the work that is happening Right Here, Right Now – it also is a good measure of the effort that has gone in brick-by-brick – throughout the years.

     

    #3 Awards and Rewards

    Awards are a great way to demonstrate that our work gets noticed. Having said that, the greatest reward is seeing effective results delivered from our programmes for our brands. That’s what happens when agency and client are working together.

     

    #4 The Final Grade

    Through school and college there is consciousness on the scores and grades that one gets. But this is real life – it is the final grade that counts.

     

    #5 Above All – Teamwork

    At the end of the day, being an A-Lister means you are part of a team that has worked together. Throughout the decades, teamwork has always been an important part of the working culture inside the ad agency. Your team makes you look good. They are truly the people behind the making of an A-Lister.

     

    Epilogue

    Like many others in this profession, I have had the good fortune to parlay a minimal talent into a long career. So thank God for advertising which tolerated me for all these years, or else I would probably have written this as the world’s first MBA guitarist, playing in one of Mumbai’s nightclubs. And thanks to the industry, the Campaign India A-List and my beloved team for the recognition.

     

    Dhunji S Wadia is President, Everest Brand Solutions

  • FirstRand Bank (FRB), South Africa has called for a creative, media and PR pitch. Industry sources close to the development have confirmed the news to MxM India.

    FirstRand Bank calls for creative, media and PR pitch

    By Shubhangi Mehta

    FirstRand Bank (FRB) has called for a creative, media and PR pitch. The overall account size is estimated to be around Rs 10 crore.

    FirstRand Bank India is a branch of FirstRand Banking Group South Africa. FirstRand Bank, a pre-eminent financial services group in Africa is the first bank from the African continent to be granted a full scale commercial banking license in India. FirstRand has commenced its banking operations in India since April 2009 and currently has one branch set up in Mumbai.

    With a history dating back to 1838, FirstRand is a fully integrated financial services group and one of the big four South African retail, commercial and investment banks. Through its ownerships of brands like First National Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Momentum and Wesbank, the group operates in almost every area of the financial services arena.

    The group has representation elsewhere in Africa, including Nigeria, as well as the United Kingdom, Dubai, Australia and China, and now more recently in India.As part of its international expansion strategy, FirstRand has identified India as a key market for future economic growth and set up its Representative Office in Mumbai, India in January 2008. A year later, it received its banking license, becoming the first South African bank to open a branch in India. FirstRand India currently has an office in Mumbai.

  • Sunday MiD DAY gives readers a “Double Vaat” experience for Bigg Boss 5 promotion.

    Double masthead for Bigg Boss innovation

    By A Correspondent

    SundayMiD DAYon October 2 had two mastheads, one each on the front page and the back page, each delivering Vodafone presents Bigg Boss 5’s theme of “Double Vaat”.

    Bigg Boss 5 which is being telecast on Colors, part of the Viacom18 group, is hosted by Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, two actors known for their fun and personas, enhancing the concept of ‘Double Vaat’ even further. To make its readers experience the theme, SundayMiD DAYhas devised an innovation of designing the masthead and impact jacket for Viacom18 on the front page and on the back page of SundayMiD DAY. So a reader will be able to read SundayMiD DAYin a regular manner on the front page as well as in an upside-down manner on the back page, creating some confusion and giving them the experience of ‘Double Vaat’.

    Mr Manajit Ghoshal, MD & CEOMiD DAYInfomedia Limited said, “MiD DAYbelieves in delivering the best to all its readers and clients. Innovations like these help us send clutter-free messages to our readers and it adds great value to the proposition that the advertiser wants to communicate. For all such innovations carried out across years, we have won many accolades and appreciated by one and all across the globe.”

    Mr Rajesh Iyer, Director-Marketing, Colors, said “Bigg Boss is Colors’ flagship show, and this season, with the theme being Double Vaat, this innovative association with MiD DAY will be really fruitful for us. Providing readers with the newspaper in reversible format is bound to create curiosity among them.”

  • After the first exposure, you will reach out for the zap button on the remote control. Because it’s laboured, un-engaging and witless.

    Anil Thakraney’s Debrief: Good strategy, poor creative

    There’s a new commercial on air for Parker Pens. And it stars brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The creative thought is this: ‘What the world calls a pen’. And it’s a correct one. Because as we all know, pens as a category is on a fast decline on the product life cycle chart. There will come a time when the pen will become a historical product, much like the typewriter. So it makes sense to make the brand synonymous with the product, to own the category, and thus at least be a leader for as long as the product survives. I completely agree with this strategy.

     

    But the creative fails to leave a mark. Bachchan is seen sitting inside what looks like a hotel lobby. And he’s got the whole range of Parkers spread out on the table. What is he, a pen seller? That’s not explained. Suddenly, a firang arrives and asks if he can borrow a pen. But instead of lending him one, Big B begins educating the gent on how Parker is pronounced in various nations. Exasperated, the man asks for a Parker, which is immediately handed to him.

     

    Boring creative. After the first exposure, you will reach out for the zap button on the remote control. Because it’s laboured, un-engaging and witless. While I like the idea of getting the brand to be the hero, so that consumers ask for it at retail outlets, sadly the commercial is very dry. And no, Bachchan has no role to play out here… he’s forced in, as he usually is in ads.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 5): 2. For a sound strategy.

     

    Anil Thakraney’s ad review column DeBrief will appear twice a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  • While I understand the desperate need for a lifestyle approach to paints advertising, there is a crying need for originality in this category.

    Anil Thakraney’s Debrief: Dulux lacks colour

    Dulux has come out with a bad copy of the Asian Paints idea. While I understand the desperate need for a lifestyle approach to paints advertising, since the functional route won’t work in this category, there is a crying need for originality in this category. Because that’s the only way to induce brand connect for paints.

     

    Dulux’s new commercial says ‘Apna Rang Chhalakne Do’. It features actors Shahid Kapur and Boman Irani. Irani is finicky about the red colour he wants, and is seen giving hell to his painter on the exact shade. Suddenly, Kapur waltzes into his house, with Irani’s daughter in his arms, wearing what is called a ‘Rascal red’ tee. This follows a sequence of some very trite banter between the characters, till we are told Kapur is a doctor! Wow, we are impressed!

     

    Not only does the ad immediately remind you of the Asian Paints ‘Mera wala blue’ campaign, the execution is so dull, boring and well, colourless, it puts you off despite the presence of movie actors. The conversation is forced, the humour contrived. In short, the commercial is a dud any which way you look at it.

     

    The least Dulux ought to have done was to come up with a more interesting tribute to Asian Paints.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 5): A BIG ZERO. In Rascal red.

     

     

    Anil Thakraney’s ad review column DeBrief will appear twice a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  • Anil Thakraney’s ad reviews now on MxMIndia.com. Every Tuesday and Thursday.

    Introducing: DeBrief: Anil Thakraney’s ad reviews

    Adman-turned-journalist Anil Thakraney reviews ad creatives for MxMIndia.com. You may love them or hate them, but you simply can’t ignore them… all written in an inimitable style.

    The reviews will appear 104 times a year. Every Tuesday and Thursday.

    If you’d like him to review your creatives, just email us at editor[at]mxmindia.com with the subject ‘Debrief’

    Meanwhile, please feel free to comment on the ads as well as the reviews… here’s your chance! 

     

    Volkswagen Jetta: India is shining. But reader… please buzz off!

    The Volkswagen guys were back recently with another kick arse print media innovation. Which basically meant buying out the front page of the daily newspapers, thus rodgering the readability. (Who cares for the reader, anyway?)

    This time it was for their brand new premium gaadi, Jetta. The newspaper arrived shining, quite literally. The front page was printed on a glossy, steely, mirror-like paper. The message: ‘Time for Volkswagen. Time for the all-new Jetta’. You will recall in the past Volkswagen has put out a ‘speaking’ newspaper. On another occasion they got proprietors to dig large holes inside their newspapers. (Who cares for the reader, anyway?)

    Yes, as in the past, the latest gimmick worked. Jetta got noticed and instantly became the talk of the town. Also, I suspect the high-gloss, snazzy, over-the-top page would have, in particular, appealed to the small and medium level businessmen. Who have all the bucks but are likely to be low on taste. In other words, the key target market for Jetta.

    And yes, the readability went for a toss because of the mirror work. (Who cares for the reader, anyway?)

    Rating: Since I am not a Jetta buyer (I am into Tata Nano): &%@% &^#!

     

  • Games 24×7 have awarded their creative mandates to Leo Burnett India. The win is an outcome of a multi-agency pitch.

    Leo Burnett wins creative mandates for Games 24×7

    By Shubhangi Mehta

     

    Leo Burnett has bagged the creative mandates for Games 24×7, an online gaming site.

    Mr Kalyan Kumar, CMO Games 24×7.com, said, “The business was awarded to Leo Burnett due to the great insight they had. We were not really keen on hiring a big agency but Leo Burnett was so strong in their preparation and work even when it came to the pitch presentation that we were totally convinced to hire them.”

    When it comes to working with a proper creative agency this is the first time that Games 24×7 has provided an agency with its creative mandates.

    The win is an outcome of a multi agency pitch which took place a month ago.

    Games24x7.com was founded to bring to India the fun and excitement of on-line, multi-player competitive games of skill that can be enjoyed 24×7. Their unique knock out tournament format allows our players to match wits in fast paced competitions where winners earn actual cash prizes.

    Games24x7 tournaments can be joined by anyone who sets up a valid account from home, an internet café or any other location with internet access. Their games focus less on manual dexterity and more on mental challenge, while at the same time requiring quick reaction and decision-making.

  • The world remembers Steve Jobs as a visionary, innovator and ace businessman. Facebook status links

    RIP, Steve Jobs

    It was indeed a sad way to start a Dassera morning. I was alerted of the news from my Facebook dashboard. Only to be confirmed on the Apple site with the image of the man with the line that said it all: 1955-2011. I didn’t shed a tear, but I cried out to my wife that Jobs had passed. As if it was someone in my family.

    I’ve not been a compulsive Apple user. I remember once hiring someone who said he would join me only if given a Macintosh to work on. However, when I bought a Galaxy Tab recently because of its compact size, I couldn’t get myself to the interface having used the cooler iPad for some months.

    Steven Jobs has been described variously. Modern-day Edison, innovator, visionary etc. He was all of it, and more. In the past, there have been many who’ve called him arrogant, cunning, shrewd and aggressive. Guess they weren’t incorrect: the only difference is that when applied to Jobs, they were considered positive attributes.

    -          Pradyuman Maheshwari

    PS: Although we had announced that there would be no updates it being holiday for Dassera, we changed our ‘Big Story’ at around 6.30am. We invited our readers to share their sentiments on Steve Jobs at editor@mxmindia.com. We received a few, but will carry all after compiling them all. As you move down this page, you will find a few Facebook status updates that came up on my page (apologies for reprinting without permission).

     

    Great links:

     

    New York Times readers with their Steve Jobs moments: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/10/05/technology/20111006_JOBS_READER.html

     

    Super visual tributes at Gizmodo

    http://gizmodo.com/5847415/the-best-visual-tributes-to-steve-jobs-around-the-web/gallery/1

     

    Obama, tech giants pay tribute

    http://holykaw.alltop.com/reactions-to-steve-jobs-death?tu2=1

     

    Wikipedia on Steve Jobs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs

    Wikipedia on Apple Compuer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.

    48-minute Bloomberg video: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/66625228/

     

    Steve Ballmer laughs at the iPhone

     

    Steve Ballmer on the iPad

    Bill Gates on the iPad

    Bill Gates on the iPad on Larry King Live

    Interview with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs

    The original Macintosh introduction in 1984

    @VenkatAnanth Insanely great. RT @dictionarycom Steve Jobs made this phrase so famous that it entered the dictionary a few years back: bit.ly/qSBgdJ #iSad (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/insanely+great?t)

    Some Facebook status messages:

    Lynn de Souza: The true greatness of Mr Jobs will be revealed if he also managed to create many more young Steve Jobs to take on the mantle of spectacular innovation among all those who were lucky enough to work with and learn from him.

    Sonal Dabral: Will be a good idea if all Apple lovers wore black polo neck and blue jeans tomorrow in memory of the great Steve Jobs.

    Subhash Kamath: R.I.P. Steve Jobs. As a tribute, should we rename heaven as ‘icloud’?

    Prathap Suthan: Without your Mac, my words wouldn’t have tumbled down. Thank you Steve for the gravity. RIP.

    Pushkar Sane: too many ppl busy doing iCry, iSad, iDown… My tribute to Steve Jobs is through iWork, iThink, iTry, iDare, iLive, iLove. RIP Steve Jobs.

    Rajawat K. Yatish: hail the rebels, the unconventional ones, who don’t imitate, hail to the genius who saw unfulfilled desires and filled them, here’s to man who never accepted the status quo, hail that man who lived better than anyone else during his times, hail the flow, which is no longer with us. Rest in Peace Jobs.

    Vishakha Singh: Many get to live life on their own terms, very few die on their own terms…Ur style made even God adjust to your tunes… In 2005, you said death is Life’s change agent… To me, you were not reachable in life or in death… U will continue to inspire, as always. I will try to stay hungry, stay foolish!

    Arcopol Chaudhuri: It’s only when I cried this morning on hearing the news of Steve Jobs’ death, that I realized how much this man has influenced me and my generation. They don’t make’em like him anymore. I doubt if they will. Rest in peace, you genius.

    Rahul Kishore: 1: Heaven just got a little more sleek, well designed and profitable.Steve Jobs RIP. 2: Financial sector shocked at passing of Steve Jobs — mosty, the idea of a guy who got rich from actually creating something.

  • Select Apple advertisements released from 1984 till date. For more links, we suggest searching for more ads at YouTube.com

    Those iconic Apple ads

    The famed Superbowl ad [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsWzJo2sN4[/youtube]
    Apple ads [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OZg3ljsbc0[/youtube]
    Apple ads 1997-2001 [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fl3Ifv9yGQ&feature=related[/youtube]
    They have a Mac [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGmjr4p34Y8[/youtube]
    Airplane Middle Seat [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7oLj6NW1jM&NR=1[/youtube]
    12 and 17-inch PowerBook [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjoQF4kJOYs&NR=1[/youtube]
    Macintosh switch [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXaYwTzkNaA[/youtube]
    The iPod Nano commercial [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfywLP0rXxU&NR=1[/youtube]
    iPhone ads [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lfmlKYZ-vU[/youtube]
    iPod Nano 4G ‘Bruises’ by Chairlift [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk32oCGKvzQ&NR=1[/youtube]
    iPod Nano Touchscreen [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK2WulMuyDs&feature=fvwrel[/youtube]
    iPhone 4 ads
    Longer: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU7s0EMaXp8&feature=relmfu[/youtube]
    Smile: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niOCmIuts90&NR=1[/youtube]
    Big News: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CRfHl1Glwk&NR=1[/youtube]
    Hair Cut: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diUjVY8zRJc&feature=relmfu[/youtube]
    Grandfather: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Wn7rYSBVQ&NR=1[/youtube]
    Retina: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeDTJZtFfI0&NR=1[/youtube]
    Santa: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_vGH96kfM0&feature=relmfu[/youtube]
    MacBook Air [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6oGhLvLfgs&feature=related[/youtube]
    iPad [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R41NNPBqRCk[/youtube]
    iPad2 [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRwBpjm2kQE[/youtube]
    We believe: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyEpaPEbjzI&NR=1[/youtube]
    Smart Cover: [youtube width=”300″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naVZDRcI0p4&NR=1[/youtube]

    Btw, Apple also did some cool print ads. Here’s a sample at the New Yorker:

    http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/backissues/2011/10/pitch-me-another-apples-ads.html

  • Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs has passed away

    Steve Jobs. 1955-2011

    Steve JobsWe woke up to this rather sad news on a Dassera morning. Steve Jobs has passed away.

     

    Sad. Very, very sad.

    He has of course named Tim Cook as successor but  there will be questions on whether Apple will continue to produce such wonder products and services.

    On behalf of the vast number of Apple users and tech watchers from amongst India’s marketing and media fraternity, our Salaams.

     Tell us how Steve Jobs or his products and services have impacted your life. Email MxMIndia at editor@mxmindia.com

    Recommended reading:
    A look back at Steve’s life, in pictures wired.com/gadgetlab/2011…

    New York Times link to stories: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/steven_p_jobs/index.html?inline=nyt-per

    Bill Gates: http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Personal/Steve-Jobs

    Huffington Post obit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/05/steve-jobs-dead-apple-obituary_n_997256.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

    Time magazine’s Top 10 Apple Moments: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1873486_1873491_1873530,00.html

    Poynter: How he changed journalism. http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/media-lab/mobile-media/144051/how-steve-jobs-has-changed-but-not-saved-journalism/

     

     

    Picture: www.apple.com