Category: ADVERTISING

  • Stark, Mindshare make a Big Bang

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    MxMIndia isn’t one of the various partners of this event, but we believe that the Awards of Advertising Clubs beyond what was once Ad Club Bombay should get their due.

     

    Also, advertising and marketing exists beyond Mumbai and Delhi. In fact it thrives. So here we are with the results of the Advertising Club Bangalore’s premier advertising awards – called the Big Bang Awards.

     

    The headline: Stark Communications was crowned Creative Agency of 2015. Mindshare swept the Media Awards. Maxus won Digital and Mobile Media  and Tonic Media  came out tops in the Social Media category.  Vodafone was the Client of the Year. Turrino Advertising was named the Healthcare Agency of the Year and Madison PR was PR Agency of the Year.

     

    The Big Bang Awards 2015 for excellence in communication and media organised by The Ad Club Bangalore was held on September 25 at The Jayamahal Palace Hotel in Bengaluru.  As many as 987 entries were submitted across 58 categories by over 72 creative, media, digital, social  media, mobile, healthcare and PR agencies. Apart from these, clients and young professionals also participated for the coveted heads.

     

    Stark Communications was named Creative Agency of the Year. Mindshare and Maxus were the biggest winners of the night bagging awards for Media, Digital, and Mobile Media Agencies of the year, respectively.  Turrino Advertising from Kochi won the Healthcare Agency of the Year and Madison PR Mumbai won the, PR Agency of the Year.  Amrutha Raman of Aim High Consulting was crowned the Young Achiever of the Year.  Vodafone won the Client of the Year Award winning across several categories.

     

    The Advertising Club deployed 46 Senior Advertising, Marketing, Media, PR and digital professionals as well as some  healthcare specialists and  techno-entrepreneurs from all over India and the Far East to judge the entries online .  The Advertising Club Bangalore says it’s the only Club in the country that uses a state-of-the-art  Online Platform in association with Global Best Awards of USA to receive, collate and judge entries online, on par with other international  awards.

     

    The night had all the stalwarts from the advertising, media, and public relations industry present. The revelry went on late into the night as the professionals soaked up their success.

     

    We weren’t present. We weren’t invited. We didn’t buy the passes. But that doesn’t mean the awardwinners mustn’t get their due. Okay, this waiver doesn’t apply to all award events, but it’s our way to encourage Ad Club activities beyond Mumbai and Delhi.

     

  • Alia Bhatt chosen is new face of Standard

    By A Correspondent

     

    Standard, from the stable of Havells India Limited has roped in Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt as its brand ambassador. As part of this association, Alia Bhatt will endorse products through an aggressive advertising campaign, which is slated to be launched by end of September 2015. The advertisement campaign will have a series of 3 TV commercials which is conceptualized and executed by Mullen Lintas.

     

    Over the years, Standard has been serving the Indian customers with superior quality products and has established itself as a key player in the electrical products segment by constantly creating best in class, innovative and trend setting products. Last year the brand entered into the consumer segment by launching range of fans. To keep pace with the modern times, changing consumer preferences and enhancing brand appeal to younger consumers, the brand unveiled its new identity earlier this year.

     

    Commenting on the association of Alia Bhatt as the brand ambassador, Anil Rai Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, Havells India Limited said, “We are delighted to have Alia Bhatt as the brand ambassador for ‘Standard’ brand. She truly represents the ‘Young Energy of India’ which will be the new positioning for the brand. We firmly believe in fulfilling the aspirations of modern day consumers who are confident, independent and do not want to settle for less. She aptly represents our brand’s ideology of style with substance and is a perfect blend of everything that the brand stands for.”

     

  • Vinod Cookware ropes in Mandira Bedi as brand ambassador

    By A Correspondence

     

    Vinod Cookware has roped in Mandira Bedi as the brand ambassador. Launching the first leg of the campaign with its latest TVC which resonates with the brand theme ‘Jo Bhi ho Khana Vinod mein hi Pakana’ Vinod Cookware plans to ascertain the fact that ‘How the right cookware determines the healthy diet’ which seemed fitting with Mandira Bedi, a true fitness enthusiast who could effortlessly convey the importance of staying healthy and eating right to the consumers.

     

    The Latest TVC reflects her personality and energy which undeniably finds great synergies with the brand Vinod Cookware.

     

    Commenting on the association, Sunil Agrawal Director, Vinod Cookware says, “We are very happy to introduce Mandira Bedi as the brand ambassador for our cookware business. She is indeed the perfect representation of everything that the brand Vinod stands for! With her many avatars- the power woman Shanti, the adventurous fear-factor contestant and unafraid cop of 24, she connects well with the Indian homemaker and youth alike. Considering all of this and more, we believed Mandira was just right, the intelligent choice for Vinod cookware.”

     

    Apart from the launches and promotions of Vinod Products, Mandira Bedi shall also be involved actively with brand and product communication across all media platforms. Vinod Cookware also plans to run a 360 degree marketing campaign on Pan India Level.

     

  • Makani Creative bags advertising mandate for Onida’s Smart LED TVs

    By A correspondent

     

    In a multi-agency pitch, Makani Creative has won the advertising mandate for Onida’s Smart LED TVs. Onida is a leading Indian brand (owned by Mirc Electronics ltd.) that manufactures televisions, air-conditioners, washing machines and mobile phones.

     

    Onida is making its foray into Smart LED range of TVs. The television is loaded with new age features and a QWERTY key remote control. The television is technologically advanced to induct the first time buyer of a smart TV into its brand fold. This is in line with the philosophy of the company to deliver value added products at affordable prices. Onida Smart LED TV attempts to garner patronage from the tech and net savvy Indian youth who is either the influencer or the direct customer for all household purchases today.

     

    NS Satish, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Mirc Electronics Ltd. said, “Onida is a strong player in the consumer electronics market. We have always leveraged consumer insights by incorporating it as a technological feature into our products. This has been the mainstay of our success over the years. Our range of Smart LED TVs is in line with the same thought process. We have loaded the television with lots of new age features like Android operating system, built in Wi-Fi, quad core processor, screen mirroring, video calling, etc. just to name a few. One can also download millions of apps.

     

    Our key focus now, is to aggressively market the product and in order to meet this objective, we are thrilled to partner with Makani Creative as our brand agency. Makani Creative shares our vision and developed a communication plan to do justice to the product and we are confident of creating yet another milestone.”

     

    Sameer Makani, MD, Makani Creative said, ‘‘We have all grown up watching Onida and it is an iconic brand. When the opportunity to partner with them arose, we were very excited. The challenge was to strike a delicate balance between strong strategy and evocative creative to achieve the desired results. I think we managed to impress them with our thought process as well as the execution which tipped the scales in our favour. Needless to add, Makani is known for its work in the lifestyle category.

     

    The first set of work for Onida Smart LED TV will be out shortly and I am sure that this will be one of the first steps towards a mutually successful journey”.

     

  • FCA unveils new brand campaign – “Crafted for Car Lovers”

    By A correspondent

     

    FIAT Chrysler Automobiles India revealed its new brand campaign, “Crafted for Car Lovers”. This would facilitate FIAT brand to resonate with Indian customers and enhance the brand appeal.

     

    The underlying theme of the campaign is based on the insight that Fiat Cars are designed for the true auto enthusiasts. The TVC effectively portrays the brand promise of superior drive and strong build quality. It depicts the entire Fiat Product line up including the two brand new additions, the Abarth 595 Competizione and the Abarth Punto.

     

    Speaking on this campaign, Kevin Flynn, President and Managing Director, FCA India said, “FIAT cars are for those auto enthusiasts and car lovers who rate superior driving experience and robust build quality above other parameters. Through this campaign we want to rekindle the trust in our loyal Indian FIAT fans. Our commitment towards the Indian market is massive. We are working aggressively and constantly innovating to provide the best of products and world class services to our customers. At FCA India we are also evaluating the market to introduce relevant products from FCA’s international stable.”

     

    Neville Shah, Group Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather said “You speak to a true car lover you will notice that they really are not interested in the frills, that extra knob here and an extra sticker there. What really matters to them is the way the car grips the road when you throw her round a corner, the confident thud that you hear when you shut the door, the way the car will swallow potholes and smooth tarmac without hesitation. You will also notice that they feel that much more for their cars. And this is exactly what we also saw with the many Fiat owners. They understand cars and therefore they quickly get to the basics – the drivability, the build quality and most importantly that smile that refuses to leave their face after they have taken the car for a quick drive! Our new campaign salutes this car lover, this Fiat lover.”

     

    FCA India is undertaking a 360 degree communication approach across mediums including print and television, hoardings, radio, digital, testimonial films etc. which will run for a span of 45 days.

     

  • ‘No Nonsense’, affirms Soie via new print campaign

    By A correspondent

     

    SOIE, the leading fashion lingerie and apparel brand from the house of Ginza Industries has unveiled its new print ad campaign. Through a stellar sequence of creative visuals that straddle the world of fashion and art, the brand aims to foster a deeper connection with its style-conscious, independent and modern women consumers. The central theme of the campaign is “No Nonsense” and each ad and communication line embodies this motif.

     

    Amrit Sethia

    Speaking on the launch, Amrit Sethia, COO, SOIE, says “Through this campaign, we wish to illustrate the fearless and confident attitude of our customers. The creatives are an extension of their personality and will therefore help them identify better with SOIE. The campaign also projects the brand as an affordable premium brand which is naturally comfortable and superlative in quality. We will run this campaign across leading print publications and digital platform for a wider reach.”

     

    The campaign creatives showcase surreal landscapes in the most exotic locales inthe scenic islands off the eastern Gulf coast. The blue tone of the visuals creates an ethereal effect which instantly elevates the product and the brand and helps them stand apart from the clutter. It also eliminates the metrics of race, colour and ethnicity from the equation which is a huge advantage while establishing a unique brand image, within the country and across continents.

     

    The messaging is in sync with the panache and persona of the SOIE wearer. The campaign exemplifies the intrepid and bold attitude of the brand’s customers as well as their knowledge of their own individuality and power. The most renowned international photographers, directors, models, production teams and stylists have worked on the SOIE campaign for its stunning execution.

     

  • DDB Mudra Group to launch TRACK DDB

    By A correspondent

     

    DDB Mudra Group launches Track DDB in India on October 1, 2015.

     

    Track DDB will be DDB Mudra Group’s brand to address the increasingly complex Data led world of Marketing Communications. With sweeping changes influencing the way consumers connect with brands and companies today, it is important to track the consumers’ decision-making journey and develop unique consumer centric perspectives and solutions.

     

    Earlier this year Track DDB opened offices in Canada, Germany and Singapore and will soon be expanding its presence into other global markets.

     

    As a starting point Track DDB will be launched in India with the existing RAPP India clients moving to Track DDB. These clients will include HDFC, Aditya Birla Group, FBB, Royal Canin, Loyalty Solutions, VGuard, among others.

     

    Madhukar Kamath

    Making the announcement in India, Madhukar Kamath, Group CEO & MD, DDB Mudra Group says, “The launch of Track DDB is a great opportunity for us to create a mainstream offering in this hyper-connected Data Digital World. Track DDB will offer creative solutions across connected touch points to address today’s consumer.”

     

    Track DDB will commence with presence in Mumbai and Delhi with a roll out in Bangalore in the near future.

     

    Services that will be offered include Creative Services, Data & Digital Analytics, Database marketing, CRM, digital & mobile marketing services.

     

    Venkat Mallik

    Venkat Mallik, President, Track DDB India said, ‘Track DDB will be Data Driven Agency for the Digital World which will bring the best thinking to address new age consumers. The new world of marketing calls for a complete overhaul in thinking about marketing communications solutions across consumer touch points and Track DDB will bring these to clients. Track DDB will offer solutions customized to specific industry verticals across FMCG, IT & B2B, Financial Services, Retail, Automotive, and Real Estate amongst others.’

     

  • Srinivasan Swamy re-elected IAA India President

    By A Correspondent

     

    The India Chapter of International Advertising Association elected Srinivasan Swamy, Chairman of R K Swamy Hansa Group and Vice President-Development of IAA Asia Pacific, for the fourth consecutive term as its President. “I am humbled by the confidence shown by the members in choosing me to head this international body in India. The last three years have been exciting in that we demonstrated to the marketing and advertising community through the initiatives and events we held that IAA is a thought leader in many respects. Further the awards that we have instituted were both relevant and meaningful,” said Swamy.

     

    Neeraj Roy, Managing Director and CEO of Hungama.com was re-elected as the Vice President for the third term. Monica Tata former MD of HBO India was re-elected as Hon. Secretary. Janak Sarda, Joint MD of Deshdoot publications was elected as the Honorary Treasurer.

     

    In addition, the following five members were elected as members of the Managing Committee: Abhishek Karnani, Vishakha Singh, Jaideep Gandhi, Anand Sankeshwar and Manish Advani. Kaushik Roy continues on the Committee as the Immediate Past President.

     

    Pradeep Guha, Area Director, IAA Asia Pacific said “the last few years have seen considerable momentum in terms of the activities IAA has been involved in. This has been reflected in the World Board recognizing the India Chapter as the Best Chapter twice consecutively. I am delighted that Srinivasan Swamy will be steering the India Chapter of the IAA this year as well. It could be a period of continued growth as well as consolidation. The presence of young leaders on the Managing Committee augurs well for the future of the IAA”.

     

    At the first Managing Committee meeting immediately after the AGM, five additional members were co-opted as per IAA Constitution. These were: M V Shreyams Kumar, Dr Bhaskar Das, Ashok Venkatramani, C V L Srinivas and Pradeep Dwivedi.

     

    In addition, the following senior professionals were invited to be part of the Committee: Pradeep Guha, Ramesh Narayan, Sam Balsara, M.G.Parameswaran, Raj Nayak, Atit Mehta, Vikram Sakhuja and Kunal Lalani. More members are likely to be inducted in the next few weeks.

     

  • Advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on: SIMC Brand Comm Conclave

    By A Correspondent

     

    Anything you knew yesterday is no longer valid, as something has changed while you slept. Creativity and ideas are no longer the preserve of advertising agencies.  It is the clients as well. The clients are thinking innovation, performance and that’s where change comes from. As advertising agencies, we have to see it as an era of new opportunities and new horizons. Make it simple, keep it simple and communicate in the simplest possible terms.” These are words of wisdom from Colvyn Harris, former JWT South Asia CEO and  now Executive Director – Global Growth & Client Development at JWT at the  Annual Brand Communication Conclave hosted by Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune, on Sunday (October 4).

     

    Other than Harris, senior industrypersons present at the event included Josy Paul, Chairman and CCO, BBDO; Suman Srivastava, CSO, FCB Ulka; Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director (Commercial Vehicles) and member of Board of Directors, Tata Motors; Ravi Deshpande, Chairman and CCO, Whyness; Jitender Dabas, NPD and VP, McCann; Bharatesh Salian, VP and Head Strategy, Razorfish; Michelle Suradkar, HR Director, Lintas; Kapil Arora, President, Ogilvy North; Hari Krishnan, MD, Zenith Optimedia; Debarpita Banerjee, formerly Executive VP, MarComm-Fox International; and Sumantra Sengupta, CEO, PI Communications. The panel discussions were moderated by Prof Chandan Chatterjee, Director, SIMC and Dean, Faculty of Media, Design and Communications, Symbiosis International University, Vikas Mehta, Consultant and Ex-GM, Havas Worldwide; Pradyuman Maheshwari, Editor-in-Chief and CEO, MxMIndia and Adjunct Professor, SIMC.

     

    The theme of the Concalve was ‘Advertising at Crossroads’ and the attempt was find answers to the all-important question: Will suits, mavericks and right brain ones find new, path-breaking ideas to overcome the several uncertainties the industry is facing today?

     

    While making his keynote remarks, Harris highlighted several issues the industry faces today like the deficient noticeability value in print. “The digital opportunity is amplification and engagement. Apps is a new thing, website will be fading and apps will be flourishing. App aggregates your information and makes your work easier. Since 2008, there have been 100 billion apps that you can download and on an average 119 billion apps for iOS users,” he said.

     

    The first panel discussion was titled ‘Traditional Advertising- What about thou?’ Ravindra Pisharody said that the ever-changing nature of advertising may result in every new medium of today attaining the status of being traditional tomorrow, mentioning that “change will be continuous.”  Taking this discussion further, Hari Krishnan said, “First we need to understand there isn’t traditional or non-traditional media. The moment you take positions, dissonance happens. There is media and there is a lot of intertwining of media.” “It is true that there are multiple (consumer) personas. Humans are like smartphones, having multiple dimensions, each having a different persona. Therefore, media is becoming more exciting and challenging,” said Suman Srivastava.  Josy Paul believed that there is no single medium to address the cultural and social tension. It is about harnessing collective energy to solve problems.

     

    Next up was the panel with the topic ‘Consumers don’t spend time with the technology, they spend time with emotions.’  Said Ravi Deshpande: “The consumers has moved way ahead and his response to brands is changing. In digital, if the experience is not smooth, people will move away. The emphasis is on creating great content and whether people can engage and spend time on content rather than the frivolous part of it. For moneycontrol.com, we simultaneously created content as the finance minister spoke. It was real time and a great success.”

     

    Added Bharatesh Salian, “It is not about what the client wants, it is about what the consumer needs.”  The panellists also focused on creating an emotional connect with the consumers. Jitendra Dabas said: “Idea along with technology is a wow factor for consumers” and Sumantra Sengupta added: “The idea was always there but the format changed and that is technology… Technologically driven and bright people are needed to drive the big idea.”.

     

    The third panel of the conclave explored the topic, ‘Talent Management: Honey you shrunk the talent’. Said Kapil Arora: “Specialised learning is important. If you can show that value, that difference. People with specialized learning will shine more. It’s not all gloom and doom. Both sides are still discovering. If you bring talent to the table then the conversation goes upstream.” “Its very easy to make things complex. At the end of the day there is a fixed budget. You need to be aware of all the options and “final synthesis in delivery needs to simple”

    Michelle Suradkar expressed that the advertising field offers you the opportunity to working on a plethora of platforms, clients and products. The added excitement comes from seeing your work everywhere out there, influencing and changing behaviour and choices. She advised the aspiring brand communication professionals that, “Some passion for what you do, curiosity, and a hunger to learn will take you places.” Colvyn Harris, resonating with Michelle Suradkar quoted Jerry Della Femina’s famed quote: “I honestly believe that advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.”  Said Debarpita Banerjee: “Twenty  back, culture was the tipping point. Now a lot of youngsters are looking for impact and the difference that they can make.”

     

     

    The conclave also witnessed the finale of SIMCatalyst, an intra-institute competition which had the senior MBA cohort fight out fiercely in order to give the winning marketing and communication strategy presentation for the iconic American brand, Indian Motorcycles.

     

  • Happy wins creative mandate for Lookup

    By A Correspondent

     

    Lookup has appointed Happy Creative Services to handle its creative partner. The appointment is for both the communication mandates, traditional and new age media.

     

    Lookup is a free hyper-local messaging app to chat with any local business. The application was launched earlier this year without much fanfare. Even so, due to its simplicity and relevance to consumers and businesses, it has managed to hit a million downloads within the first 9 months with over 70,000 merchant signups.

     

    Deepak Ravindran, a serial entrepreneur, who has spent over a decade in the messaging industry believes that chat is the future of commerce and envisions Lookup to become the Google of Offline for finding and ordering anything from a cup of latte to a prescription drug from any local store near you.

     

    Currently serving Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, Lookup will soon be launched in 10 major cities by end of this year.

     

    On the partnership with Happy, Deepak Ravindran, Founder of Lookup said “Happy brings to us the perfect combination of sound strategy, creativity, professionalism and young perspective. The brands they’ve built are proof of their capabilities. The team is made of young early adopters who have a pulse on what’s happening today as well as foresight of what will set us apart in the future. That’s very important for a tech-business like ours.”

     

    Speaking on the association, Praveen Das, CCO and Co-Founder of Happy Creative Services said “It’s interesting when both parties are wowed by each other. Deepak is a young founder. And he already has a few startups in his portfolio. He is bold, unafraid and just goes for it. His previous ventures have circled around similar themes, so his learnings are vast. We believe that hyper local is not the next big thing but the way forward now. Lookup partners with us during exciting times.”

  • AAAI to organise day-long Leadership Workshop

    By A Correspondent

     

    Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) announced that under the aegis of the AAAI Prowess brand, a one-day Leadership Workshop will be held on 15th October 2015 at AAAI’s Training Centre. This workshop has been titled ‘Unleash The Leader Within’ and is targeted at young managers with 5-10 years of experience and those who have moved to a leadership role managing teams of 3 to 10 people. The workshop to be conducted by Prakash Iyer will focus on practical advice, powerful tips and actionable strategies that can be put to use right away by participants and is designed to meet the following objectives:

    • Learn  what successful leaders do
    • Becoming a better coach, a builder of great talent
    • Communicate better
    • Get better at working with people
    • Leverage the power of story-telling and building your own leadership brand
    • Build winning teams and become an inspirational leader

     

    Commenting on the workshop, AAAI President Dr MG Parameswaran said, “We announced this workshop based on feedback we got after our first workshop on Negotiation Skills organised by AAAI recently. And when one talks of leadership, who better to conduct such a workshop than Prakash Iyer who has successfully helmed companies across various industry verticals in leadership roles including being CEO of the victorious Mumbai Indians franchise during the last IPL season.”

     

    Prakash Iyer has spent nearly three decades in various companies selling everything from soaps and colas to yellow pages and diapers before deciding in 2014 to step out of the corporate world to pursue his passion for writing, speaking and helping other people unleash the leader within. In his last role, he was the Managing Director of Kimberly Clark Lever in India. Apart from being a best-selling author and a leadership coach, Prakash is also an independent director on the board of Xerox India and an advisor to Multiples (a Private Equity fund).

     

  • Paper Boat takes trip down memory lane again for new product offering Anar

    By A Correspondent

     

    Paper Boat has announced the launch of its new television campaign. The campaign will promote its new fruit offering – Anar and also Aamras.

     

    Conceptualized and written by Lowe Lintas, three short stories (two Anar and one Aamras) explore memories triggered by the products themselves, a core insight that the brand has built its entire portfolio on. The campaign was shot over three days at various locations in Mumbai. The introductory films of Anar showcase a beautiful flashback narrative of a young woman and a man where they revisit their pasts through the drink. The third film re-creates the magic of Aamras, which is also a favorite by volume.

     

    If the first campaign had the signature penmanship of Gulzar, the new campaign matches strides, with lyrics penned by the multi-faceted Swanand Kirkire. Rounding it off is an adaptation of Malgudi Days soundtrack along with the voice of effervescent Usha Uthup who signs off with the brand message.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Rajesh Ramaswamy, Executive Creative Director, Lowe Lintas, said, “Paper Boat is a brand that is very dear to us. The very name puts a smile on everyone’s face. The passion the client has for the brand is infectious. The way they approach everything is straight from the heart. The best thing is that when you are dealing with the topic like memories, there can be no expert on it. Everyone’s opinion counts. Maybe the essence of the brand makes everyone want to be a part of it, because everyone is right.”

     

    The 30 and 20 seconders are supported by a marketing plan that is designed to maximize reach for the new product. This includes airtime across general entertainment channels (GEC), infotainment, English entertainment, movies, niche regional channels and prominent spots during theIndia-South Africa Series.

     

    Excited about the campaign launch, Neeraj Kakkar, Founder – Chief Executive Officer, Hector Beverages Pvt. Ltd., said, “Picture fluttering butterflies in your stomach on your first science project submission or the first time on a jet plane or that first dreaded day at your dream job. Our second campaign is equivalent to those many important firsts. It is an exciting second. Our drinks are a bridge between then and now; the films are a reflection of this thought, brought to life in a manner that is contemporary. We are delighted with how Swanand Kirkire’s lyrics and Usha Uthup’s voice bring life to our vision, making these videos all the more evocative.”