BGauss Electric Scooters, along with its agency Admatazz, has launched the next phase of its campaign. In the first part of the campaign, where the brand took over the lifeline of Mumbai’s transportation, the Mumbai local trains, they have now extended their campaign and transformed routine BEST bus rides with captivating visuals.
The campaign adorns BEST buses with visuals showcasing passengers seemingly gliding on BGauss scooters.
Said Priyanka Kabra, Brand Director, BGauss Electric Scooters: “At BGauss, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of marketing. The positive response to our local train campaign has fueled our determination, inspiring us to expand our reach to the Mumbai local buses and magnifying our connection with the city’s heartbeat.”
Added Yash Chandiramani, Founder & Chief Strategist, Admatazz: “Crafting this campaign was not just strategic, but a whole lot of fun. The power of hyperlocal marketing is profound, and while Mumbai has proven to be a phenomenal playground for us, we are eager to infuse that same energy into diverse markets”
American Tourister has unveils a new campaign to launch its new American Tourister Rollio Bags. The film campaign features Ananya Panday and is conceptualised by Makani Creatives.
Said Pradnya Popade, Marketing Communications Head at Samsonite South Asia Pvt Ltd: “American Tourister is a brand for the young and restless who love exploring. The vibe is full of fun and high energy. We’ve taken this energy up a notch with our latest launch, Rollio; bags designed with cutting-edge style for those who #OwnTheRoll. Unveil the future of travel aesthetics with Rollio’s signature roll-shaped silhouette, seamlessly merging chic with functionality. What better way to introduce these bags than by transporting the audience to a whole new verse? A verse inspired by the bags’ innovative and fun design. Choosing Ananya Panday to be a part of the Rollio verse was a natural fit. She’s stylish, fun, and owns everything she does.”
On the campaign execution, Yashtika Vaswani, Digital Client Servicing Director, Makani Creatives added: “Our goal is to captivate the fantastical imaginations of the audience by creating a unique blend of the physical and digital worlds. The power of CGi technology allows us to bring our wildest imagination to life, creating a magical world so accurately inspired by the product.”
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) and Interactive Avenues have reached an agreement to consolidate the content and brand expansion strategies of the Argentine team in India in the coming years.
AFA began operations in the Indian market in 2021, creating content and activations for fans in India and generating regional sponsorship agreements with the largest companies in the region.
Said Claudio Tapia, President of AFA: “For more than six years we have been working steadily on AFA’s expansion plan in the world, developing important markets and regions where we previously had no presence or sponsorship agreements. Today, we can highlight that AFA is one of the sports brands with the greatest presence in strategic markets such as India, China, the Middle East and the U.S. In this case, we are happy to renew our agreement with Interactive Avenues, who is helping us generate a closer link with the Indian audiences and at the same time generate new channels of communication and visibility for our sponsors in the region. We appreciate the trust and will continue working to be a bigger brand every day in India and the rest of the world.”
Added Shantanu Sirohi, COO, Interactive Avenues: “We are delighted to offer differentiated and relatable content that resonates well with Indian audiences and creates a thriving fan community for AFA. We are privileged to be the preferred digital partner for several Indian and international sports teams, and this collaboration will further strengthen our position as a one-stop digital agency for sports marketing.”
Yesterday, happened to be the 40th anniversary of one of India’s most loved brands: Maruti. On December 14, 1983, the first batch of the Maruti 800 rolled out with the first car eventually registered as DIA 6479 was handed over by Mrs Indira Gandhi to Mr Harpal Singh of Delhi.
The key of the first Maruti being handed over; the car before it was restored and displayed at the Maruti Suzuki brand centre adjoining their head office in New Delhi. Photos courtesy Mr KG Verma of Maruti Udyog Limited.
Rarely has any brand once owned by the government firstly survived this long and secondly maintained its market leadership almost since inception. Rarely has a ‘subsidiary’ company overtaken its parent and become the de facto reason for the parent’s sustained global success. Rarely has a mass market brand, literally catering to millions of customers across every corner of the country, become a benchmark in customer-centricity. Maruti is indeed a rare brand, not only in India, but in any market and a case study for all management schools across the world.
Legend says that on that eventful day 40 years ago, when asked to say a few words, Mrs Gandhi started with “Yeh ek chhoti si gaadi ki ek lambi kahaani hai…” [This is a long story of a tiny car…] obviously referring to her son Sanjay’s obsession with building a ‘people’s car’ in India, a la the Volkswagen Beetle, Renault 5 and Austin/ BMC Mini. He had started his early efforts sometime in 1975, with a break from 1997 to 1980. His sudden death in the same year spurred on his mother to ensure his dream gets fructified.
While the numbers, the loyalty, the profitability and the sheer market dominance has done most of the talking for the Maruti brand, the corporate has been telling cagey about its history. And that is the very issue I raise today, as an alumnus and an individual who owes a lot of what I am to the seven rich years I breezed through there in two stints.
There should have been a Maruti Suzuki museum by now, exhibiting all interesting pieces of history, experimental vehicles, the single-seater racing cars, the concept cars, documents, photographs, blueprints and so on. It should have been the pilgrimage of every Indian motorhead, just like the Autostadt for the Volkswagen group. The results the company posts every year, year after year, are… the results and not the reasons. The reasons should have been showcased and celebrated. Sadly, even if numerous proposals were put up for the museum, the top management thought otherwise.
On display before commercial launch at IITF in November 1982 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi; arrival of the first lot of plant machinery from Suzuki, Japan in early 1983 at Madras (then Chennai) port. Photos courtesy Mr Rakesh Gupta of Maruti Udyog Limited.
The company cannot wish its history away, however much the parent wishes to, for its own myopic reasons. ‘Maruti’ is Sanjay Gandhi’s concept and that needs to be recognised. His original office in the Gurugram plant was converted into a ‘Tool Room’. As if that was not disrespectful enough, it was unceremoniously razed to the ground in 2002, in spite of a few protests. Insiders say that in 1983, there were five working prototypes built by Sanjay Gandhi and his team of rag-tag engineers kept in one corner of the plant. There were ‘orders’ from way above to destroy them. Thankfully, one was whisked out and is in a closely guarded private collection. Basically, everything to do with Sanjay Gandhi was to be removed or destroyed.
This is such a contrast to a brand like VW that does not run away from the fact that Adolf Hitler sponsored the idea and encouraged Dr Ferdinand Porsche to build what is popularly called the Beetle. At the Autostadt in Wolfsburg, there is a bust of Major Ivan Hirst, the British army man who revived VW after the war. There is no shame in admitting to the chequered history any memorable has had. Frankness and candour are virtues for any brand, more so a market leader. Running away from it is sad cowardice.
A brand like Maruti is much more than Arena and Nexa dealerships, a robust service network and a digitised buying process. It cannot be constricted to mere products, which may come and go depending on their own brand lifecycles. It is a pillar of India’s story of slow but sure evolution from an under-developed to the world’s fastest growing economy. It stands for all that is good and not so good about India.
The good is the ambition to be truly world-class. The good is to openly accept and incorporate a foreign management system and make it one’s own. The good is to establish the concept of customer satisfaction as the cornerstone of any business. The good is to demonstrate that a ‘sarkari’ [governmental] setup could be efficient, effective and profitable. The good is to help the consumer mature to a level where no brand, however global in repute, can take one for granted. The good is to make mobility affordable to millions of the emerging middle-class.
The not-so-good is to be introverted about its rich legacy and accept the controversial with the laudable. The not-so-good is to not impress upon its parent that it needs both recognition and representation at the global level. The not-so-good is to be defensive about the quality of its people and see them being rightfully treated as global equals vis-à-vis its Japanese counterparts. The not-so-good is to stay away from causes of national importance that look forward to a stand taken by an icon. The not-so-good is to stonewall progress on issues of safety standards and emission norms using its clout to protect its own turf.
Guess that is what truly memorable brands are made of… the good and the not-so-good. Being proud of one’s legacy and milestones is a mark of maturity of a market leader. Being the 40th anniversary, one would have expected major celebrations by the brand in the form of special editions, on-ground initiatives and customer advocacy programmes. And of course, if not a brand museum, at least a coffee table collector’s edition containing the huge repository of photographs and documents that the company and its alumni have. Given that nothing of this has happened and the day has just passed by, the onus lies on us alumni to take the initiative and do things to commemorate this milestone of one of India’s most loved brands ever!
BBH India, the creative agency within the Publicis Groupe India, has unveiled a campaign for jewellery brand, CaratLane.
Said Parikshit Bhattaccharya, Chief Creative Officer of BBH India: “Our insight was clear – a woman should wear what she wants, not what she feels pressured to wear. So, we designed a campaign that beautifully brings out the essence of Caratlane’s Everyday Vows collection, ensuring it aligns with women’s lifestyle and attitude. It’s about embracing the beauty of everyday magic in relationships.”
Added Jennifer Pandya, VP Marketing of CaratLane: “We believe that every day is an opportunity to celebrate love, and a Mangalsutra is the perfect symbol. A modern woman chooses to wear a mangalsutra as a marker of all the little things her husband does to make her feel special, whether it’s making chai in the morning or being her support system. We’ve created a range of gorgeous lightweight diamond Mangalsutra in chains, bracelets, and rings to fit seamlessly into her lifestyle and add a touch of elegance to her every day.”
Gozoop Group has announced a collaboration with Puretech Digital, a digital marketing agency to further enhance and strengthen their brand and media performance capabilities. Both companies will operate independently while working on their joint core strengths of brand and media capabilities.
Said Rohan Bhansali, Chairman and Co-founder, Gozoop Group: “Mergers, acquisitions and strategic collaborations have been an integral part of Gozoop’s growth as an independent agency. Starting from our acquisition of Red Digital in India to 56 Blue Lights in UAE, we have always looked for inorganic opportunities to build stronger capabilities and better serve our clients. In Puretech Digital, we have found a partner with solid media capabilities and synergizing value systems. Through GZPure, the best of creative solutions meets the best of media solutions, leading to seamless integrated solutions for our clientele.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Prashant Deorah, CEO, Puretech Digital added: “We are in a world of complementing skills, strengths, and synergies and working across a customers’ journey is imperative to remain relevant in today’s digital world. And for that deep expertise in brand + performance marketing is paramount. With this as our focus, we are thrilled to collaborate with Gozoop, presenting our joint capabilities in front of customers. Not only do our skills co-exist, our cultures and value system are uniquely aligned and we will endeavour to provide a wonderful customer experience.”
Apollo Tyres has announced the latest chapter in its partnership with Sachin Tendulkar – Performance 10: Where Legends Drive. Wunderman Thompson India has conceptualised and brought Performance 10: Where Legends Drive to life.
Said Satish Sharma, President of Apollo Tyres: “When Sachin gets behind the wheels, we witness the performer in him coming alive. His love for machines has seamlessly merged with his unmatched dedication, resulting in an extraordinary synergy,” “Performance 10 is not just a campaign; it’s a testament to Sachin’s persistence and passion, qualities that resonate deeply with Apollo Tyres. Our tires, like Sachin, are built to excel, delivering outstanding performance under any conditions.”
Added Joy Chauhan, Chief Client Officer at Wunderman Thompson India, who expressed the agency’s excitement about this collaboration: “Partnering with Apollo Tyres and Sachin Tendulkar for Performance 10 has been a thrilling experience for us. We aimed to capture not just the drive, but the essence of Sachin’s persistence and passion. This campaign is a celebration of his spirit and the exceptional performance that both Sachin and Apollo Tyres represent.”
Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched OOH and DOOH (Digital Out-Of-Home) campaigns for its Vredestein tyre brand. Ideacafe has conceptualised the campaign in sync with Team Vredestein.
Speaking about this campaign, Vikram Garga, Group Head, Marketing, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa Apollo Tyres Ltd said: “For the first OOH campaign for the premium Vredestein brand in India we were looking at creating an impact. I believe this innovative campaign with 3D creatives would appeal to the premium customers in Mumbai. We have already identified similar locations in other metropolitan cities, with high consumer base for Vredestein tyres, to roll out striking campaigns.”
Added Nabendu Bhattacharya, CEO, Ideacafe.agency: “We are so proud to have associated with Vredestein and conceptualized what we believe to be a true clutter breaking creative effort for outdoors. Team Vredestein’s belief in setting new benchmarks resonated with us because of which this collective effort has been such a huge success.”
7Up onboards Ranbir Kapoor as the new face of the brand.
Said Shailja Joshi, Category Lead, Cola & Flavours, PepsiCo India: “7Up has long been a driving force of refreshment in India, enchanting consumers with its quirky narratives and iconic TVCs. As we culminate this remarkable year, it gives us immense pleasure to unveil Ranbir Kapoor as the newest addition to the 7UP family. His magnetic charm and widespread appeal perfectly align with the ethos of 7Up, and we cannot wait to create magic on-screen together in the upcoming summer season.”
Castrol Power1 has joined forces with Viacom18 network for reality shows, and Rajni Academy for Competitive Racing (RACR), bike-racing academy. Together, they are set to launch a motorcycling talent hunt. Actor-influencer and avid biking enthusiast, Karan Kundrra, will headline the content series.
Said Sandeep Sangwan, Managing Director of Castrol India Limited: “Castrol Power1 presents India’s Ultimate Motostar on MTV, is a platform uniting motorcycle enthusiasts, enabling them to showcase their skills and train with the best in India and LCR Honda Castrol MotoGP™ Team in Europe. This initiative underscores Castrol POWER1’s unwavering support for India’s racing community, invigorating and nurturing their passion for premier motorcycling.”
Added Lucio Cecchinello, Owner and Team Principal of the LCR Honda Castrol MotoGP Team: “Castrol’s collaboration with Team LCR Honda symbolises our shared vision of pushing boundaries, fostering innovation, and consistently achieving outstanding performance, both on and off the racetrack. Collaborating with Castrol India Limited on the search for ‘Castrol Power1 presents India’s Ultimate Motostar on MTV’ is a testament to our commitment to tap into India’s moto-racing landscape and elevate it. We are eager to witness the extraordinary moto-racing talent in the country and expect a tremendous response to this initiative.”
Said Mahesh Shetty, Head – Network Sales, Viacom18: “This partnership underscores our dedication towards crafting solutions that intricately weave brand USPs into engaging narratives. Viacom18 is always known for interesting reality formats and with ‘Castrol Power1 presents India’s Ultimate Motostar on MTV’ we harness the passion for premier motorcycling racing and elevate it through captivating storytelling. This format specifically created for Castrol, is a prime example of how we seamlessly integrate brand uniqueness into our content, ensuring that it stands out and leaves a lasting impact.”
Iodex, a pain relief brand by Haleon (eka GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), has launched its new advanced product, ‘Iodex UltraGel+’. Rishabh Pant is brand ambassador for the launch.
Said Bineet Jain, Pain and Respiratory Lead, Area Marketing India Subcontinent, Haleon India: “The new Iodex UltraGel+ will redefine the pain relief landscape with its strong formulation and superior penetration providing all-day pain relief with no smell. With double power, Iodex UltraGel+ is the perfect ally for cricketer Rishabh Pant’s need for all-day pain relief while he prepares for his return to the field. As a heritage brand trusted for many generations, Iodex has always helped Indians achieve their dreams by effectively managing body pains, and this new launch is a testament to this commitment.”
TVS Electronics Limited (TVS-E) has appointed Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting as its new communication partner. Through this appointment, Pitchfork Partners will drive marketing communications for TVS-E, building and elevating awareness about the brand.
Commenting on the appointment, Jaideep Shergill, Co-Founder, Pitchfork Partners, said: “TVS Electronics has been pioneering innovative and cutting-edge solutions for decades now through an array of products and services. We are proud to work with this iconic brand and I am confident that our expertise in managing strategic communication for Indian as well as global businesses in the technology sector will play a role in helping them achieve their communication goals.”
Speaking on the appointment, Rangesh AB, Dy. GM, Marketing & Communications at TVS Electronics Limited added: “We are thrilled to have Pitchfork Partners as our marketing communications partner. Their passion for brand building coupled with their comprehensive and innovative approach led us to appointing the team to drive marketing and brand communications for TVS-E. We look forward to leveraging their expertise as our trusted partners as we navigate the dynamic business landscape.”
BGauss Electric Scooters, along with its agency Admatazz, has launched the next phase of its campaign. In the first part of the campaign, where the brand took over the lifeline of Mumbai’s transportation, the Mumbai local trains, they have now extended their campaign and transformed routine BEST bus rides with captivating visuals.
By Avik Chattopadhyay
