MxMIndia

Tag: R Balki

  • Lowe Lintas doesn't allow Ogilvy fifth consecutive 'Agency of the Year' title by 35 points as Hindustan Lever gets past Cadbury by 50 points

    Lowe Lintas, HUL win big at Effie 2013

     

    By Shobhana Nair

     

    It’s a fraternity which loves surprises. And the thousand-and-a-half-odd members of India’s advertising and marketing industry witnessed just that on Friday evening. The large contingent from Ogilvy & Mather India has made a habit out of winning big at the award events it participates in.  But the crew from Lowe Lintas ensured that the adlanders in black (as Ogilvy staffers always turn up at trade events) don’t experience their fifth consecutive win at the Effie, the annual advertising effectiveness awards conducted by the Advertising Club. Lowe won the coveted Effie Agency of the Year 2013 outwitting Ogilvy & Mather by just 35 points in the final tally. “This is one night of fun and party for 2500 bucks. We can’t have a cheaper party than this,” chuckled R Balki, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer at Lowe Lintas while celebrating his team’s victory.

     

    But it’s not that Pandey’s O&M cut a sorry figure. Other than scoring 130 points as compared to Lowe’s 165, Ogilvy also secured the Grand Effie for its Lifebuoy Roti campaign for Hindustan Unilever. Said Pandey who is Executive Chairman and. Creative Director, South Asia of the agency: “We have come first so many times and it feels great that Lowe is enjoying their win. Of course, being second is not a great feeling. You need to try harder.” The Aadat Campaign for Cadbury’s Bournvita and the Ear Muffs activation and Made for You campaign for Vodafone helped Ogilvy win its three golds.

     

    The other three agencies in the Top 5 were McCann Worldgroup, JWT and Publicis Communications at 60, 40 and 35 points respectively. Nakul Chopra, CEO, South Asia at Publicis admitted his agency could have done better but he’s bullish on the year ahead. “I am not happy and I think the kind of work that we will do in 2014 is what I am excited about. I think in the years to come Publicis is going to be a brand which will be known for quality work,” he said.

     

    From the client side, Hindustan Lever bagged the ‘Effie Client of the year’ after the total points came to 95. The campaigns for its brands Kissan and Lifebuoy were clear favourites of both the jury and the crowds at the awards. “Well, I think these awards are for effectiveness and we are quite delighted and proud to have received these awards,” said Hemant Bakshi, Executive Director – Home & Personal Care of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Chairman, Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA).

     

    Cadbury India which emerged the Client of the Year in 2011 and 2012 came second with 55 points.  “It is always a joy to win a few awards because it is recognition by the industry of the work that we have done,” said V Chandrmouli, Executive Director, Chocolates and Biscuits, Cadbury India. “Over the last few years, we have been getting recognition which pushes us to do better work,” he continue as Siddhartha Mukherjee, Director – Chocolate Category & Media added: “We have had a long-standing partnership with our agencies like Contract and Ogilvy who have produced excellent work over the years. And to get any award is a great reward to that partnership.”

     

    This year, the number of entries leapfrogged 20 per cent to 419 from 52 agencies participated while 1200 tickets were sold for the awards night.  On his impressions as the curtains came down on Effie 2013, Ajay Kakar, Chief Marketing Officer – Financial Services, Aditya Birla Group who was Chairperson of the Effie 2013 Committee said:  “Effie has grown in participation therefore in stature and respect which is gratifying. This is an awards show which is beyond question and controversy. Both agency and client happily participate at various stages.”

     

    Underscoring the role of the advertising effectiveness awards, K V Sridhar, Chief Creative Officer India subcontinent at Leo Burnett said: “Creativity will not matter without effectiveness and effectiveness doesn’t exist without creativity. The combination is what really works. This is why Effie is the most coveted award in India. Also, the fact is that there are no controversies attached to it.”

     

     

     

    Delighted: Hemant Bakshi

     

    Given the importance of advertising and promotion for its brands, it’s not surprising that Hindustan Unilever was crowned ‘Client of the Year’ at Effie 2013.  A quick Q&A with Hemant Bakshi, Executive Director – Home & Personal Care of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) on the win.

     

    How important are awards like the Effie for an organisation like Hindustan Unilever?

    Well, these awards are for effectiveness and we are quite delighted. We are proud to have received these awards.

     

    There’s this big debate about creativity versus effectiveness? What matters to you more?

    Well, it is good to know that we have created value through what we do in marketing. We acknowledge the external appreciation that we’ve got.

     

    And what are the goals you have set yourself for 2014?

    Clearly, we have to sustain what we achieved in 2013.

     

     

    In advertising, you are supposed to be more creative to be effective: R Balki

     

    If there was joy in breaking the winning run of Ogilvy at the Effie, Lowe Lintas & Partners’ R Balki was understating it.  A quick Q&A with the agency’s celebrated Chairman and Chief Creative Officer.

     

    How important are awards like the Effie you?

    What is important is to do the kind of work that you want do for the clients. Being able to do that right through the year and being satisfied with your own. Award or no award can’t increase or decrease the value of your work. You should know the value of your work before you have won or lost.

     

    There’s this big debate about creativity versus effectiveness? What matters to you more?

    I don’t know the difference between these two. In advertising, you are supposed to be more creative to be effective. Obviously, there’s connect but both are passé words.

     

    Apart from your work, which ads have managed to impress you?

    I love Ogilvy’s work. The Roti activation campaign for Lifebuoy was good. In fact I am a fan of their work.

     

  • With agencies going in for their internal awards, that's the question many seem to be asking in adland

    Is it Goodbye Abby given internal & international awards?

    By Pritha Mitra Dasgupta & Shambhavi Anand

     

    What happens when an industry loses its faith in its own awards? In the case of Indian advertising, agencies seem to have found a solution by launching inhouse awards.

     

    While Lowe and Partners launched ‘The True Show’ a few years ago, Ogilvy & Mather just held its first internal award, the Envies.

     

    With other agencies too planning their own inhouse celebrations, does this mean that the days of the industry awards such as the Abby are numbered? “I don’t think so,” says Arvind Sharma, president of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) that organises Goafest where the Abby awards are conferred.

     

    “The last 25-30 years that I have seen, big agencies tend to pull out of award shows. In ad award shows big agencies don’t count.

     

    It is the creatively hottest agencies that matter. People have come and gone in Goafest. While that decision should be respected, it has no bearing at all on the future of the show. The show will go on.” But the advertising industry remains divided.

     

    Piyush Pandey

    Piyush Pandey, executive chairman and creative director at Ogilvy & Mather India and South Asia, says that his and other agencies are sending out a message to the organisers of industry award shows by holding their own in-house awards. “If the industry comes up with an award show which is believable and credible then we will participate,” he says.

     

    R Balakrishnan, chairman and chief creative officer of Lowe Lintas, says that message has been going out for a while, but the ad fraternity hasn’t got it yet.

     

    R Balakrishnan

    “Advertising has a purpose and how creative you are is that purpose. Who better than the agency that has created it to judge it,” he says, predicting that winning an Envie will make creatives at O&M happier than winning an industry award.

     

    Raj Kurup, founder and creative chairman of Creativelandasia, which pulled out of Goafest this year, has been vocal about scam ads in Goafest and how the event has lost its focus. “Whether it is an internal award or an industry award, I would welcome anything that celebrates fantastic real work that has made difference to the business,” he says.

     

    Sajan Raj Kurup

    Leo Burnett, which has a global assessment team and a unique scoring pattern that evaluates the agency’s internal work, has planned something special for its Indian winners in 2014.

     

    “We have very big plans for Cannes Lion 2014 and we are planning to send 25 people including creative, account management and planners.

     

    Saurabh Varma

    Teams that will score high in internal assessment will be a part of this, so will be the employee of the month and the previous Cannes Lion winners,” Saurabh Varma, CEO at Leo Burnett India, says.

     

    While a senior official in Leo Burnett says that the agency will not participate in Goafest 2014 because it has shifted its focus to Cannes Lion 2014, Mr Varma says, “We are still making up our mind on Goafest.”

     

    In fact, there are many in the industry who believe that while internal award shows of Lowe and O&M make a great statement, the industry award shows will co-exist. Josy Paul, chairman and chief creative officer at BBDO India, believes the two should not be combined.

     

    “This is O&M seeking external input and I think it’s gonna be respected for that. If more people do things like this, it just shows the industry is more united,” he says.

     

    Rohit Ohri, executive chairman at Dentsu India Group, says the Goafest is a larger forum for discussing industry issues.

     

    “So there is nothing like loosing sheen. But yes the competitive spirit that agencies like Ogilvy bring about will be missed,” he says. Agrees Vandana Das, president at DDB Mudra Group.

     

    “Old forums such as Goafest are places where great minds get together to celebrate great work. But it is not necessary that there will be only one such forum. There can be more,” she says. Like all other issues, the Indian advertising industry will remain divided on this one.

     

    But if there is one agenda where they unite, it is that the industry bodies should introspect the reason for the plight of the agencies from the award shows and try and bring them back.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2013, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

  • And how the industry got together to salute the best from the best

    Envies 2013 | Industry’s Envy. Ogilvy’s Pride

    By A Correspondent

     

    When Ogilvy backed out of the Abby last year, the Oscars for the Indian advertising fraternity, the awards show had surely lost some sheen. But then Lowe, the agency headed by R Balki, had been skipping the Creative Abby for some years and the show had continued without a break.

     

    In June this year, Mr Balki held an internal awards called the True Show, celebrating 10 years of “not giving a damn about awards”. On Monday, Piyush Pandey and his core team of Abhijit Avasthi and Rajiv Rao played host to the Envies. Billed as Ogilvy’s finest, the entries were judged by a cross-section of industry seniors. The underlying message was clear: the winning commercials were not just the agency’s best, but also that of the entire Indian advertising industry.

     

    If Goafest had the seawaves, the Envies were held in a hotel overlooking the calm Powai Lake waters. The event started at 3pm and went on till past midnight. Adpersons-turned-artists Jiten and Sumer from the label ‘BoseDK’ showcase their works and rise to superstardom, followed by awardwinning journalist and radio storyteller Neelesh Mishra. There was fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukjerjee who was in his element in a Q&A. “Travel in the 3-tier compartment of a train to get a feel of India,” he said. Or this: “Convince large corporates to make Friday Dressing into wearing Indian woven clothes.” There was a stand-up comedy act by Tanmay Bhat and Rohan which had the audience in splits. After the bulk of the awards were done, Chief Guest Amitabh Bachchan made an appearance and was interviewed by former Storyboard anchor Anuradha Sengupta. Mr Bachchan was felicitated with a ‘Beyond Envies’ award.

     

    The Envies were internal awards of Ogilvy India, but the jury comprised biggies like DDB Mudra’s Sonal Dabral, BBDO’s Josy Paul, Taproot India’s Agnello Dias, CreativeLand Asia’s Sajan RaJ Kurup, Wieden+Kennedy’s V Sunil, McCann’s Akshay Kapnadak, Lowe Lintas’ Arun Iyer, Contract’s Ashish Chakravarty, Grey’s Malvika Mehra and Strawberry Frog’s Raj Kamble.

     

    Said Mr Pandey: ” I think Envies have to be interpreted in two different ways: the dictionary meaning of it is jealousy, which sounds a bit negative. In my mind, the Envies are about appreciating what others are doing and saying I wish I had done that kind of work.”

     

    And he added: “Normally in the industry awards you end up winning 60 or more trophies but at the Envies, we have confined  them to 25 per year. We are kind of being harsh on you but that is only to being in the spirit of self-improvement and raising our creative bar further.”  But this year, the organizers were more accommodative. Thirty-five awards awards were given away, but from next year, it will only be 25. The ceremony happened briskly, sans any speeches. Google’s Reunion ad won the Grand Prix or ‘Most Envied’ honour.

     

    The highlight of the evening was the presence of several industry veterans. When asked about internal versus external awards, Sam Balsara, CMD, Madison World said: “It’s a good thing to have them, but according to me it should not preclude them from participating in other industry awards.” Said Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands: “They are not mutually exclusive. There is an internal awards that Group M does but they still participate in industry awards. So it’s an internal call but according to me they are two different things.” Sonal Dabral, Group CEO & MD, DDB Mudra too was of the view that external and internal awards are mutually exclusive. “Why an agency does not enter an external industry award is a decision that’s best taken by the agency itself.”

     

    When he announced Ogilvy’s decision to not participate in the Abby last year, Mr Avasthi, Ogilvy’s National Creative Director, had said the Abbys weren’t energizing his team as they would earlier.

     

    So does the conduct of the Envies mean that Ogilvy will not participate in the Abby at next year’s Goafest? Said Mr Avasthi: “There are certain changes that we are looking for at the Abbys and till the time they do not happen, we definitely would not be thinking about it.” And should the changes happen? “We will think about it then.”

     

     

  • Only one word comes to mind for Balki: Respect. For taking a tough stand, for making a powerful statement, for finding an honest way to reward his employees.

    Anil Thakraney: Lowe Lintas Awards: The Scam Free Zone

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    In my interviews with Balki, I give him stress for not willing to take part in the Abby awards. I have even called him stuck-up and arrogant. Of course, these are tricks one uses during interviews… in my heart, I have always admired the man for keeping away from meaningless award shows. And with each passing year, as GoaFest gets hit by fresh scandals, this view has only got strengthened. I am now convinced Balki’s got it absolutely right.

     

    However, the agency does (given the talent pool) continue to produce good work each year, and the creative folks need to be recognized and honoured. Enter the Lowe Lintas True Show. An event where the agency rewards itself on work they consider to be brilliant. This is not held annually, I suppose Balki decides which year is appropriate for the event, when he feels enough outstanding work has been put out by his agency. The burning question is this: What value can an award have if it’s not judged by an independent jury? This ‘minor’ issue is irrelevant to Balki, because he doesn’t respect the jury members Goa Fest usually appoints.

     

    The result: No controversies, no bad blood, and most importantly, no scam ads. Everyone has a good time at the event, as did I on Tuesday. I caught up with long-lost buddies, and because I have worked with Lintas in the past, it was almost like homecoming. I was present at the previous True Show event as well, and that was a smaller gathering. This year was a mega affair, the venue was grander, and it was packed with Lowe’s employees, creative directors from rival agencies, members of the press, and some Lowe clients. With such a large turnout, and after a few Patiala pegs, it was difficult to locate people you want to meet, I missed saying hello to many. Booze bottles as trophies is an idea I most liked. Suddenly, after all these years, I want to win an award, hic!

     

    But the most touching part of the event was Lintas honouring its rivals, for work that Balki and his team envy. And what this does is make the show bigger than just the agency, it turns The True Show into an industry event. The award given away to O&M on their work for The Hindu was richly deserved. I am not sure if the work for Gujarat Tourism deserved to be honoured, but that could be because of Balki’s soft corner for Amitabh Bachchan, the state’s brand ambassador. Scam award chhe, Balki! Haha, just kidding.

     

    Net net: Only one word comes to mind for Balki: Respect. For taking a tough stand, for making a powerful statement, for finding an honest way to reward his employees. And most importantly, for having a blast in the process.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • Lowe Lintas shone at the True Show – an anti-awards show that nevertheless celebrates good work.

    The truth about awards

     

    By Johnson Napier

     

    The words inscribed on the invite itself were unusual – celebrating ten years of not giving a damn about awards. In this age of cut-throat competition where agencies count on awards as a parameter to gauge one’s performance, it would be unwise to think of them serving any other purpose. But that’s what’s different about Lowe Lintas & Partners who think of awards as serving no meaningful purpose and have stayed away from them for a long time.

     

    But with ‘True Show’, that was hosted after a gap of five years to much acclaim on Tuesday night at Shangri-La Hotel in Mumbai, the team from Lowe Lintas managed to bag both attention and accolades from adfolks and friends from the industry as they got down to receiving awards in droves. While it wasn’t an officially certified affair, True Show was an attempt by Lowe to facilitate some great works that have come out internally from the agency in the year gone by.

     

    Having snubbed industry awards all along the past decade, R Balki, Chairman and CCO, Lowe Lintas got down to giving away the internal awards to his teammates as he said, “We genuinely believe as an agency that the awards of today are rigged and therefore don’t make any difference to anybody’s life. Therefore all we want to do with True Show is say that industry awards don’t mean a thing to us. Having said that, True Show is an endeavour by us to recognize inspiring work that has come out of our agency in the last year. True Show is not just about awarding ourselves but about awarding people who helped us achieve our dreams. These include our clients, lyricists, cinematographers, design team etc.”

     

    Post his address, R Balki went on to showcase more than a dozen shortlists of the best works that have come out from the agency in the year gone by. And it was no surprise as to who the favourites for the evening were. Idea, Tanishq, Havells, Lifebuoy and others were awarded top honours at the event that was attended by big advertising honchos from the industry. While the work around Idea was adjudged the best and managed to bag a Gold, it was Lowe’s work for its client Lifebuoy – ‘Help a child reach 5’ – that won the Truly Deserving award. Other works that won Silver & Bronze include campaigns for its client Havells and Tanishq.

     

    Lowe also went the distance in its effort to stay connected with contemporaries as it gave a couple of awards for works by outside agencies. The campaign by Ogilvy & Mather for its client Hindu was the recipient of the True Envy award while DDB Mudra also managed to bag an award for work on its client Big Bazaar. Abhijit Avasthi from O&M and Sonal Dabral from DDB Mudra went up on the podium to personally collect their respective awards.

     

    While one would expect winners to be felicitated with metals or trophies, the winners of True Show managed to walk away with a bottle of Champagne with their name and achievement inscribed on them. No points for guessing as to what Lowe was trying to make from this gesture but the effort indeed received enough appreciation from the likes of Prasoon Joshi, Shashi Sinha, KV Sridhar, Josy Paul, Chax, Agnello Dias and other heavyweights from the industry.

     

    Photograph: Fotocorp

     

  • Unilever's soap brand Lifebuoy spreads hygiene message with healthy handwashing habits

    The soap that saves lives, and other marketing stories

     

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    The latest campaign by Lifebuoy shows a man walking on his hands from his house to the village temple as people follow him because his son turned five. ‘What’s so special about it?’ is the first thought which comes to mind, and this is echoed by the tourist who witnesses it at the end of the advertisement. The answer is the fact that two million children the world over still die before the age of five due to preventable infections like diarrhoea and pneumonia.

     

    The advertisement is nothing but taking forward the commitment of Unilever’s health soap, Lifebuoy, of teaching children healthy hand washing habits. The three-minute film seeks to inspire action from viewers to pledge support for Lifebuoy’s handwashing programmes on the ground.

     

    Saving Lives

    Samir Singh, Global Brand VP, Lifebuoy says, “Our goal is to change the handwashing behaviours of a billion people by 2015. We wanted to tell the world the Lifebuoy story in a deeply emotional way. Our brief was to translate the statistics into something real, personal and powerful. And through this film, that’s just what’s been done.”

     

    The campaign is created by Lowe Lintas. On the film, R Balki, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Lowe Lintas, comments, “A small act like washing hands with Lifebuoy can save a child’s life. This message needs to reach far and wide. So, we created this campaign that can open one’s mind to this amazing message. A campaign that moves people to the extent that they care to share it with others”.

     

    The campaign aims to share the brand’s purpose. And since, social media and technology play an important role in connecting like-minded people who are eager to do something to make this world a better place. The brand wants to tap into this new community of people to inspire them to spread this message of saving lives.

     

    “This is not just about an ad, but about creating an act. It’s an act that will make a real difference. An act that allows individuals, professionals and organizations to come together and collaborate around the common goal of eliminating child deaths due to diarrhoea and pneumonia. This film is the beginning of that journey and a clarion call to all to join this purpose,” adds HUL’s spokesperson.

     

    Roti Alert!

    At the beginning of this year, the brand launched another unique campaign – Roti Reminder.

     

    The Maha Kumbh Mela which sees almost 100 million people descending upon the city of Allahabad turns into a temporary city in itself. And since the infrastructure available is often unable to service the sanitation and health needs of all attendees, infections tend to occur and spread far more easily through transmission of germs, which happens most commonly through infected hands. Hence, Lifebuoy hoped to aid the patrons and attendees by reminding them about the importance of washing hands and protecting oneself from germs. Lifebuoy not only spread the message at key junctures throughout the city through street hoardings and banners. But reminded people to wash their hands before having food through the food itself!

     

    Lifebuoy created a special heat stamp with the message, ‘Did you wash your hands with Lifebuoy?’ and then hired 100 promoters to stand in 100 kitchens spread across the Maha Kumbh Mela and imprint fresh rotis with the Lifebuoy message.

     

    Speaking about the genesis of the idea, Sudhir Sitapati, General Manager – Skin Cleansing, HUL says,” The idea came from the insight that hand washing with soap before eating can prevent transmission of many disease causing germs, but people often ignore or forget to do this simple act. A reminder at the right time can go a long way to ensure this habit is followed. This was the starting thought from which we developed a unique intervention – the Roti Reminder.”

     

    The activation was for a period of one month and started from February 1, 2013. Lifebuoy also provided free soap to attendees at the Kumbh Mela.

     

    The idea helped Lifebuoy reach out to a massive audience, at a fraction of the cost.

     

    The on-going commitment

    Over the years Hindustan Unilever has targeted its memorable campaigns towards achieving its aim, and Lifebuoy’s social mission has been to bring safety, security and health to people through the active promotion of hand washing with soap.

     

    In 2002, Lifebuoy started a campaign known as Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetna, to promote good health practices by actively encouraging people to inculcate good hygiene practices, such as washing hands with soap at least five times a day. From 2002 to 2010, the project touched more than 120 million Indians.

     

    Lifebuoy reached out to nearly 30 million people in rural India over 2010 and 2011 through a multi-brand rural outreach programme called Khushiyon Ki Doli (KKD) or “Caravan of happiness”.

     

    Over the past 10 years, Lifebuoy has taken its hand washing behaviour change programmes to millions of people across the world, and now through its latest campaign it is aiming to change the hand washing behaviour of a whole village in central India – Thesgora, a village with one of the highest rates of diarrhoea. The initiative supports Unilever’s goal to deliver on one of its commitment under its Sustainable Living Plan – to help more than one billion people take action to improve their health and well-being.

     

    By 2015, Lifebuoy aims to change the hygiene behaviour of 1 billion people across Asia, Africa and Latin America by promoting the benefits of hand washing with soap at key times.

     

  • The Lowe+Partners session titled Global India with R Balki and Shekhar Kapur saw the two film-makers share their mantras on how marketers can succeed in India

    India@Cannes: Balki & Shekhar Kapur talk of how to do business in India

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Shekhar Kapur

    One of the most exciting sessions on Day 3 of Cannes Lions 2012 – and not just for Indians – was the one by Lowe + Partners titled Global India. Oscar-nominated film director Shekhar Kapur and filmmaker and Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of Lowe Lintas, R Balki were in discussion with Wired editor David Rowan. On the seminar agenda was a look at the creative heritage of India and its influence on global culture and enterprise. This was the first time that Cannes Lions featured a seminar dedicated to Indian creativity and its global influence.

     

    Introducing the speakers, IPG Chairman Michael Roth stated that the session at Cannes was an indication of the importance of India in the global economy. Speaking of the growing importance and the shifting focus to India, Mr Balki said, “What has changed over the years is that earlier, India was judged globally. Today, India is the jury, be it the global products or ideas.” Talking about Indian creatives on a global platform he admitted that a lot of things don’t make any sense to the rest of the world. But he also pointed out that brands who have tried to implement global theory, have messed up in India. He said, “Global brands have to come to India selling like a local brand. Any global thought has to be highly ‘Indianised’ to be implemented in India. And, it’s a difficult job.” Mr Balki added, “If you want to know India, watch ‘The Story of India’ by Michael Woods.”

     

    R Balki

    Furthering Mr Balki’s point of an ‘Indianised’ idea, Mr Kapur remarked that India was a land of imagination. He said, “The West calls us melodramatic, we call it mythical.” He added that any idea to work in India has to be magically ‘Indianised’.

     

    Speaking on the impact of social media, Mr Kapur agreed that social media was set to change the way we live but not advertising. He also agreed that social media holds an opportunity for India and he said that the new real estate is the social media. He said, “Fifteen per cent of the world’s teenage population will live in India. So there will be a large number of consumers on social media. This will make us an influencing economy, if not a dominant economy.”

     

    Discussing his views on social media and its impact, Mr Balki remarked that social media currently in India is a one-sided communication, where we are expressing ourselves but not accepting messages. Talking about the Indian economy, Mr Kapur said that Indians needs to move from being job-makers to job-creators.

     

    Sharing tips for global brands entering India, Mr Balki said, “Stop looking at India as a market and you will succeed. And, let the Indians do the things in India.” Mr Kapur added, “When the West stops looking at India as a market and starts looking at it as a culture, they’ll make it there.”

     

  • She will be seen in an aggressive multi-media campaign which will be created by Lowe Lintas

    Luxor signs Deepika Padukone as brand ambassador for Pilot

    By A Correspondent

     

    Luxor Writing Instruments has signed on Deepika Padukone as the brand ambassador for Pilot for two years.

     

    Announcing the new face of Pilot, Pooja Jain, Executive Director, Luxor Group, said: “We understand that young consumers today are very discerning of the brands they use. The brands have to match their aspirations, ambitions and personality. Deepika comes across as a go-getter who has made it on her own, is confident of her choices and works hard to achieve what she desires from life. She rightly represents the youth who is passionate and seek excellence in their endeavors. Our association with her is the right fit with many common factors between Pilot and Deepika which appeal to the youth instantly. I am sure this alliance will emphasize the positioning of Pilot series as a choice of young achievers.”

     

    Deepika Padukone would be seen in an aggressive multi-media campaign which will be created by Lowe Lintas. Speaking about the advertisement campaign, R Balki, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas, said: “Deepika is a confident person and represents the youth which is aware and determined. Her personality perfectly matches with Pilot and reflects the achievements of the young generation. The ad campaign for Pilot will keep this synchronicity in mind and will have a young feel.”

     

     

  • Spirituality is on the path of marketing with Baba Ramdev, Art of Living and others foraying into the consumer space

    Trusts of Baba Ramdev, Art of Living etc emerge as large consumer product makers?

    By Writankar Mukherjee & Sarah Jacob

     

    Spiritual gurus and ashrams are widening their reach among the populace not just through their teachings but through products as well.

     

    If Osho slippers are a craze among fashionable youngsters, Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali line of personal care and packaged food products and Art of Living’s body lotions and ayurvedic energizers too are finding takers beyond their followers.

     

    “These products have the potential to challenge some of the top FMCG brands in the market,” Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of hypermarket chain Spencer’s Retail, says.

     

    Industry observers say spiritual trusts such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living, Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved, Aurobindo Ashram, Pujya Bapuji’s Sant Shri Asharamji Ashram, Coimbatore-based Isha Foundation and the organisation that runs Swaminarayan Akshardham are all on the cusp of emerging large consumer product makers.

     

    Some of them plan to widen distribution of their products-so far largely sold at their ashrams-through kirana stores, supermarkets and online retailing. Some are entering into back-end integration for commodity sourcing and are building distinct brands.

     

    Spencer’s plans to sell such products at its outlets-there are more than 200 of them-and is open to offer larger shelf space than even some mainstream brands.

     

    “These organisations have huge brand pull and Ayurveda products always do well. It is a potent pull factor,” says Mr Goenka.

     

    Advertising veteran R Balki thinks it would take a while before these products compete with the established brands, but says they can create a niche for themselves. “These products have a great base or personality-they tend to connote health, nature and purity,” says Mr Balki, chairman of advertising agency Lowe Lintas & Partners.

     

    PROFITS FOR CHARITY

    Baba Ramdev started retailing his Patanjali line of FMCG products via through kiranas and modern retail in April. Acharya Balkrishnan, promoter of Patanjali Ayurved Products and a close aide of Ramdev, said this would allow the firm more than quadruple its sales to 2,000 crore this fiscal from 455 crore in 2011-12. If achieved, this would make Patanjali larger than Fair & Handsome and Boroplus-maker Emami and at nipping distance of Colgate-Palmolive. Patanjali Ayurved says it achieved a net profit of 100 crore last fiscal.

     

    Being not-for-profit organizations, spiritual trusts plough back all their profits to sustain their organisations and charitable work.  If Patanjali has decided that none of the board members will earn from the company’s profits, others too say profits from sales will be used to support their activities.

     

    “Through the sale of the products, Art of Living funds its various service initiatives like the 185 free schools which it runs in the Naxal and the tribal belts of India,” says Umesh Pradhan, trustee at Sri Sri Ayurveda Trust, the FMCG arm of Art of Living. The trust makes creams, shampoos, body care lotion, scrubs, cleansing milk, soaps, ayurvedic energisers and juices.

     

    Isha Foundation, which has recently ventured into the FMCG space, says the foray is to support its various activities. Pondicherry-based Aurobindo Ashram, which forayed into FMCG products as vocational development for its inmates, now retails incense sticks, soaps, candles, perfumes and furniture through Khadi Bhandar and even in overseas.

     

    HOME, AWAY & ONLINE

    Consumer goods companies take years to build a distribution channel and consumer base while devoting large investments into branding. Big ashrams already have a loyal consumer base among their devotees running into millions.

     

    “Our devotees are our primary consumers,” says Mr Pradhan of Art of Living, which claims it has more than 300 million followers across the world. It sells its products through ‘Divine Shops’ set up at locations where it organises its programmes, as well as through the world’s largest online retailer Amazon.

     

    Ahmedabad’s Sant Shri Asharamji Ashram sells its products through outlets at ashrams, mobile vans and at devotees’ homes.

     

    Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the socio-spiritual Hindu organisation that runs Swaminarayan temples and Akshardham in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, retails at 800 temples across India, US and UK. Its chyawanprash, honey, oil, tea, shampoo and dental care products, sold under BAPS Amrut brand, are also retailed online.

     

    Baba Ramdev, meanwhile, has big-ticket plans for rural India. His Patanjali Ayurved plans to launch swadeshi seva kendras with self-help groups by August.

     

    “We hope to open around one lakh swadeshi kendras, especially in villages with less than 3,000 people so that they become self-sufficient and empowered,” says Mr Balkrishnan of Patanjali Ayurved.

     

    BETTING ON HEALTH, CULTURE

    So what ties spirituality with consumer goods? “Once you come into the spiritual path, you understand how it is connected with the body and mind. You tend to become conscious of chemicals being used on your body and prefer more organic food,” says CR Sudarshan, a volunteer at Art of Living’s ayurvedic clinic and its retail chain Divine Shop in Bangalore.

     

    Sant Shri Asharam ji Ashram’s brochures say its products extend the benefits of “the pristine rishi culture to the masses at lowest cost possible”. Patanjali Ayurved is pitching its products as “swadeshi,” claiming they are at least 30% cheaper than national brands.

     

    Inputs from Sagar Malviya in Mumbai

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2012, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

     

     

     

  • This year, Lowe Lintas, will take to the stage to present 'Global India' – the first time the Cannes Lions Festival has featured a seminar dedicated to Indian creativity and its influence globally

    Balki & Shekhar Kapur to present ‘Global India’ at Cannes Lions 2012

    By A Correspondent

     

    R Balki

    The annual Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity kicks off on June 17. Every year a select number of world class advertising networks are invited to speak to the assembled delegates, who converge onCannesfrom all over the world. Some 10,000 delegates, from the agency and client world, attend the festival each year.

     

    This year, Lowe Lintas, will take to the stage to present ‘Global India’ – the first time the Cannes Lions Festival has featured a seminar dedicated to Indian creativity and its influence globally.

     

    Shehkar Kapur

    Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Lowe LintasIndia, R Balki, will be joined on stage by special guest, Oscar nominated Director, Actor, Producer and new media entrepreneur, Shehkar Kapur. Wired magazine Editor, David Rowan, will interview Mr Balki and Mr Kapur on stage, while the seminar will be introduced by Michael Roth, Chairman and CEO of Lowe and Partners parent company, IPG.

     

    Michael Wall, Global CEO of Lowe and Partners said: “At Lowe and Partners, we pride ourselves on our strong capability in emerging markets. We have great, talented leaders like Balki, who manages to successfully meet the challenges presented by globalization ofIndia, while preserving the local culture. We can look forward to a thought provoking seminar from Balki and Shekhar at Cannes Lions, the first time the festival has dedicated a session toIndia.”

     

    Wall added: “This seminar isn’t just for the Indian Cannes delegates to attend,India’s future will play a large role in our industry’s future and should be of interest to all delegates.”

     

    Mr Balki and Mr Kapur will share their thoughts on a variety of topics, including the creative heritage ofIndia, the future ofIndiaon a world stage, Indian advertising,Indiain the digital age and the film and entertainment industry, and discuss their views on the impact of the nation around the world.

     

    Mr Balki commented: “We are very excited to bringIndiato Cannes Lions for the first time and to have Shekhar join us. He has been, of course, a leading Indian creative force, with a world profile, for some years now and is set to inspire the gathered creatives from all over the world, who attend the event. Cannes Lions is really the only truly global festival that celebrates our industry and looks to its future andIndiais at the forefront of that future. We plan to bring all the diversity, colour, creativity and passion that is modernIndia, on stage with us.”

     

    Mr Kapur added: “I am happy for the opportunity to be on the same platform with creative leaders like Balki and Lowe and Partners and look forward to a great, in depth discussion. Social Media is a new force that is asking us to redefine Advertising’s role in society – we have great challenges, but huge opportunities available to us too, by working within communities”.

     

  • Behind every great commercial is super strategy. MxMIndia brings you the brief and the strat as given by the client and whatever else that went into creating a winning ad.

    Ad Strat: Havells Fans are Forever

    R Balki,  Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Lowe Lintas

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: Havells Fans are Forever

     

    2. The Brief: To communicate that Havells fans are forever

     

    3. The thought process behind the creative:

    Havells is known for interesting advertising and their association with the IPL. They have been associated with all the four editions of the IPL so far. This time round they are back with a new campaign for Havells fans which marks the comeback of the yesteryears’ superstar Mr. Rajesh Khanna in his first ever TVC. This iconic superstar is known for an unprecedented mass hysteria and a frenzied fan following in the history of Indian cinema. Never before or never after, has any film star been known for such a fan following. The new TVC for Havells Fans is a tribute to the phenomenon and the relationship he had with his fans.

     

    4. Media vehicles chosen: TV, Print, Internet and in-shop POSM

     

    5. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    The ad has to be a Havells fans ad first, and should not get overshadowed by the presence of any celebrity.

     

    6. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    Yes, as it clearly establishes the fact that Havells fans are forever.

     

    7. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    The thought that Havells fans are forever and the way Rajesh Khanna has been used, doing justice to the idea and the thought. This is the first time that in the fans category, a brand has spoken about this proposition, and in a way like this.

     

    8. Market and client feedback:

    We have got extremely encouraging feedback from the market, including the trade, consumers and also from Bollywood.

     

    Compiled by Shubhangi Mehta, AdStrat appears every Monday. If you wish to see your campaign, featuring here, please write to Shubhangim [at] mxmindia.com with a cc to editor@mxmindia.com

  • 6 Reasons why tonight’s the Big Night @ Goafest

    By A N Chorrea

     

    Yes, Balki doesn’t care an eff about it and the folks at Cag have serious issues about the innumerable fakes that come in as entries, but the Abby is the Abby is the Abby. So why’s it the Badi Raat?

     

    1. Because the Creative Abbys will be presented tonight

     

    2. Because even as some of the Creative Abbys were given away last night (and the Media Abbys too!), the meaty, glamourous ones are happening tonight.

     

    3. Because it will be interesting to see how many metals Agnello Dias nets tonight. Yesterday, wifey Nandini Dias’s Lodestar UM bagged several honours. Tonight could well be Aggie’s. Total domination by the Diases!

     

    4. Remember Bobby quit Mudra half-way, just as Sonal quit Bates half-way… It will be interesting to see the mix of emotions as their ex and current agencies walk away with honours (If it was a television event, I am sure the camera would focus on Bobby every time Mudra gets an award or on Colvyn when Aggie gets it for Pepsi… quite like they do in the film awards where you see Rekha’s expressions on Amitabh, Vivek Oberoi on Salman. Etc etc etc)

     

    5. It’s the last day of Goafest. May as well live it up!

     

    Click here to view all Goafest 2012 stories