“Post-recession customer is going to be infinitely more demanding”

As President and CEO of the world’s fourth largest premium spirits companies, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Matthew Shattock’s task is well cut out for him. Since the third quarter sale of premium whisky remained flat in the West, the beverage arm of the US consumer goods group Fortune Brands...

Good news—mass media advertising still works!

I know there are a lot of people who go around sounding the death knell for mass media advertising. Digital is in, they say. Few among them are likely to have done a digital campaign on their own.

World View

In a nod to its vision of the future, Sony will make its animated hit “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” available to consumers directly through internet-enabled television and Blu-ray players before the movie is released on DVD, says a New York Times report.

Bits & Bytes

London-based radio consultancy United Radio has launched its India operations. The company aims to provide consultation and management intelligence services to the existing operators, investors, the government and the regulatory bodies.

Movers & Shakers

Quasar, the interactive agency owned by WPP and Smile Interactive Technology Group, has set up its second digital agency for the Indian market. Named Blazar, it will be based in Gurgaon.

After Mickey’s makeover, less Mr nice guy

For decades, the Walt Disney Company has kept Mickey Mouse frozen under glass, fearful that even the tiniest tinkering might tarnish the brand and upend his $5 billion or so in annual merchandise sales.

The festive mood was more buoyant this year

This year the festive mood was more buoyant and the number of festive offers was far more compared to the festive period last year. Around 30-35% of the full year's consumer electronics business comes from the festive period.

Significantly high spends on advertising

About 30-35% of annual sales of consumer durables happen during the three months beginning with Onam and concluding with Diwali. This year the festival season was broadly in line with expectations.

Striking strong connect with consumers was the focus

For us the overall theme this festival season was striking strong consumer connect. Besides, we were focused on innovation as well. We launched a “Paint Your Home This Diwali” campaign, which was a unique way to break the clutter and to underscore that our relationship with the customer goes beyond the transactional level.

There was pressure to be prudent on ad spends

Overall, during this festive season, the response was positive, though a slightly lower than expected as monsoons dented the spirits a bit in revenue terms from rural markets. Mobile service is a universal offering, and it is a year round business.

Festive transactions were up more than 50% this year

Festive season is always a critical period for us and we clocked more than 50% growth in our festive box transactions this year.

Mr CMO, how was your diwali?

It was the best period for us in the past two years. We got an overwhelming response from customers this festive season. Ford India registered an impressive 98% increase in sales in the month of October over the corresponding period last year.

TruTV to offer real entertainment

Turner Broadcasting System will soon launch a reality-based entertainment channel in Asia. Christened truTV, the channel, according to a statement from Turner, “will be the only pay TV channel in Asia programmed to give viewers the...

Small was big and less was more during slowdown

Starcom MediaVest Group, the brand communications arm of Paris-based Publicis Groupe, which is one of the world’s top marketing services company, recently released a study on how the recent economic downturn impacted consumers...

Aviva picks up five agencies for its media duties

Insurance company Aviva has shortlisted five agencies for its global media planning and buying account. enithOptimedia, Maxus, Carat, OMD and Initiative are participating in the....

Saving habits change due to downturn

Global market intelligence firm, Synovate has released data from its global money and finance survey, revealing more than half of all respondents across 16 markets have permanently changed their attitudes to saving as a result of the credit crunch.

The rule of mediocrity in advertising

Switch on the television, flip through our multi-coloured newspapers, or tune into any radio station. Chances are that you’d be swamped by some really sad advertising.

“India is recovering now; West may take a while longer”

She has built many global brands and in the process, an image of a performer for herself and her employer of past 30 years, Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide.

The Reality of reality shows

It’s raining reality shows on Indian television with almost all leading broadcast networks airing some reality show or the other on their general entertainment channels.

Movers & Shakers

UPS Global account goes to Ogilvy & Mather Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide has been appointed as the global communications partner of International courier firm, UPS.

Loopholes in sales

IT & consumer electronic majors in India are losing upto Rs 84 lakh per store annually on poor sales effectiveness. According to a survey conducted across seven countries in the Asia....

Latest News

Print Edition

Events

“Post-recession customer is going to be infinitely more demanding”

Good news—mass media advertising still works!

World View

Bits & Bytes

Movers & Shakers

After Mickey’s makeover, less Mr nice guy

The festive mood was more buoyant this year

Significantly high spends on advertising

Striking strong connect with consumers was the focus

There was pressure to be prudent on ad spends

Festive transactions were up more than 50% this year

Mr CMO, how was your diwali?

TruTV to offer real entertainment

Small was big and less was more during slowdown

Aviva picks up five agencies for its media duties

Saving habits change due to downturn

The rule of mediocrity in advertising

“India is recovering now; West may take a while longer”

The Reality of reality shows

Movers & Shakers

Loopholes in sales