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The brand will spread the message in key markets of Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Vellore and many more.

Atul Joshi, Head of Marketing, Personal Care Products Business, ITC Limited, said, “It is our endeavor to offer consumers an unparalleled brand experience through unique opportunities. This initiative by Vivel, we believe, is a perfect opportunity to engage with our consumers, enhance brand awareness and inform about our product offerings.”

Vivel announced the campaign to reach out to women and establish a personal bond with the brand. The initiative gives women an opportunity to interact with the brand. To make everyday special, consumers can experience Vivel’s range of soaps and shampoos as part of a unique offer at an attractive price which is exclusive to the “Palichunu Oru Matram” Home to Home campaign!

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Ogilvy & Mather sees this appointment as another big step in the future growth of OgilvyAction. “Ogilvy India has maintained its leading edge in creative excellence consistently for 14 years, taking marketing communications in this market, to a different league altogether. I am happy to have Vipul with us, as his experience and ideas will provide our clients and brands new and innovative solutions. Raj Kumar Jha will continue to lead the creative output at Ogilvy Outreach (OgilvyAction’s rural and low income
consumer marketing arm),” says Sanjay Thapar, Group President – North & East, Ogilvy & Mather.

Starting his career in 1999 as a Senior Art Director with Contract Advertising for 5 years, Vipul then moved on to Impact BBDO Dubai, Grey WW, Lowe, both in Dubai and then returned to Mumbai to join Law & Kenneth in January 2009. In this span of over 10 years he has worked on brands such as Shopper’s Stop, Cadbury, ICICI Bank, Daewoo, NDTV, Raymond Suiting, Royal Enfield, Zee TV, Wrigley, Guinness, Emirates, Barclays Bank, Dubai Healthcare City, Pepsi Co International(Acquafina, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, 7up), Jumeirah International, Audi, Virgin Atlantic, Dubai Bank, Visa, Unitech, ITC’s skincare, hair & soaps and more.

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At Reliance Media World Ltd., Navneeth will be head the BTL offerings from the Company, across the country, spanning 45 cities. His extensive industry network and ability to lead through effective people management will see him working in tandem with station heads and sales teams across the country, tailor making BTL offerings to suit specific requirement.

Speaking on the appointment, Mr. Rabe Iyer, Business Head – Allied Businesses, Reliance Media World Ltd. said, “Navneeth Mohan’s excellent track record and rich industry expertise promises to work as a huge advantage for our Company. We are today, a one stop shop for advertisers’ marketing requirements across the space of out of home, below the line, digital and radio and our expansive network works as an excellent advantage. Below the line has an enormous business potential a significant focus area and we are happy to have Navneeth with his expertise and proficiency, spearhead this vertical and lead the team to deliver tailor made value creating solutions to clients to suit specific brand needs.”

A post graduate from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Mohan’s proficiency in below the line and events comes from almost a decade’s experience in the events business, at Encompass. Mohan joined Encompass in 2001 as a Client Service Executive and quickly rose to Head of Client Servicing and Business Development for the Mumbai office, before he moved up to head the events vertical nationally for the company in the capacity of Associate Vice President – Event Services. Navneeth’s superlative performance coupled with his ability to lead the team strategically, saw him take on the role as Vice President and Regional Head (West) for the events and activation business before he was further promoted to the role of Vice President & Regional Business Head (West).

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The rewards program is completely free and offers many perks to its members throughout the year. Members can exchange reward points earned by simply purchasing Disney Home Entertainment Blu-ray, DVDs and VCDs titles for merchandise such as movie DVDs, Disney Plushes, Disney books, Hannah Montana Guitar Bag and much more. As consumers collect more and more points the reward values also keep increasing. The higher the points redeemed, better the rewards!

Getting started is easy. Disney fans can register now at www.disneymovierewards.in and instantly become a member. Starting with the launch of “The Princess and the Frog”, every pack will contain a magic code that can be redeemed for attractive rewards. Simply collect the magic codes on Disney Blu-ray, DVDs and VCDs and then enter the magic codes online to earn points. Once enough points have been collected for the desired reward, consumers can redeem them at www.disneymovierewards.in. All rewards will be shipped to the consumer at their doorstep without any additional cost.

Every member will earn 200 points for a Blu-ray purchase, 150 points for a combo packs, 100 points for a DVD and 50 points for an English DVD.

Start earnings Disney Movie Rewards NOW by logging on to www.disneymovierewards.in

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How did MiD DAY extract the smooch in public without plying any hooch? Well, it distributed 12,000 cutting-chai glasses, with the tabloid’s logo, all over the city at prominent places thronged by Young Urban Mobile Professionals Across India (YUMPIs). Those hubs were tea stalls in places like Nariman Point, Regal, VT, Fort, Churchgate, Worli, Parel, Malad, and Vashi.

The plan is to have the MiD DAY logo lavished with kisses for the rest of the year.

In a statement released to the media, Manajit Ghoshal, the MD & CEO of MiD DAY Infomedia Limited, said, “MiD DAY constantly looks at new and innovative avenues to communicate the brand message to the target audience.” Ghoshal said that target audiences were more attentive to brand communication when they were in a receptive frame of mind. “A medium like cutting-chai glasses is not only the perfect way to communicate the brand message but also the best means to engage the target audience during a break.”

Neville Bastawalla, the marketing head of MiD DAY Infomedia, has been quoted as saying, “MiD DAY strongly believes that innovation is the best driver to deliver brand communication. Chai breaks are the perfect medium for our message.”

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And you aren’t convinced it’s true? Okay, ask the 32 minds that bagged the first Pepsi Refresh Grant for their refreshing ideas. These people thought and their thoughts provided a gleam of hope, some succor to people. And when their work was done, they collected a whopping booty worth $1.3 million! And if that’s not rewarding, what is?

The Pepsi Refresh Project initiative is designed to fund good ideas that will help make the world happier. The Project invited individuals and organizations to submit beneficial, achievable, constructive and “shovel-ready” ideas that would make a positive impact on communities, this January. And the whole of the next month ideas and votes poured in at www.refresheverything.com. The Pepsi Refresh Project response itself proved that great ideas need no classroom settings, nor intensive labour in concentration camps —they can simply originate from free unshackled minds — ideas that rock with abundance of life, powerful, creative and fun.

Jill Beraud, CMO and president of joint ventures, PepsiCo Beverages Americas himself endorses the fact that project gyrates on the belief that “great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime, and that the first group of winners proves it true.” And why the 32 deserved their credit is because they dared to think out of the box — thoughts that made school buses more energy efficient and made high school grads more financially literate.

The six categories that the Pepsi Refresh Project was classified into were Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighbourhoods and Education. Each entry was compelling enough to catch public attention with its invigorating freshness. In total, the Pepsi Refresh Project awarded two grants of $250,000, 10 prizes each of $50,000, $25,000 and $5,000 grants. And in terms of the project being a rewarding endeavour — priceless!

Pepsi is partnering with three organizations dedicated to making a positive difference in the world: GOOD, a leading platform for thought and action revolving around pushing the world forward; Global Giving, an online marketplace that connects people who have community and world-changing ideas with people who can support them; and Do Something, the largest non-profit teen charity to make this project a raring success.

And what more? The new round of voting begins April 1. The Pepsi Refresh Project will give away more than $20 million to refresh the world, one idea at a time, in 2010. Each month, Pepsi will award up to $1.3 million in grants to the ideas with the most votes. Pepsi will accept up to 1,000 new ideas every month and the public decides who wins. Vote for your favorite ideas now at www.refresheverything.com.

The Pepsi Refresh Project can be found at www.refresheverything.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/refresheverything or on Twitter, @Pepsi or #pepsirefresh.

What are you waiting for? Put on your thinking caps and mull on what you can do to generate innovative, optimistic ideas to make the society you live in, a paradise on earth!

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Based in New Delhi and with offerings across the country, MoneySaver is the pioneer and industry leader in the sales promotions and couponing sector in India, and helps thousands of consumers to save money on the things they do every day. It has also proved itself as the most unique tool for brand promotion in a cheap and effective way.

MoneySaver is Jasper’s proprietary promotion program catering to all kinds of retail purchases – From dining out to apparel, from grocery to movies and from travel to practically any retail purchase. It’s very simple to use too. All one needs to do is to flash one’s “MoneySaver Card” and get the designated offer!

According to Kunal Bahl, CEO, Jasper – “Through the tie-up with TGIF, we now have a great offer in the “American Food” restaurants’ space for our customers.”

MoneySaver has its origins in the way many of us make purchases, by looking for a good deal. We all see offers coming to us in various forms- banners outside stores, newspaper ads, direct mailers, etc. However, there is always something that doesn’t seem right with these offers- either there is an “up to 50% off” (which usually means you will be lucky to find something you like on a good discount), or a small star on the top right corner which points to “Conditions Apply” (Renders many offers practically unusable), or a dozen other ways terms and conditions are applied to any offer. People at MoneySaver don’t think this was right, and that discounts need to be simple, unconditional and worthwhile. MoneySaver came into existence to simplify your savings everywhere you shop.

MoneySaver is a simple solution that offers the Indian shopper a better informed way to shop. It presents shoppers with information which enables and empowers them to make intelligent decisions.

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Candid Marketing – it is a division of Brain Reserve Marketing Services Pvt. Ltd. It was launched on August 15 1995, as a full-function, national, promotional marketing and event Management Company. It offers clients a wide range of turnkey services that include – Brand Launches and Marketing Events, Contests, Special Offers, Roadshows, Shop-in-Shop programs, Product Demonstrations, Sampling programs, Direct Contact programs, Product Launches and Fulfillment Service.

In its fresh image, the agency will now help its clients activate through solutions that range from media including – BTL, radio, outdoor and print, along with the Internet and mobile marketing.
The new logo has 8 dot-holes arranged in a square. The circles represent creativity and softer things in life, and the square arrangement signifies logical thinking. Further, the dot-holes give a third dimensional approach to the agency by adding depth to the business of activation and helping clients activate their consumers across all media. Also, they have added colours to its new identity, one is blue which represents truth, and the orange represents vibrancy.

Further, Candid Marketing is also taking up lot of new activities like – it is conducting educational digital training programmes for the staff to train them on the overall digital marketing solutions, both in terms of conceptualisation and execution. And, to educate the staff, the agency has tied up with a couple of agencies like – MobiSolv – it will provide innovative mobile solutions; ColourCraft – it will provide advertising and branding marketing solutions on the web; and Wildnet Technologies, which specialises in search engine optimisation.

Moreover, Candid Marketing plans to expand its presence internationally and to do so it is eyeing the Southeast Asian market.

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According to the reports, Manish’s role at Alchemist will be of a mentor and chief strategist, besides pursuing other consulting engagements in an individual capacity.

Manish has also worked with Starcom Worldwide for nearly five years, as Managing Director, West & South.

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Such a deal is bound to effect sales of private labels in a positive way but would also block the entry of some competitors in the market. This initiative has seen a range of companies such as Bourbon biscuits, Cremica biscuits, Pogo chips, Dynamix ghee etc has grab the opportunity and the take the plunge.

According to Muni Garg, marketing head, Bonn Foods Industries said their tie up with Aditya Birla Retail to make cookies under the Feasters has only helped them increase the biscuits volumes. Similarly, Vishal Malik, marketing head, Cremica biscuits said their deal with More was to help Bector Foods Specialties to make inroads in the southern market, as per media reports.

So far it seems like a win-win situation wherein retailers to match up with national brands in quality and packaging are seeking contract manufacturers with product line expertise. MNVV Prasad, DGM (sales and marketing), Indo Nissin Foods said, “If price-conscious consumers enjoy the private label and realise that it is also manufactured by Indo Nissin, they are likely to pick up Top Ramen at another store,” as reported by media.

“There are very few non-branded food FMCG manufacturers in India due to the shortage of incentives in this sector. Therefore, with retailers vouching for quality products they find the need to tie up with existing brands,” said Saloni Nangia, VP, consumer goods and retail, Technopak.
Over the last one year or so, because of the economy slowdown and inflation forcing consumers to go for the cheaper options available in the market, it has made private labels gain traction. While it’s been a situation of collision between big retailers and consumer product makers over trader’s margins, it has led to a number of private product launches by retailers, not to forget, in some cases, even pulling out of big brands from shelves.

Moreover, because the branding efforts for retailers are constrained to in-store display and product promotions only, it has helped them to price their own products at a much cheaper rate then the branded products. In the words of Mohit Kampani, VP, merchandising food and FMCG, Spencer’s Retail, which has tied up with Kolkata-based Gee Pee Foods said, “Regional players are often keen on partnering with retail chains because raw material price increase doesn’t go out of their margins. It becomes a means of keeping their cash flows strong.”

However, though it’s a slight hit in the profit margins of the manufacturers ranging anything between 10-15 per cent less than own brands depending upon product category, they are still happy as now they do not have to bother about things like channel distribution, branding, expiring damages and product promotion.

Also, retailers to avoid any kind of tiff with the bigger brands have maintained their stand of not influencing presence of other brands across stores. “The shares of visibility of these brands are completely driven by category management objectives,” said Thomas Varghese, CEO, Aditya Birla Retail.

But all this and more doesn’t seem to have affected the national brands a great deal. As of now they are maintaining that there has not been any dent in their sales figures because of the presence of such regional FMCG labels. But on the other hand, private labels such as Nissin, Dynamix, Bector’s Gee Pee Foods, Bonn Foods, Lee Bee Foods, Shanta Foodchem and VLS Foods seem to very keen on such an arrangement and have quickly the opportunity.