Already, top leisure properties like Leela Kempenski, Goa; Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa; Radisson Resort & Spa, Alibaug; Royal Orchid, Goa and Mysore; and Club Mahindra Varca Beach Resort, Goa, are enjoying a near sell-out. Most hoteliers are maintaining their room rates, while some are throwing in joint packages involving discount coupons. Some have reduced room rates by 15-20 per cent.
Amul, non-government organisations reach out to buyers through the virtual world, which is free.
Prominent luxury hotel groups like JW Mariott, Royal Orchid, Taj and Intercontinental are using the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament to offer promotional food and beverage (F&B) packages to lure more customers in a sluggish economy.
On a week's visit to India to plan for business in 2009 and also to attend the wedding of India chairman Arvind Sharma's daughter, Tom Bernardin, chairman and chief executive officer, Leo Burnett Worldwide, announced changes in its global leadership council for a tighter integration of Asia Pacific with the Chicago headquarters.
The size of the accessories market ranges from Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 3,000 crore and has been growing at 15 to 18 per cent, according to Anand Ramanathan, manager, business performance services, KPMG. Within this, he said, the branded accessories segment is growing 25 per cent, against a growth rate of 35 to 36 per cent for apparel. Margins, however, are 10 to 15 per cent higher on accessories than apparel.
Among the minority who are relieved at the rising heat are consumer durables' companies and retailers. Air conditioner (AC) sales are picking up in anticipation of a hot summer.
The company, which has liquid detergent brands like Ezee and liquid cleaning agent brands like Godrej Dish Wash Liquid and Kiwi Kleen, is looking at companies that have good brands and distribution networks, largely in household care (detergents, cleaning agents segment) and haircare, with focus on colours and hair dyes. "Given the right opportunity, the company will spend around $100 million (Rs 5 billion)," said a source close to the development.
McDonald's, for instance, plans to invest Rs 120-150 crore (Rs 1.2-Rs 1.5 billion) for expansion in the current year. It will add 40 new outlets across India (it has 155) and open 40 kiosks, dessert and beverage service counters. Says Vikram Bakshi, managing director (north and east)" "We will maintain 30-35 per cent growth rate this year as well."
These claims by beverage companies have never been verified as the government is yet to put in place a system to test and validate them. S B Dongre, Director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI, which issues the FPO licence), admitted: "No laboratory test report is required at the time of granting a licence. We don't conduct any test. If there's a complaint, it has to be taken with the company first through a consumer court."
Stating that the differential pricing above Rs 12 was "unfair trade practice," Justice J D Kapoor, Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, said: "The process of converting ordinary water into mineral water is the same (for all bottlers) and the quality or purity is also the same. It is immaterial whether mineral water is obtained directly from springs or any other source." Yet, packaged water firms continue to price their 1 litre bottles above this amount.
Tata Motors has opted unconventional mediums like web search, viral marketing and innovative public relations-driven campaigns, where the news in brief is called 'Nano news' in some papers and television advertisement breaks are called 'Nano breaks.' There is also Nano merchandise like T-shirts and key chains. Unlike most car launches, it is not supported by a television campaign, leading to a big saving for the company.
"We are conducting a feasibility study to see whether the car can be displayed inside some of the Westside," said a source. The feasibility study is being conducted in select showrooms that have a suitable entrance and enough space to accommodate the Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) car. The car might be displayed at showrooms that meet the required specifications.
Following stringent cost-cutting measures by business process outsourcing units and IT firms across the country, the business of call centre cab owners has dwindled by anywhere between 5 and 40 per cent.
Modern trade retail accounts for 5-6 per cent of the overall sales revenues of FMCG companies. It has been reported in the past that FMCG players like Godrej Consumer Products and Dabur had taken a tough stance against defaulting modern trade retailers and had stopped supplying to them or supplying only in return for cash payment, a deviation from the practice of supplying against credit.
The Titan and Fastrack brands fared well and also saw their margins expand. Watches accounted for 1 per cent of the Gitanjali Group's total turnover. The watch industry is estimated to be a Rs 2,500 crore market, growing at 5 per cent per annum. The premium-to-luxury market is close to being a Rs 300-500 crore market and will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 30-35 per cent to be a Rs 1,500-2,000 crore market in the next six to seven years.
Fox Star Studio India, the distributor of Slumdog Millionaire in the country, has managed to gross around Rs 40 crore (Rs 400 million) from the markets, surpassing collections of some of the biggest Bollywood hits of last year such as Rock On.
The service is offered through SMS, call centres and the Internet. Industry experts said 8-10 million people use mobile search. Two million people use the Internet and the rest use SMSs and call centres. The operators' main source of revenue is premium SMS (what they charge for search query). Advertising from the local merchants getting listed in the search is a promising option.
Two of these categories -- detergent cakes and washing powder - account for around 15 per cent of the overall FMCG market of Rs 80,000 crore (Rs 800 billion), according to estimates made by analysts. Leading market research firm A C Nielsen's data for November 2008 show an across-the-category drop in sales volumes compared to the preceding month.
Is it possible to refurbish a brand that has been sullied with a Rs 7,800 crore (Rs 78 billion) fraud? One can't be sure, but to attempt this, the campaign ought to stress on integrity and action, say three of the top minds of the country's advertising industry.
Of the available media, it was the fastest growing segment in 2008. Its better return on investment and the comparative ease with which its efficacy can be measured will ensure that the trend continues, say analysts. Rising interest in social networking in 2008 has made brands think seriously about online advertising.
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