Marketing review

03 Mar 2005

1

Indian post office department to peddle FMCGs
Local area post offices apart from peddling financial products and admission forms will also be selling daily household items like hair oils, skin-care products and food products.

The department of posts (DoP) is tying up with a number of fast-moving consumer goods companies to offer a number of FMCG products.

Companies, which have already entered into distribution arrangement with the department of posts include personal care products marketer, Emami and Kodak India. Soon even Hindustan Lever, Godrej Consumer Products and Marico Industries are expected to sell their through post offices.

While for companies it means opening up another distribution channel, for the DoP it translates into another opportunity to generate revenue.

Air Sahara launches family fare scheme
Air Sahara has launched a new scheme linked to its bulk ticketing programmes, Sixer and Square Drive to encourage families to travel with frequent flyers.

As a part of this scheme, along with the Sixer and Square Drive schemes, flyers can buy additional tickets for family members at a massive discount.

For instance under the Sixer scheme, a passenger has to buy six tickets for Rs36,000 and under Square Drive four tickets for Rs26,500.

As per the new scheme, one can avail of tickets for family members by paying an additional Rs15,000 for six coupons or Rs10,000 for four coupons, along with the two schemes.

Under the scheme a domestic ticket for a family member comes to only Rs2,500 on the condition that the family travels together.

J Walter Thompson becomes JWT
J. Walter Thompson will be known by its acronym JWT and the re-branding is accompanied by a new multi-coloured logo.

According to a press release issued by the agency, the new identity is a starting point of how the agency wants to be seen in the future. The use of a variety of colours in the logo reflects the multi-cultural aspect of the organisation, says the release and adds, that the colours are intended to project it as a contemporary organisation.

The new JWT, the company says mean a new name, a new way of doing business, a new worldwide creative director, a new emphasis on time and new real-time research style.

Toyota launches IMV Innova
Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched `Innova,' a vehicle that combines the qualities of a sedan and a multi-purpose van (MPV).

Inova is priced in the price range between Rs6,76,000 and Rs9,37,000 (ex-showroom Thane) for its petrol versions and Rs7,36,000-9,97,000 for diesel versions. The company is hoping to sell 45,000 units this year, with 4,500 units in the first month of launch.

Innova is among the five models designed as part of Toyota's Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle (IMV) project.

According to the company it decided to introduce Innova in India because over the last five years, the `C' segment car sales have grown by 20 per cent every year with the MPV segment growing at double-digit levels.

Innova combines space and fuel economy of an MPV with the style, agility and power of a sedan. The company has described it as "the first three-row seating passenger car" in the Indian market.

BPCL organises car, bike race to promote `Speed'
Bharat Petroleum Corporation is pushing its new generation fuel Speed aggressively. The company recently organised a drag race called 'Speed Run' for cars and two-wheelers. Drag racing, a form of motor sport popular all over the world is an acceleration test over a quarter mile or 402 metres. The participants who clock the fastest time over this distance are declared the winners.

Ferraris, BMWs, Jaguars, Fords Hondas, Mitsubishis and Lotus in the car category and Hondas, Kawasakis, Yamahas and Ninjas plus a Suzuki Hayabusa, the world's fastest production bike, in the bike category participated in the event.

The event was organised by Autocar magazine and Hungama Events.

Tata Motors unveils `crossover' at Geneva
It's the time for crossovers. Tata Motors has unveiled its crossover vehicle Tata Xover, at the ongoing Geneva Auto Show. The car combines benefits of a family luxury off roader with refined driving dynamics and the visual cues of an activity-oriented sports utility vehicle, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The 4.85-metre car uses a rugged frame-based design with large interior space. It has flexible seating that can accommodate up to seven adults, besides ample cargo area. According to the statement, the vehicle can be fitted with a range of Euro IV engines including Tata Motors' own next generation power trains.

The car is designed to offer traction control, climate control with personalised zones, navigation system, driver-passenger and side-airbags, anti-lock braking system, 4-wheel drive and other comfort, convenience and safety options.

It has independent double wishbone coil spring suspension with a stabiliser bar in front and a five-link suspension with coil springs and stabiliser bar at the rear. "The Tata Xover demonstrates Tata Motors' desire and commitment to innovate and address new market segments," Mr Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, told the media at the Geneva Auto show while unveiling the Xover.

Pepsi launches new ad campaign for 7UP
Pepsi has launched a new ad campaign for lemon-lime brand 7UP for 200 featuring brand mascot Fido Dido with starlet Yana Gupta.

Film director Farah Khan has produced the new 30-second TV ad.

Fido Dido was created by artists Joanna Ferrone and Sue Rose in 1985. In the TV advertisement, created by J Walter Thomson, Fido is seen matching his wits in a Bollywood style quawwali muquabla with popular model Yana Gupta.

The campaign has been launched in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu.

B S Nagesh, Lifestyle receive 'ICICI Bank retail excellence awards 2005'
B S.Nagesh, CEO Shoppers' Stop, has been chosen as the `retail professional of the year' while department store Lifestyle received the `retailer of the year' in the first 'ICICI Bank retail excellence awards 2005'.

The awards were instituted by ICICI Bank with retail consultancy KSA Technopak as its knowledge partner.

InOrbit was selected as the 'mall of the year', and Reliance Webworld as the 'fastest growing retailer of the year' and the 'launch of the year' awards.

Trinethra was chosen as the 'food and grocery retailer of the year', Vandana Luthra's slimming centre chain, VLCC, was christened 'health and beauty retailer of the year'.

The awards were given away at a ceremony held to coincide with the ongoing seventh KSA Retail Summit 2005.

Compiled by Mohini Bhatnagar

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