In
the design and development of the L'Amour Collection,
Nokia's Design team has looked to materials such as
amber, ceramic, turquoise, silk and enamel for inspiration.
Craft techniques such as enamelling and etching added
a creative spark to the graphics, finishes and colours
selected for each model in the collection.
Radio City
revamps brand identity
Radio City is revamping its brand identity. While the
initial focus of the company was to grab new listeners
the radio station is now telling its audience to get
involved in its channel and escape into a new world.
Radio
City has launched a new brand tagline, City Mein
Kho Jao, which promises to offer innovative content
and music leadership. Also launched is a new Radio City
anthem composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
The
company has also started a programme called RC Live
in Bangalore recently, which patronises local bands,
and the coming months, said Ms Purohit, would see the
launch of more such programmes across cities, that would
encourage local talent.
As
part of its new brand identity, the company also plans
to reshuffle its content based on mood mapping.
The
new brand identity would be supported by a 360-degree
media campaign, which positions Radio City as a companion
which helps its listeners to move into a positive new
world.
Heritage
plans retail foray
Hyderabad based Heritage Foods (India), milk and milk
products company, plans to foray into processed food
products retail business as well as infrastructure and
construction.
The
company has appointed KSA Technopak (India), a Curt
Salmon Associates joint venture, as consultants for
the proposed processed food products retail business.
Hind
Group launches fast food chain `Fast Trax'
Processed foods exporter, Hind Group, is diversifying
into the fast food business. The company is launching
a retail chain of restaurants under the "Fast Trax"
banner across the country.
The
company is also toying with the idea of opening its
outlets in different retail formats. The company has
already opened an outlet in the Capital, which offers
Indian snacks and deserts in a price range of Rs 29-90.
Most of the outlets would take the form of small and
Quick Service Restaurants (QSR)-type outlets, while
the others would be in the dine-in format.
Cadbury
launches Halls fresh mint variant
Cadbury's `is offering Halls in a Fresh Mint variant.
The company says the new green smooth candy confectionery
is all set to augment the brand Halls and give consumers
a refreshing alternative under the Halls brand experience.
According
to the company the `Mints' category market is growing
20 per cent, and a large part of this growth has been
driven by increased consumption by the youth.
Timex
Corp launches new retail strategy
Timex Corp has charted a dual retail strategy this fiscal
which would have larger, more youth-centric exclusive
outlets called "Time Factory" in major cities,
and a smaller model for tier-two cities.
The
company is planning to open 10 new "Time Factory''
outlets across 10 cities by the end of this year. At
the same time, it will increase the number of Timex
exclusive outlets from 6 to about 40 in 2006. Watch
sales are increasingly being driven by impulse purchases,"
according to the company.
The
company is optimistic about growth as the trends in
the watch market have been encouraging, with multiple
ownership of watches on the rise and watches increasingly
being looked as fashion accessories.
The
company has been test marketing other brands from its
international portfolio and now plans to launch the
FCUK and Opex brands on a national scale from March.
While Opex brands are priced at between Rs 2,000 and
Rs 5,500, FCUK watches are more expensive at Rs 4,000-9,000.
Britannia
looks to capture niche segments for growth
Britannia Industries is aiming to capturing various
niches of the snacking segment. The company is planning
to roll out smaller packs under its major sub-brands
and would be gradually expanding its `ticki-packs' (packs
of two or four biscuits) concept across its product
range.
Another
niche segment the company has identified as a potential
growth driver is `in-between-meals snacking', and it
would soon be rolling out more products to address this
category.
The
company has in the past launched products targeted at
the "occasion-based" (such as Diwali greetings
gift packs, etc) segment. Meanwhile, it is currently
test marketing newer products, which include cup cakes
in Kolkata, Marie Gold Doubles in Chennai, and Mozzarella
cheese in Mumbai.
It
has also introduced Marie Gold Doubles with the `biscuit
within a biscuit' catchline in Chennai and plans a phased
launch in the rest of the country.
The
company is also test marketing higher aroma ghee too
in the South.
Last
year, Britannia launched a health drink called Anlene
in Kolkata and Chennai and is currently testing the
"marketing mix" for the product.
Bombay
Dyeing to focus on `Bed & Bath' stores, plans network
Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Company is planning
to set up a strong network of theme stores under the
brand `Bed & Bath' across the country.
The
company has identified potential areas across the country
for opening theme stores and has finalised plans to
open around 25 stores in major cities and towns in the
next 12 months. A majority of these would run under
franchise arrangements.
Bombay
Dyeing is also revamping its retail stores with a new
product line, packaging, display, merchandising and
advertising.
Hero
Honda launches Pleasure
While two-wheeler majors are moving to the bikes segment,
Hero Honda has launched Pleasure in the scooters segment
targeted primarily at women. The company plans to garner
about 10 per cent share of the scooter market.
Hero
Honda has taken its strategy one step further by opening
exclusive women's outlets called `Just4her'.
With
broad seats that offer greater riding comfort Pleasure
comes in a range of flashy colours (eight in all) with
body coloured mirrors along with bright hues suggesting
that its core customers would be young girls. Powered
by a 102-cc engine, the scooter is placed alongside
Honda's Dio, which generates 7 bhp. The Pleasure can attain a top speed
of 77 kmph and at Rs 36,400 (ex-showroom New Delhi),
the scooter is priced about 10 per cent higher than
the Scooty Pep and about 4 per cent lower than the Dio.