The joy of receiving a bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk or 5 Star from a relative visiting our homes for lunch on a Sunday, a glittering box of Cadbury’s Celebrations on Raksha Bandhan, sipping a hot cup of Bournvita on a rainy day after school…..these are the stuff of childhood memories, with Cadbury’s being the defining factor in all of them. During its strong seven-and-a-half-decade journey in India, the brand has created a sweet spot in the minds and hearts of consumers across the country with some of the most iconic ads that this country has seen. Whether it is ‘Asli Swad Zindagi Ka’ or 'Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye’, 'Tyarri Jeet Ki', to Ramesh Suresh, or the most award-winning campaign that recently garnered a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions ― ‘Shah Rukh Khan My Ad’ ― all of these had significant roles to play in the 75-year journey of Cadbury’s or Mondelez, in India.

Storyboard18’s Shibani Bharat spoke to Anil Vishwanathan, MD - Vietnam and South-East Asia at Mondelez International, Nitin Saini, VP - Marketing at Mondelez India, Piyush Pandey, chairman - global creative and executive chairman - India, Ogilvy, Suresh Nayak, chief creative officer, Ogilvy and Shekhar Banerjee, chief client officer and office head, west about Mondelez’s growth journey in India and the ad campaigns that helped shape the country’s ad ecosystem.  

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Mondelez turns 75! A look at its growth journey and ad campaigns in India

Storyboard18's Shibani Gharat talks to Mondelez International's Anil Vishwanathan and Nitin Saini, Ogilvy's Piyush Pandey and Sukesh Nayak and Wavemaker's Shekhar Banerjee about Mondelez's growth over that last 75 years and how advertisements played a key role for its presence in India.

After Hong Kong and Singapore, Nepal bans MDH, Everest

TRAI to mull views on regulations for apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram

Viacom18 - Star India deal: NCLT admits merger scheme

BARC appoints Dr Bikramjit Chaudhuri as its new chief of measurement science and analytics

Wipro appoints Sanjeev Jain as chief operating officer

Tata Technologies' Santosh Singh: Work-life balance is enjoying what I do during work and after work

Representational image via Unsplash

Zee-Sony merger saga ends: Timeline of the failed merger

Why are Indian brands advertising in NYC's Times Square?

What Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick teaches us about leadership

Advertising is in the position where tobacco was: IPG's Arun Kumar 

Biz Moves: Interactive Avenues, Verve Media, Foxymoron and Grapes

There is an opportunity for building a better agency, not just a different one: Manja's Prajato Guha

Shweta Jain joins Leela Group as chief marketing and sales officer

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Ministry of I&B introduces Film Facilitation Office- online portal facilitating effortless transactions for filmmakers

ZEE's Punit Goenka: We have to be frugal, make sure of buying right content at the right price

Is Ajmera Group the brand behind the tragic ad hoarding collapse in Mumbai?

Piyush Pandey

Adtech regulation a priority for Modi govt in third term: MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Credibility of news and platforms are as important as monetisation challenges: Anurag Thakur

HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory"

Punit Goenka addresses Zee employees; ensures no layoffs due to failed merger

Disney's strategic sale to Viacom18 set to boost market share to 40 percent

The Leader's Edge: Storyboard18 in conversation with leaders, decision makers and disruptors

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

The Podcast Pulse, a comprehensive report on podcast consumption in India developed by UNPAC Research (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. with the support of Ideabrew Studios, offers unprecedented insights into the evolving landscape of podcasting in India.

Despite the gradual adoption of podcasts into daily media consumption routines, a lack of comprehensive data on consumption patterns has hindered its recognition as a powerful platform for connecting with consumers.

India has surged to become the third-largest market for podcast listeners globally, yet only 12 percent of Indians are currently engaged, leaving a vast untapped audience waiting to be explored. The Podcast Pulse addresses this gap by offering actionable insights into consumer preferences, content choices, favored hosts, and preferred platforms.

The methodology behind The Podcast Pulse involved a meticulous blend of quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Engaging 2,170 individuals across 10 cities in India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Indore, Patna, and Jaipur, the report gauged awareness and listenership statistics. Additionally, detailed interviews with 1,800 active listeners provided invaluable insights into their behavior and preferences.

Key findings from the report include:

•       82 percent of respondents were initially unaware of podcasts, highlighting a significant opportunity for awareness-building efforts.

•       78 percent of consumers discovered podcasts less than a year ago, indicating a recent surge in interest.

•       Authenticity and vulnerability in podcast conversations are highly valued by listeners, fostering a deeper connection with hosts and content.

The report also explores consumption patterns, including weekday vs. weekend trends, preferred episode lengths, and the rise of regional language content. Regional podcasts are identified as a driving force in shaping the industry's future, offering audiences a more relatable and culturally resonant listening experience.

Furthermore, The Podcast Pulse profiles the Aware listener – detailing gender, occupation, age, and level of education – and conducts a deep dive into genre dynamics and explores the nuances between audio and video podcasts.  It charts the four stages of podcast enthusiasts’ journey, from their curious Exploration and Discovery phase to Advocacy as they actively promote and champion their favorite podcasts.

Sheetal Choksi, Director, UNPAC Research says, "We believe The Podcast Pulse is a game-changer, providing insights into India’s podcast consumption and offering a roadmap for creators and platforms to navigate the evolving preferences of Indian audiences, empowering industry professionals and stakeholders to unlock its full potential. As a podcaster myself, I experienced firsthand the challenges in accessing comprehensive data about our audience. Beyond some basic data, no one was able to answer questions like who was listening to podcasts, when, why certain genres did well, etc. This realization was the genesis of The Podcast Pulse – an earnest attempt to fill the void and provide actionable insights for the entire industry."

Aditya Kuber, CEO, Ideabrew Studios says, “At Ideabrew Studios, we are passionate about fostering innovation in audio storytelling. The Podcast Pulse not only showcases the immense potential of podcasts in India but also underscores the importance of diverse and authentic narratives in shaping the future of audio entertainment. This report will be a definitive look into podcast consumption data for advertising agencies, brands and everyone looking to meaningfully engage with a large audience.”



India third-largest market for podcast listeners globally; yet only 12 percent Indians currently engaged

GOZOOP HAWK, and online reputation management and customer support agency under the GOZOOP Group, has bagged the listening and digital response management duties for Amazon miniTV, a leading free entertainment service in India.


As part of the mandate, GOZOOP HAWK’s key responsibilities will include handling digital customer support, monitoring online brand chatter, amplifying positive stories, measuring sentiments, providing timely resolutions and deriving actionable business insights for the brand by understanding and tracking valuable web conversations to delight customers. 


Amazon miniTV offers a large library of popular web series, movies, reality shows, dubbed international content, in multiple genres like comedy, romance, slice of life, thriller and more.


Commenting on the partnership Aruna Daryanani, director and business head, Amazon miniTV said, “ORM is an important component of brand building and reputation management. With the right strategy, ideation and creative thinking we can further strengthen our brand presence. We are excited to partner with GOZOOP HAWK and look forward to their expertise to continue to raise the bar on customer experience.”


Commenting on the win, Premkumar Iyer, president, GOZOOP HAWK said, “HAWK has always demonstrated capability of delivering some of the most unconventional listening and online customer support solutions. This habit to push boundaries coupled with Amazon miniTV's disruptive approach towards the dynamic OTT space makes the relationship click. We have already done some stellar work e.g. during Amazon miniTV’s recent launch of dubbed K-dramas, we turned the whole response management strategy to Korean language generating shift in outreach. We look forward to doing more such unconventional work for them in times to come.”


GOZOOP HAWK bags listening and digital customer support mandate for Amazon miniTV

The marketing team within media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads, according to a review of CMG marketing materials by 404 Media and details from a pitch given to an outside marketing professional. Called “Active Listening,” CMG claims the capability can identify potential customers “based on casual conversations in real time.”

The news signals that what a huge swath of the public has believed for years—that smartphones are listening to people in order to deliver ads—may finally be a reality in certain situations. Until now, there was no evidence that such a capability actually existed, but its myth permeated due to how sophisticated other ad tracking methods have become.

It is not immediately clear if the capability CMG is advertising and claims works is being used on devices in the market today, but the company notes it is “a marketing technique fit for the future. Available today.” 404 Media also found a representative of the company on LinkedIn explicitly asking interested parties to contact them about the product. One marketing professional pitched by CMG on the tech said a CMG representative explained the prices of the service to them.

“What would it mean for your business if you could target potential clients who are actively discussing their need for your services in their day-to-day conversations? No, it's not a Black Mirror episode—it's Voice Data, and CMG has the capabilities to use it to your business advantage,” CMG’s website reads.

The part of CMG advertising the capability is CMG Local Solutions. CMG itself is owned by Apollo Global Management and Cox Enterprises, which includes the ISP Cox Communications. CMG operates a wide array of local news television and radio stations.

With Active Listening, CMG claims to be able to “target your advertising to the EXACT people you are looking for.” The goal is to target potential clients or customers based on what they say in “their day to day conversations,” the website adds. Specifically, those could include:

Clients can “claim” a territory where they want to use CMG’s services, which are available in a 10 or 20 mile radius, the website says. After setup, “Active Listening begins and is analyzed via AI to detect pertinent conversations via smartphones, smart tvs and other devices,” the website adds. CMG also claims it installs a tracking pixel on its client’s website to monitor the return on investment (ROI).

With an audience created, CMG then delivers adverts to these people through streaming TV, streaming audio, display ads, YouTube, and Google and Bing search, the website says.

“The result? Unprecedented understanding of consumer behavior, so we can deliver personalized ads that make your target audience think: wow, they must be a mind reader,” another section of CMG’s website reads.

Claims about this capability raises obvious and immediate legal concerns; intercepting communications without proper consent can violate wiretapping laws. CMG’s website addresses this with a section that starts “We know what you are thinking…”

“Is this legal? YES- it is totally legal for phones and devices to listen to you. That's because consumers usually give consent when accepting terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads,” the website says.

Beyond CMG’s website, very little information is available about the capability, including how exactly the data is gathered, be that via a software development kit (SDK) bundled into apps, or via collection at another point. For its part, Apple does alert iPhone users when an app is accessing the device’s microphone with a small icon in the UI.

The marketing professional pitched by CMG told 404 Media that after a call with the company, they disabled microphone access on much of their own technology: “I immediately removed all my Amazon Echo devices and locked down microphone permissions on things like my phone as receiving confirmation they are doing things like this have confirmed my worst fears and I, for one, will not take part in it,” they said.

CMG says “the ROI is already impressive” and is actively soliciting potential customers, though. On LinkedIn, Chris Marxmiller, a senior sales consultant at CMG, invites people in his bio to “Ask me about our NEW product - ACTIVE LISTENING.” Marxmiller did not respond to a request for comment which asked for more information on the Active Listening product.

CMG lists a number of other companies as its partners and publishers. These include Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Microsoft declined to comment. Google told 404 Media in a statement that “For years, Android has prevented apps from collecting audio  when they're not being actively used, and whenever an app activates a device’s microphone, there is a prominent icon displayed in the status bar.” Google did not answer 404 Media’s question in its statement.

Amazon said in a statement that “the advertising product being described would not be possible with Echo devices. We do not share voice recordings with third parties.”

CMG said in a statement that “CMG Local Solutions markets a wide range of advertising tools. Like other advertising companies, some of those tools include third-party vendor products powered by data sets sourced from users by various social media and other applications then packaged and resold to data servicers. Advertising data based on voice and other data is collected by these platforms and devices under the terms and conditions provided by those apps and accepted by their users, and can then be sold to third-party companies and converted into anonymized information for advertisers. This anonymized data then is resold by numerous advertising companies.”

“CMG businesses do not listen to any conversations or have access to anything beyond a third-party aggregated, anonymized and fully encrypted data set that can be used for ad placement. We regret any confusion and we are committed to ensuring our marketing is clear and transparent,” the statement added.

Cox Media Group claims to have capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers for targeted ads

On June 1, 1945, Fritz Sennheiser, a German inventor and entrepreneur, founded the audio equipment manufacturing company that bears his name and went on to become a global brand. Today, Sennheiser has three business units: Pro Audio, Business Communication and Neumann.Berlin. 


In a conversation with Storyboard18, Andreas Sennheiser, the company’s chief executive officer, said, “The first thing is you have to hit a ‘need’. To not get complacent and to not be happy with what we've achieved, we have to keep listening to the customer and at the same time have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo. So, the achievements of the past should always be seen as just the new standard. From there, we can iterate again.”


Edited excerpts:


<strong>Tell us more about Sennheiser’s India story.</strong>


We started bringing good audio to India in 2007. At the time, it was really hard to understand where the general public was with audio consumption. We found out that listening to music via headphones wasn’t a known principle. 


So, over the last 16 years, I think we've done quite well in developing the taste of enjoying music on the consumer side. For two years, we focused on the pro business only, along with business communication, and then our Neumann products also.


Particularly, in the last one-and-a-half years after the pandemic, we've seen very strong growth. On the live part, everyone wants to enjoy music, festivals, weddings and all kinds of corporate events. But on the business communication side, government, corporate and also higher education facilities are gearing up significantly for hybrid meetings, for remote lectures and also for a digital government.


<strong>Where do you see India in Sennheiser's growth map?</strong>


In the last two years, India has had one of the highest growth levels, with more than 50 percent annual growth.


As far as the general business globally is concerned, we could supply all our customers with products even during the pandemic. So, we were never really out of products.


<strong>From a product lens, what’s the focus?</strong> 


We have several focuses. There’s a general common focus that more and more of the technology that we’re using—it is highly advanced—is hidden behind very simple user interfaces. 


So, we want to make it as simple as possible, come up with seamless integration, plug and play with our installed business like ceiling microphones… This is so that an integrator, a consultant or the end user really doesn’t need to deal a lot with technology but actually can focus on the experience.



<strong>Many global CEOs are surprised by the way Indian consumers have evolved over the last few years. From a price-conscious market, we now are a value-conscious market. So, what are your observations and what is unique about Indian consumers?</strong>


Well, you just gave the right keywords. 


It has evolved from a price sensitive market of buying at the lowest possible level to now buying the highest possible value. So, with that, we are in an excellent position because we love competition. We love the direct comparison of our products with competitive products because usually this is when we win.


That's why value-based buying decisions are very much in our favour, because we provide superior audio quality. 


<strong>Globally, what are the trends in the audio space and do you see the adoption of those trends in India anytime soon?</strong> 


One of the big trends is that high–quality audio is being more and more appreciated. This is particularly when it comes to immersive audio and spatial audio. In the studios, we have more and more Atmos installations with our Neumann speakers. Also, on the playback side, we see a lot of venues now having full arrays of speakers for an immersive experience.


So, the whole appreciation for good audio has significantly increased over the last few years. At the same time, there’s also a strong trend of simplification of workflows. So, we try to focus on making the lives of our end users as simple as possible, particularly because there's also cost pressure on production, music production, news gathering etc. We want to give them the gear that they can operate with the least possible amount of people. 


<strong>What is the brand perception of Sennheiser?</strong> 


Sennheiser has a brand reputation of being extremely reliable, creating remarkable audio experience and being a highly innovative brand. 


The topmost factor is always reliability. In a meeting room, you don’t want to spend 20 minutes getting the system to work. An artist in front of 50,000 people, the only thing he or she can hold is a microphone, and that should not fail.


<strong>In terms of marketing, what are the big plans for India and what are the investments like?</strong> 

Our main investment is in people and education. So, it's people on our end and education on the customer side.

We see that the more there are highly talented technicians, audio engineers and people who know the difference between an okay system and a great system.

During the pandemic, we produced 200 tutorial videos: how to use our microphones, how to set up gear in general, and how to build a studio. A lot of things to just help the audio community do a better job.


<strong>In India, startups have been weaving a very different story in the last few years. As a family-owned company and one of the oldest startups in the audio space, do tell us what it takes to make a successful business and your advice for startups here. </strong>

The first thing is you have to hit a ‘need’. This is not only true in a startup, but also when a company like ours gets older. Now, we’re closer to the 80th year of our existence. To not get complacent and to not be happy with what we've achieved, we have to keep listening to the customer and at the same time have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo.

So, the achievements of the past should always be seen as just the new standard. From there, we can iterate again. 

<strong>There are a bunch of profitable startups in the audio space here in India. What impresses you about them and are there any lessons that you can pick from them? </strong>

When startups have a platform economy in mind and then scale that up, they can very quickly cover a very broad demand, be it with fintech platforms or be it any other integration.


That is an approach that I find highly attractive because it's not product and gear oriented, but really platform oriented. And this is also a strategy that we're adopting more and more. We are not just selling gear to our customers, but we actually provide the control platform with it to make it as easy as possible. 


That has been a strategy for a couple of years—to have a lot of allies in the industry in order to allow a seamless integration for the end user. So, the platform is really the main focus. And, what we're selling in terms of gear is just an endpoint to the whole platform.

<strong>Has the target audience of Sennheiser evolved over time?</strong> 

Yes and no. Our target audience grows with us.

While there was an entry target audience a decade back that has now matured in age and in income, they are now being lifted to the next level.

I had a chance to meet with music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman. We had a chat about technology particularly, and they stressed upon how they started with simple gear and then moved to higher-grade gear.

Andreas Sennheiser: We have to keep listening to the customer and have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo

Gen Z consumers are 50 percent more likely to take their friends' recommendation over an influencer or a celebrity when making a purchase decision, revealed a study from Yuvaa – the Indian Gen Z-driven youth media, impact, and research organization.

An Economic Times report states that the findings are based on a report titled 'Not All Gen Z'. The findings are based on responses from over 900 Gen Z participants, spanning over 20 cities across tier I, II, and III cities and towns of the country. Gen Z represents people born between 1997 and 2012 who show distinctive behavior in their lifestyle and shopping habits. At over two billion, Gen Z forms roughly 25 percent of the global population. It makes up for over 35 percent of India's population, according to Yuvaa.

Their estimated spending power is in excess of €235 billion, according to BCG. 

<strong>Influencers provide brand visibility</strong>

Karthik Srinivasan, a communications strategy consultant, believes that we trust the references and recommendations of the people we trust the most within our family or friends circle. However, influencers have a different role to play.

"They have come to usurp the role of mainstream media and advertising to a large extent and have become predictable sources of visibility more than influence. In other words, influencers (along with mainstream media and advertising) are sources of introducing products or services, use-cases, and giving them visibility, but they may not necessarily persuade people to make the purchase. That's where friends and family (known peers, colleagues too) would come into play," he explains.

Srinivasan tells Storyboard18 that influencers are merely shilling a product for a fee and have long stopped pretending to be actual users of a product to offer use-based/experience-based content/information.

"Even if they claim to offer personal experience-based recommendations, if viewers/followers see the disclaimer about paid content, they'd automatically discount that factor and take that recommendation with a pinch of salt," he adds.

Yuvaa's report findings also highlight a few key aspects of a Gen Z consumer who is not only willing to support brands that support social causes but also cares about sustainability. Around 63 percent of Gen Z shoppers surveyed said they prefer brands that support social causes. 

71 percent of Gen Z prioritize brands that are environment-friendly, and 77 percent consider price when buying something, even if it's not sustainable. Gen Zs are split equally between feminist and non-feminist brands, but 60 percent of women prefer them.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/amazon-vs-myntra-who-will-win-over-more-gen-z-shoppers-in-india-8247.htm">Read more: Amazon vs Myntra: Who will win over more Gen Z shoppers in India?</a>

<strong>E-com platforms chasing Gen Z</strong>

These trends are being closely followed and implemented in product and marketing strategies by e-commerce platforms in India. Storyboard18 reported that there has been intense competition between online retailers to woo the next generation of shoppers, with e-commerce platforms Amazon and Myntra actively investing in the Gen Z cohort.

Flipkart-backed fashion portal Myntra, for instance, announced the launch of FWD, an in-platform experience offering additional brands and styles curated for Gen-Z shoppers.

The move comes days after rival Amazon Fashion introduced the ‘Next Gen Store,’ catering to the unique needs of Gen Z shoppers, who seek to experiment with fashion and have varying preferences in terms of styles, sizes, brands, and fitting.

While Nykaa Fashion has not yet launched a dedicated platform for Gen Z shoppers, it has been onboarding brands that target this cohort. Recently, it added MIXT, which offers streetwear-inspired modern apparel options such as bodysuits, corsets, jumpsuits, jackets, cardigans, and footwear. It brought in Cider, a US-based label, expanding its global offerings to Indian consumers.

Gen Z segment has a distinct aesthetic that impacts their brand choices, which have been driving fashion trends – crop tops, ribbed dresses, chunky sneakers, and baggy jeans.

Unlike previous generations, which were heavily influenced by Bollywood and sports celebrities, Gen Z shoppers are more picky about who they follow. Social media influencers have emerged as a significant force in shaping their purchase decisions.

However, there is a catch. This group only follows influencers or celebrities who ‘walk the talk’ and are more trustworthy.

<strong>Value for sustainability, inclusivity</strong>

Bindiya Bhatt, senior director of category management at Myntra told Storyboard18 that for Gen Z, inclusivity, authenticity, and unconventionalism take centre stage as well.

"By embracing these values and catering to their specific needs, businesses can create more meaningful and impactful experiences that resonate with this important and influential demographic," she said.

Technopak Advisors' Ankur Bisen had a deeper insight, saying Gen Z shoppers are community-driven and seek better products rather than stay loyal to brands.

"...they are definitely seeking better products than brands and they are also looking at the consumption of fashion through communities. For example, there are communities towards gaming, nature, and even limited edition products. The spin-off from this trend could be the 'sneaker culture' in India and the craze to buy limited edition sneakers that are being sold online. These are some micro trends that one needs to notice," he said.

Influencers’ influence waning? GenZ listen to friends over social media influencers

Why PepsiCo India’s Lay's launched gourmet chips

Storyboard18 x Momo Media: Let's Talk - Masculinity in Advertising

“We will have another incremental billion dollars in the next three years for the home-grown billion dollar brand Thums Ups,” says Arnab Roy, vice president and head of marketing, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia to Storyboard18’s Shibani Gharat. He also talks about the brand’s new advertising campaign #HarHaathToofan.

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Coca-Cola's Arnab Roy on Thums Up’s new ad campaign #HarHaathToofan

GE's Linda Boff on what it takes to reinvent a 130-yr old brand

Chat with IPG's Arun Kumar and Plum's Shankar Prasad and actor Ananya Pandey

India’s feminine-care brand Whisper, from the house of Procter & Gamble, is raising awareness about— the early onset of menstruation among young girls — as part of the fifth edition of its #KeepGirlsInSchool (KGIS) movement. With girls starting periods as early as eight years of age, the need to create awareness early on is crucial, as 26 million girls can be at the risk of dropping out of school without period education and access to period products. Studies have found that one out of five girls could be dropping out of school due to lack of period education and access to period products.


In India today, girls as young as eight years of age are beginning their menstrual cycle, as per several reports, and so are at a higher risk of dropping out from school due to lack of period education. This could lead to escalation in absenteeism and increased drop out rate if they do not learn and are made aware at the right time. 


Whisper is at the forefront of educating girls across the country about the importance of menstrual hygiene, normalising any myths and taboos about periods, with an aim to decrease dropout rates caused by insufficient information and lack of access to period products. To date, Whisper’s Keep Girls In School program has taught over 100 million schoolgirls and mothers about periods and period products, and provided free sanitary napkins to girls, stated the company.


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Whisper’s new film features young eight-year-old girls who know nothing about menstruation and think up the worst possible scenarios as the cause of unexpected bleeding in one of their friends. The film aims to normalise this natural biological change in their body by educating young girls in school about the early onset of periods with a fun, catchy jingle that reiterates, “periods ka matlab healthy hai aap (periods means you are healthy)".

 
Rajdeepak Das, chief creative officer, Publicis Groupe – South Asia and Chairman Leo Burnett - South Asia said, “Our ongoing research about the changing conversations around menstruation identified a glaring anomaly - girls today are getting their periods much earlier than before. However, they are being educated about periods at a much later stage or oftentimes not at all. Whisper and Leo Burnett have been on a journey to keep girls in school for a long time and we wanted to bridge this gap. Our latest work talks to the 8-year-olds in a language they can understand, with a heartwarming song that teaches them that getting periods means they are healthy. The goal is to not just teach the little girls but also use the song as a tool to equip her ecosystem- parents and educators, enabling them to teach periods in an empowering manner.”


“There is a seismic shift happening in period biology. This heightens the need to educate girls early on and to prepare them to embrace this biological process. Through this initiative, we strive to educate them about how periods are healthy and how they can take care of themselves on their period days. Every year, Whisper goes to more than 60,000 schools to create period education programs and we are now also going to younger standards. Consumers too can do their bit buying a Whisper Ultra pack which will help us educate and donate pads to one girl to keep her in school,” said Girish Kalyanaraman, vice president and category leader - India Feminine Care at Procter & Gamble.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/p-ad-and-sales-promotions-expenses-hit-rs-134-09-crore-30343.htm">P&G Hygiene and Health records sales of Rs 998 crore for March quarter; ad and sales promotions expenses hit Rs 134.09 crore</a>

Whisper teaches young girls – Periods ka matlab healthy hai aap!

Life is too short for two things - boring ads and boring meetings!


So, imagine my disdain for boring meetings about ads. Ironically, the ad industry has one kind of meeting the creatives can steer away from boredom - pitches. For our latest work for MakeMyTrip, PG Aditiya and I took to LinkedIn to share a video excerpt of us narrating (and pitching) scripts (the idea) to the client. We shared how our work travels from script to screen, but we didn’t realise it started a conversation about the art and science of pitching ideas. I had messages from a lot of people asking for more such tips, so here are some thumb rules I like to follow:


<strong>DO believe your idea is amazing</strong>


A myth this industry has busted - good ideas sell themselves. Clients are sold on the enthusiasm and conﬁdence of the team that wants to make ideas reality. If you don’t believe your idea is amazing, no one else in the room will.


When I believe we have a great concept, I’m no longer selling it, I’m sharing it. The diﬀerence? Recall a time that you shared juicy gossip or a hilarious story with friends. You know all the details, but you carefully choose how to reveal the story for that big payoﬀ, making sure you hold their attention and keep them engaged. Sharing a good idea should feel like that.


<strong>DON’T think the meeting begins at the meeting</strong>


Before a pitch, agencies do a ‘dry run’, but creatives should also practice alone, presenting aloud and using mirrors. The dry run tests nerves before an audience. I arrive early for in-person meetings, just to do lip trills and power poses in the oﬃce washroom before walking into the boardroom. Find your pre-pitch routine.


<strong>DON’T believe stage fright</strong>


I was seven and rehearsing for a music exam. My teacher asked me whether I was nervous. I said yes. She said, “that only means you haven’t practiced enough.” She was brutal, and correct. Lack of practice makes you fumble on stage, and that’s what you’re really afraid of. If you’re sure of your routine, what’s to fear? Consider hobbies like stand-up comedy, spoken word, music, or toastmasters that force you to face audiences regularly.


<strong>DO be empathetic to your listeners</strong>


As a musician, I sometimes face audiences who would rather do what they came to an event to do - eat, chat, drink, and not pause to appreciate someone paid to be background noise. It’s taught me to genuinely value a listener’s attention. I don’t view my clients as an audience to an agency pitch, but as an audience to an artist. And artists want to leave their audience entertained, provoked, moved. P G Aditiya is also fantastic at reading a room. He uses wit and small talk to start meetings on a high, but also puts audiences at ease.


<strong>DO consider theatrics</strong>


Commit to the bit. Voice modulations and facial expressions aside, consider props and gimmicks. For a pitch with music and lyrics, I practice until I can sing or rap the song myself at the meeting. While pitching to a matrimonial client, our team showed up at the client oﬃce in wedding attire and brought mithai to end the meeting on a sweet note. For a pitch to a delivery giant, one of our creatives dressed up as a delivery exec with branded packaging. The point? Don’t be in-genuine about your theatrics. Don’t do it for the sake of doing it. Do it because you think it’s the best way to present an idea and do it proudly.

 
<strong>There is no right way. There is YOUR way</strong>


PG and I are more extroverted presenters, so there’s obviously more ways to prepare and present a pitch. Taking examples from my colleagues, Teresa Sebastian and Aabhaas Shreshtha who are introverted art maestros who don’t use frills and theatrics. Instead, their presentations reﬂect thoughtful professionalism, rich with details behind each creative choice. Sanket Audhi prepares talking points beyond the deck for strategic interjections. If theatrics is not your style, follow Pooja Manek's lead. Her impeccable decks and expert understanding of client objectives allow for on-the-ﬂy improvisation. Everyone involved should be able to articulate the big-picture objective without relying solely on slides. Binaifer Dulani exempliﬁes this, weaving emotional narratives with strategic thinking.


At Talented, we talk about doing what we can to make the idea proud. While putting in the work to achieve this, we can forget our jobs are fun. If you catch yourself wishing you were in the room when it happened, remember that every opportunity to pitch an idea is the room, and you have the power to make it happen.


<em><strong>Pearl Alex is a part of the creative team at Talented.</strong></em>


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/high-pitch-drama-the-pitch-process-in-advertising-is-broken-heres-how-to-fix-it-2909.htm">High Pitch Drama: The pitch process in advertising is broken. Here’s how to fix it</a>

How to ace the art and science of pitch narration

The building of dark store networks around the country has been at the core of the success of quick commerce players. These dark stores resembling modern-day retail supermarkets don't allow customers to walk in. In India, Amazon seems to have abandoned quick commerce for now as it probably does not make sense for them to target a 10–15 per cent market of the already small grocery business. That is why perhaps they have moved their campaign to planned purchases. 

"Amazon Fresh’s value proposition is not just speed but equally an extensive range of daily consumption products, incredible savings for consumers and superior quality of fruits and vegetables, delivered to customers in 2-4 hour slots.  Regardless, Amazon is continuously improving the speed at which we deliver orders to customers," says Harsh Goyal, Director, Grocery, Amazon India.

The character ‘Ghanshyaam’, played by Manoj Bajpayee in the Amazon Fresh ad campaigns - ‘Nahi toh Mehenga Padega’, embodies the problem that a common person has with buying groceries online. "Basis our insights and research, consumers are primarily looking for value and quality in grocery items. Our recent ad campaign highlights both these aspects in a comical act where in a hurry to get groceries, the customer misses out on savings and good quality," adds Goyal.

Goyal further discusses how technology plays a critical role at every stage of fresh supply chain, starting from collection centres where one buys directly from farmers and pay them quickly, to an end-to-end temperature-controlled supply chain and more.

<strong>Edited excerpts:</strong>

<strong>Can you take us through the genesis and ideation of the campaign along with the key learnings? What was the rationale behind partnering with Manoj Bajpayee? </strong>

The relatable character ‘Ghanshyaam’, played by Manoj Bajpayee in our Amazon Fresh ad campaigns - ‘Nahi toh Mehenga Padega’, embodies the problem that a common person has with buying groceries online. Basis our insights and research, consumers are primarily looking for value and quality in grocery items. Our recent ad campaign highlights both these aspects in a comical act where in a hurry to get groceries, the customer misses out on savings and good quality. 

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The approach followed while developing the campaign focused on captivating the audience and driving home a crucial message that will resonate with the viewers long after they’ve watched it. Amazon Fresh offers consumers wide selection, incredible savings via bank offers and cashbacks, no delivery fee and excellent quality of fruits and vegetables.

<strong>What are some interesting market trends and consumer insights that you are observing? How is Amazon Fresh leveraging them?</strong>

During this mango season, we've observed significant shifts in market trends and consumer preferences on Amazon Fresh. Our top-selling mango varieties include Banganpalli, Ratnagiri Alphonso, Sindhura, Totapuri, and Kesar, with Banganpalli emerging as a versatile favorite across India. We're also seeing growing interest in regional specialties such as Gulabkhas and Chinnarasalu, highlighting a broader consumer inclination towards exploring unique and local flavors. 

Among cities, Bangalore emerged as the king of mangoes in metros, while Ahmedabad and Pune are showing strong engagement in non-metro areas. We've also noticed an uptick in demand for ice creams and dairy beverages, with a 20% and 33% increase in customer base for these categories, respectively. At Amazon Fresh, we leverage consumer insights to continually enhance our offerings, curating thematic stores such as Mango, IPL, and summer store and cater to diverse tastes and preferences, ensuring exceptional quality, value, and convenience for our customers.

<strong>In the age of quick commerce, where we are getting our essentials within 10-20 minutes, why should a customer opt for Amazon Fresh?</strong>

Grocery is a massive market and we believe various formats will co-exist, serving different consumer needs. For example, Amazon Fresh’s value proposition is not just speed but equally an extensive range of daily consumption products, incredible savings for consumers and superior quality of fruits and vegetables, delivered to customers in 2-4 hour slots.  Regardless, Amazon is continuously improving the speed at which we deliver orders to customers. Amazon delivers millions of items to customers on the same day, which is by far the largest selection delivered same day in India.

<strong>How is Amazon Fresh leveraging AI? How is it evolving and innovating its products?</strong>

We believe technology plays a critical role at every stage of fresh supply chain, starting from collection centres where we buy directly from farmers and pay them quickly, to an end-to-end temperature-controlled supply chain. We have shelf monitoring cameras which feed into ML models and help us spot quality defects. At Amazon we have built an ecosystem through a team of qualified agronomists offering agri-tech expertise to registered farmer partners for better farm yield and improved product quality. 

The agronomy services is an application, interface through machine learning and computer-vision based algorithms that simplify supply chain processes, helps farmers to identify defects (rotting, spots, cuts, mould) in fruits and vegetables, and reduces wastage of produce. All the fresh produce is sourced directly from farmers registered with Amazon sellers at the collection centre and after a thorough quality inspection, is dispatched to the processing centres. 

The fresh produce is then sorted, graded, and hygienically packed in different sizes at the processing centres and dispatched to Amazon Fresh fulfilment centres located closer to customers, to fulfil delivery promises. We will keep inventing to improve product quality and supply chain efficiency to ensure our customers receive the best quality produce. 

<strong>Where is the business coming from the most? </strong>

The online grocery retail market is witnessing a rapid growth rate in the Indian metropolitans and other emerging smart cities. While semi-urban areas and emerging cities are expected to drive the next wave of value growth owing to the rapid rate of urbanization, rural demand is likely to continue to drive volume growth.  We see maximum demand coming in from metros, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and non-metros such as Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, and others. 

The metros have been seeing a rise in demand for diverse product categories including pet food, hair care and styling products, make up and baby care products like diapers. We're also observing a pronounced trend towards occasion-based and seasonal purchasing, particularly evident in categories such as snacks and beverages, baking supplies, pasta, and cereals. Hence, to make it easier for customers to discover the selection and enjoy the best value, we keep launching thematic stores such as Mango, Summer, IPL, and others.





Amazon India's Harsh Goyal on why should customers go for Amazon Fresh in the age of quick commerce

Asian Paints, India's paint and décor company known presents ‘Reflections of Kerala’—a beautiful light installation. Created in collaboration with XXL Collective from the St+art India family, this artistic piece honours Kerala’s vibrant culture. The installation is inspired by the special-edition ‘Inspired By Kerala’ packaging of Apex Ultima Protek, Asian Paints’ ultra-durable luxury exterior paint. Standing tall at 12 feet, the installation has been set up at Lulu Mall, Kochi.


The luxury exterior paint has been widely accepted in Kerala homes because of its protective qualities and durability, especially in extreme weather conditions, stated the company. 


Its packaging pays tribute to Kerala, capturing its rich culture, traditions and art forms. ‘Reflections of Kerala’ installation continues this tribute. 


The installation combines intricate cutout panels with spectacular lighting, highlighted the company. Each cutout represents different cultural elements of Kerala's heritage. Strategically placed lighting behind the cutout project its designs onto surrounding surfaces, casting shadows.


The installation showcases classical art forms such as Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Theyyam, and Kalaripayattu to iconic symbols such as Kerala’s serene backwaters and vibrant wildlife. It showcases intricate woodwork and gabled roofs seen in temples, mosques, and native homes of Kerala. 


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/asian-paints-gets-virat-kohli-as-brand-ambassador-for-neo-bharat-latex-paint-28052.htm">Asian Paints gets Virat Kohli as brand ambassador for Neo Bharat Latex Paint </a>

Asian Paints Ultima Protek celebrates Kerala’s cultural heritage with ‘Reflections of Kerala’ light installation

Cheil India has launched a new campaign for Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series that aims to inspire users to enter a new era of connectivity, productivity, and well-being. The campaign, named ‘World On My Watch’, emphasises on the versatility of Galaxy Watch6 series as a reliable companion that helps users accomplish a variety of tasks in their daily routine like managing hectic schedules, tracking health and wellness, and even entertainment, stated the agency.

"Galaxy Watch6 series offers unparalleled convenience and connectivity like never before. Through the latest campaign, we decided to do something different and adopted a benefit-first approach. With LTE integration, users break free from the confines of their smartphones, embracing the liberty to manage essential features directly from their wrists,” said Aditya Babbar, vice president, MX Business, Samsung India.

The Galaxy Watch6 series distinguishes itself with its robust LTE connectivity, enabling users to stay connected even without their smartphones. The Galaxy Watch6 series provides health and wellness as priority, offering advanced features like blood pressure tracking and ECG monitoring, highlighted the company.


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The film also highlights wide-ranging capabilities of Galaxy Watch6 series including navigating through urban landscapes, facilitating digital transactions and streaming content. 


"The film elegantly demonstrates how technology can seamlessly become part of our everyday lives, enhancing convenience, productivity, and well-being. This blend of connectivity, health tracking, and entertainment makes it a perfect pick," said Vikash Chemjong, chief creative officer at Cheil India. 


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/samsung-takes-a-jab-at-apple-capitalizes-on-controversial-ipad-pro-ad-31698.htm">Samsung takes a jab at Apple; capitalizes on controversial iPad Pro ad</a>

Cheil India Launches ‘World On My Watch’ campaign for Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series

When the concept for the “Dancing Queens” campaign emerged,  myTrident, a brand specializing in luxurious and premium home décor collections immediately recognized the potential in bringing Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sharmila Tagore together. “The combination promised to create an unprecedented impact. Both actresses bring a unique blend of charm and sophistication, reminiscent of the Pataudi legacy, says Neha Gupta Bector, Chairperson, myTrident.

In a chat with Storyboard19, Bector discusses the genesis of the campaign, media mix, growth trajectory and more.

<strong>Edited excerpts:</strong>


<strong>Take us through the genesis of the campaign. Why did the brand choose this specific collaboration with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sharmila Tagore?</strong>

The "Dancing Queens" campaign was conceived with a vision to blend elegance and timeless appeal. Choosing Kareena Kapoor Khan as our brand ambassador was an obvious decision. She perfectly represents our target audience, embodying the role of a fantastic homemaker with effortless elegance. Her persona aligns seamlessly with our brand values.

When the concept for this campaign emerged, we immediately recognized the potential magic in bringing Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sharmila Tagore together. The combination promised to create an unprecedented impact. Both actresses bring a unique blend of charm and sophistication, reminiscent of the Pataudi legacy.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6-jjPGIoj2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

The decision was instantaneous once we reviewed the script. We knew this collaboration would encapsulate the beauty of a joyful home across generations, capturing the essence of elegance and grandeur. "Dancing Queens" celebrates this unity and the shared joy, reflecting the magnanimity that both Kareena and Sharmila ji bring to the screen. Thus, the campaign evolved into a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary grace, resonating with audiences across all age groups.

<strong>What were some key consumer insights that the brand leveraged while making the campaign?</strong>

In developing the campaign, we focused on several key consumer insights. The first consideration that was kept in mind was that our target audience is women aged 25 to 65, who possess a strong desire to create beautiful homes. Additionally, it was noted that a significant number of men are also involved in home décor decisions. This demographic insight influenced the selection of our brand ambassadors and the choice of products showcased in the campaign.

Moreover, it was pertinent that the campaign emphasized our brand's core values of quality and premiumness. We wanted to highlight the design thinking behind our products and collections, characterized by elegance and sophistication. These attributes guided the overall creative direction and execution.


<strong>What are some interesting marketing trends that you are observing?</strong>

We’ve been observing several interesting marketing trends recently. Firstly, online marketing and e-commerce have become significant, with a large chunk of consumers shopping online. The growth of quick commerce has been particularly surprising, evolving rapidly and impacting various product categories, including home décor.

In terms of consumer preferences, India continues to favor prints over the solids and pastels popular in Western markets. Additionally, there is a growing awareness among consumers regarding product attributes. For example, in the category of bedsheets, consumers now seek higher thread counts, such as 400 or even 600, and they are knowledgeable about these specifications. Similarly, in towels, buyers are well-informed about size and GSM (grams per square meter), understanding the functional differences between lighter and heavier GSM options. This indicates a rising trend in consumer education, with people making more informed purchase decisions.

The distribution channels have also expanded beyond traditional mom-and-pop shops. Seasonal demand, particularly for winter products in the Northern and North-Eastern regions, remains a significant factor, with blankets being a mature and essential market segment. These trends highlight the dynamic nature of consumer behavior and the importance of adapting marketing strategies accordingly.

<strong>Who is Trident’s ideal TG? Where is the business coming from the most? </strong>

Trident's ideal target demographic encompasses women aged 25 to 65, who seek to cultivate an aura of refined elegance within their surroundings. Notably, our market analysis reveals an intriguing dynamic wherein a significant portion of our consumer base comprises men, thereby expanding our reach beyond conventional boundaries.

Presently, our market share reflects a robust presence, indicative of our brand's resonance within the industry. Our business derives substantial traction from diverse regions and demographics, with particular emphasis on areas where a discerning appreciation for quality and sophistication prevails. This strategic approach ensures that Trident maintains a strong foothold across various markets, catering to the refined tastes of our diverse clientele.

<strong>What’s myTrident’s media mix? </strong>

Our marketing and advertising mix include a diverse range of mediums of print, outdoor, digital, and television advertising on news and GEC channels. We have also incorporated in-theater advertising, which aligns with the nature of our content, it fits best in that large-scheme format.
Specifically, this year, we will emphasize on ATL. Our television campaigns will be strategically scheduled during World Cup slots and popular GEC programs.

On the digital front, our emphasis remains steadfast, with a continued heavy investment in online advertising. This will be complemented by an extensive below-the-line (BTL) strategy, including outdoor hoardings, in-shop activations, and storefront branding. Our 360-degree approach extends to print media as well, with a substantial investment in print advertising.

Furthermore, we are strategically aligning with blockbuster releases to amplify our brand presence, leveraging the synergy between our content and the larger cinematic landscape. Through this holistic approach, encompassing both traditional and contemporary mediums, we aim to create a lasting impression on consumers' minds, despite our limited resources.

<strong>Take us through myTrident’s growth trajectory.</strong>

myTrident embarked on its journey in 2017, offering just two products: bed sheets and bath linens. At that time, the domestic market was evolving and our focus was also building. Since 2017, we have taken gradual steps to establish our presence in the home furnishings sector. We now offer a wide range of products, including comforters, rugs, pillows, cushions, and blankets. 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a significant shift in consumer behavior, with more people investing in their homes, a well-furnished home enhances the overall atmosphere and happiness, which aligns perfectly with our ethos of providing high-quality products at affordable prices, akin to IKEA. This commitment has resonated with our customers, driving our growth and acceptance in the market.

Currently, myTrident products are available in about 5,000 outlets, and we aim to double this number to 10,000 within the next three years. We have a strong presence in major retail chains like Shopper’s Stop, Reliance, D-mart, and Lulus, among others. Additionally, we are prominent in the e-commerce space, being the number one brand on BlinkIt and the top national brand on Myntra. Our presence on Amazon is substantial, and we are expanding to platforms like Ajio and Nykaa. We also cater to a large corporate gifting segment and supply towels to a majority of hotels across the country. 

As we look ahead, we plan to increase our retail footprint to 50 stores over the next three years. We are also seeking brand collaborations to introduce new design philosophies, trends, and colors. These initiatives are a part of our broader efforts to become a preferred and beloved brand for our customers.






myTrident's Neha Gupta Bector on partnering with Kareen Kapoor Khan and Sharmila Tagore

Samsung has a history of taking jabs to target Apple. It is now capitalizing on the controversial iPad Pro ad as well. The Apple ad drew a lot of attention as it showed various creative tools being crushed by a hydraulic press. 

<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/05/apple-crush-2024-05-c1de7970396a5309a16177c70765a3d7.jpeg" alt="" width="947" height="610" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-31715" />

The idea was to showcase versatility and creative capabilities of the iPad Pro. However, Apple’s Crushed ad got a lot of flak; it was interpreted as a metaphor for the suppression of creativity by technology. Apple eventually apologized, with an exec saying it “missed the mark.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We would never crush creativity. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnCrush?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnCrush</a> <a href="https://t.co/qvlUqbRlnE">pic.twitter.com/qvlUqbRlnE</a></p>&mdash; Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamsungMobileUS/status/1790824457365594487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Samsung has a lot to say in the 43-second ad. Samsung’s message is “Creativity cannot be crushed”. The ad shows a woman walking through the destruction Apple’s hydraulic crush left behind. Amidst the rubble, she picks up a crushed guitar and starts strumming. The camera then pans to show that she’s reading musical notes on the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Samsung conveys the message that while instruments may be crushed, creativity cannot be.

Internet was quick to react. Communications consultant Karthik Srinivasan applauded Samsung's ad in a LinkedIn post.

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The tone deaf ad drew flak from celebrities like Hrithik Roshan and Hugh Grant.




Samsung takes a jab at Apple; capitalizes on controversial iPad Pro ad

It was in the year 1970 when Durex first got into advertising globally. Fast forward to 2010, they were acquired by Reckitt Benckiser, and since then, most of the advertising campaigns from the brand have been known to highlight sexual wellness and a healthy sex life.


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On May 13, Durex launched a campaign on Durex Lubes, #ExplorersWanted, where human anatomy was used as a bodyscape. As Anusheela Saha, national creative director and head of design, FCB India, explained, “A lot of Durex consumers did not know what Lubes were. Hence, the market penetration of Lubes has always been very minimal. Lubes are a product for a specific need, but we just wanted to explore Lubes in a new way, maybe as a tool for foreplay or as a tool to spice it up for couples’ sex life.”

Saha talks about the #ExplorersWanted campaign, marketing the brand, and more.

<em>Edited Excerpts</em>

<strong>Could you explain the genesis of the campaign?</strong> 

When we got the brief, we came across a very interesting data point. We got to know two things. About 70 percent of the Indian married couples were open to experimentation in their sex lives.

A lot of Durex consumers did not know what Lubes were. Hence, the market penetration of Lubes has always been very minimal. Lubes is a product for a specific need, but we just wanted to explore Lubes in a new way, maybe as a tool for foreplay or as a tool to spice it up for couples’ sex life. 

And that's when we came upon the term ‘Explore’. How do we explore what's already there? The moment I heard ‘Explore’, John Mayer's song was going on in my head, which said, ‘Your body is my wonderland’. And from exploration, we actually came to the landscape.


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The song itself lends itself to such gorgeous imagery, of exploration between a couple and therefore takes lovemaking to a different kind of exploration. And that's what we wanted to do with Lubes. So, ‘Wonderland’, which John Mayer calls, became ‘Bodyscapes’. 

We actually thought of using human anatomy as bodyscapes and almost like how we would explore things. And, when we are going on vacation, we have favorite spots to visit. For example, Cape Town, Kyoto and all these amazing vacation spots were given amazing names.

So, Kyoto actually became K Y O T O E. You know, and Cape Town became NAPE TOWN. The Czech Republic became the CHEST REPUBLIC. It was quite an exploratory trip that we had when we were doing the creative and hats off to the brand team for actually buying a concept like this, Because, whoever's seeing the work, they're all saying, ‘This is so unlike the regular work on Durex’. This is because, from the beginning, it was thought of as pieces of art and it is almost a surreal journey into lovemaking and foreplay.

Therefore the hashtag ‘ExplorersWanted’. 

<strong>Could you explain the media mix and marketing mix for the campaign?</strong>  

This product has a very limited market penetration. There are only very few people who would have heard or who would have known the existence of Lubes as a product.

Therefore, the media mix that we went with was specifically digital, and not meant for television. And when we kind of came up with the main idea of ‘Bodyscapes’ and ‘Explorers Wanted’, what we actually thought could be an interesting way of looking at it and to give it a different kind of breadth was to look at travel influencers.

That's when we approached Savi and Vid (@bruisedpassports). We also approached Daizy and Ankit (@the.vogue.vanity). Then there was Saloni Chopra and Rahul Bhattacharya (@unplannedby) and they are well known travel influencers with great following. We gave them the brief that if you were to go on a vacation and you were to go and explore your favorite spot, how would you do it?

Therefore, we launched teaser campaigns, which actually have the couple probing the audience to guess what could be a favorite spot. Somebody says, Cape Town and in the next one, Nape Town bit of the edit of the film plays.

<strong>We are living in a very polarised environment where anything or everything pertaining to crucial subjects receives backlash or criticism. Were there any sort of inhibitions or challenges during the making of this campaign? </strong>

There were no inhibitions. The brand team was fabulous for picking up such a subject and giving it to us. There was almost a free hand to do a lot with the filmmaking, because this is filmmaking at its very granular best.

What we did face a little bit of a challenge was with the strict guidelines put down by Meta. Hence, we had to put it in the guardrail and yet make bodyscapes work. So, that was very tricky because partial nudity or nudity on Meta is not kind of permitted.

So, how we could play the game was tricky. But, as you can see, the campaign is very much live on Instagram and is getting lots of love. So, we managed to kind of go past it in a different way.

<strong>Let's be honest. The word ‘Sex’ is still considered a taboo in India. From your observation, how have discussions around this subject improved in India?</strong>

Whether it is India or abroad, sex will always be considered a taboo topic.

In some places, it will be given a little bit more leeway. In more conservative countries like India, it will be a lot more restrictive. But, when we approach a brand like Durex, we know what is the purpose of the brand to exist. And, we actually have to keep these things in mind.

So we went ahead with an idea, which we knew that a lot of people may say, ‘Oh my God, it was just too bold.’ ‘Oh my God, did they really have to go through this route?’ ‘Was there no other way to do a Lubes commercial?’ But we believed in an idea and we actually treated lovemaking like a piece of art.


So, when you treat something, which is taboo and give it that breadth in the form of a piece of art, then it becomes very acceptable because when we put the lens of art, then society seems to be a bit more acceptable to a lot of things because it's art.

In no way, you would see anything cringeworthy in the piece of work. It's just so liberating to see it as a canvas of art actually. 

<strong>Since when has FCB India been handling the mandate of Durex?</strong>

We don't work on Durex as a brand. This was actually a one off project. But, it's just that they were kind of struggling to crack something on Lubes for quite some time. And they had heard of the kind of work that we do.

So they reached out to us. We went armed with concepts and this was one of the concepts they picked up. We can all see how it looks now.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/storyboard18-exclusive-dettol-and-durex-maker-reckitt-benckiser-india-calls-for-media-pitch-7859.htm">Storyboard18 Exclusive: Dettol and Durex-maker Reckitt Benckiser India calls for media pitch</a> 

When a taboo topic is given the shape of an art, then it becomes acceptable: FCB India’s Anusheela Saha

Dentsu Group reported Q1 organic growth of -3.7%. The soft start to the year was in line with internal expectations, the Tokyo-headquartered global ad holding company said in a statement. Looking forward, the Group reiterates FY2024 organic growth guidance of c. 1% and margin guidance of c. 15%. The Group continues to expect the recovery in organic growth to be second half weighted, with confidence underpinned by new client wins and the easing of existing headwinds.

Customer Transformation & Technology (CT&T) is reported at 30% of Group revenues, lower yoy given the cyclical downturn within the segment, strength in the media businesses and a realignment of revenues internally into other practise areas as we look to ensure our services and offerings are globally consistent. This had an impact on our revenue ratio and will continue to impact throughout this year.

In 2024, focus remains on internal investments and returning the Group to growth, the company said, adding that the Group continues to accelerate the shift to One dentsu to create a unified global network, further integrating the group’s diverse capabilities. 

Group net revenue JPY 286.4bn (YoY 6.3%, -1.0% at constant currency)
• On a constant currency basis Japan reported 2.3% growth in net revenue in the first quarter, the Americas a decline of -1.4%, EMEA a decline of -4.2% and APAC growth of 0.6%.
• Reported net revenue increased 6.3% with currency positively impacting by JPY 18.1 bn and M&A contributing JPY 9.9 bn.

Group organic revenue decline -3.7%
• Q1 in Japan, organic growth was robust and ahead of expectation with a continued recovery in advertising, double-digit growth in Internet media and a healthy TV spot market. The Americas reported Q1 organic revenue decline of -6.6%, a soft start to the year due to continued cyclical pressures in CT&T, although Q1 results were in line with internal forecasts. EMEA reported organic revenue decline of -9.4%, but with a mixed performance across the region. APAC reported organic revenue decline of -7.1%, in line with expectations with improvements in some markets, including China. 

APAC Q1 organic revenue -7.1%
• APAC ex Japan reported organic decline, although results were ahead of internal forecasts. Media reported momentum in client spend in China. Creative reported a reduction in client spend in a number of markets, but has momentum with client wins in India & China which are yet to impact revenues. India is still impacted by the annualization of client losses in media from Q2 2023. In Southeast Asia, there was a modest improvement in organic growth in Thailand as TV spend continued to resume post government formation in Q3 last year. The Philippines saw continued momentum following strong new business wins at the end of Q4.
The region is on track to deliver forecasted results for the full year with the cycling out of clients lost in 2023 and an easing of comparables into the second half. 

Hiroshi Igarashi, President and Global CEO, Dentsu Group Inc., said, "The first quarter delivered an organic revenue decline of -3.7%, in line with our internal forecasts and leaving us on track to deliver our guidance of c. 1% organic growth for the full year 2024. Our confidence comes from a stronger outlook in the second half of the year. The Group will benefit from momentum in client wins, yet to impact revenues, from cycling out of accounts lost in 2023 and a significant easing of comparables." 

"We believe the future of our industry is driven by client demands for greater integration of services," he said. "Clients are searching for a marketing transformation partner that can deliver true integration of media, dynamic content and data insights via solutions that seamlessly connect brand potential to business impact. This aligns perfectly with our strategy of growing our clients’ businesses through integrated growth solutions." 

Igarashi reiterated, "Our promise to clients is that we are innovating to impact. By simplifying and integrating our offerings into an ecosystem which makes sense to clients, we can continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible through experience and business transformation." 

Dentsu Group's global chief Hiroshi Igarashi stresses on integrated growth solutions

Spice Money has announced the launch of its VIP Program, designed to provide a four-fold exclusive benefit package to its network of 14 lakh Adhikaris. This program is tailored to enhance their experience and drive growth in their businesses. This initiative in the segment is designed to offer premium benefits, personalized assistance, and exclusive earning opportunities, ensuring that high-transacting Adhikaris receive exceptional service, support, and priority attention. 

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This program aims to identify and reward the top-performing Adhikaris(Merchant)by providing them with a clear path to increased earnings and enhanced services. This initiative will lead to the loyalty of Adhikaris, ensuring their commitment to the Spice Money platform through exclusive benefits and additional earning opportunities. Any Adhikari (Merchant) looking to advance within the Spice Money network can join the VIP Program.

<strong>Key Features of the VIP Program:</strong>

·Transactional Benefits: Adhikaris enrolled in the VIP Program will enjoy additional commissions on core products such as Aadhar-based withdrawals AePs, DMT, and financial services products like opening of CASA and consumer loan products.

·Care Benefits: VIP Adhikari's will receive special care and support due to their high transaction volumes, ensuring seamless operations and maximizing transactional volumes.

·Discounts on Services & Hardware: The program offers discounts on hardware, including the change of biometric devices as per UIDAI guidelines as an industry-wide change in the ecosystem, leading to a reduction in fraud.

·Personal Benefits: Spice Money is also committed to offering personal benefits such as insurance and scholarships for Adhikari's children, providing a holistic approach for a Nanoprenuer to grow their business

The VIP Program is open to all Adhikaris aspiring to advance in their Spice Money journey. Adhikaris can choose from three levels of subscription plans, Basic, Advance and VIP plans starting at Rs. 199 as an introductory monthly price, tailored to meet varying needs and preferences. 

Dilip Modi, Founder & CEO, Spice Money, said, “The VIP Program is a testament to our commitment to acknowledging and rewarding the outstanding performance of our top Adhikaris. This initiative provides them with a clear pathway to increased earnings and superior services, aligning with our mission of fostering financial inclusion and empowerment in emerging India.”

Kuldeep Pawar, Chief Marketing Officer, Spice Money, said, ”I am thrilled to introduce our VIP Program, another game-changing initiative from Spice Money tailored to elevate the journey of our high-transacting Adhikaris. This program not only recognizes the exceptional performance of our top Adhikaris and rewards it but also enhances their experience with exclusive benefits and personalized services. This initiative highlights our unwavering dedication to empowering our partners and revolutionizing rural banking in India”

Mondelez turns 75! A look at its growth journey and ad campaigns in India

Storyboard18's Shibani Gharat talks to Mondelez International's Anil Vishwanathan and Nitin Saini, Ogilvy's Piyush Pandey and Sukesh Nayak and Wavemaker's Shekhar Banerjee about Mondelez's growth over that last 75 years and how advertisements played a key role for its presence in India.

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