Amit Haralalka

This is a classic case of when in India, think Indian! Apple didn't anticipate consumers' love for Cash dealing for even expensive purchases such as Apple phones. In retail-oriented business, besides the dynamics of cost structure, payment terms play a big part in ensuring smooth transactions. In my experience, the above is dynamic enough to vary in different parts of the country and hence there is no standard set of applicable rules While companies are smart enough to understand this over time, those who don't, never get past basic issues. What are the other examples that you can think of Indian consumer's ingenuity and unique approach? Do share in the comments #Indianretail #salesandmarketing #Indinconsumers

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Quick #commerce has emerged as a crucial distribution channel for #FMCG companies in India, responding to the rising demand for swift deliveries. These platforms now represent around 35% of FMCG firms' e-commerce revenue. Noteworthy quick commerce platforms in India encompass Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and BBnow bigbasket.com. To effectively navigate this landscape, companies are enlisting dedicated key account managers to oversee relationships with quick commerce ventures. #Nestle India's performance underscores the significance of quick commerce, with 60% of their e-commerce sales in Q3 2024 attributed to this channel. Among the popular brands available on quick commerce are #Kitkat, #Nescafe, #Maggi, and #Milkmaid, with a substantial offering of 90-120 SKUs on these platforms. #Kenvue, previously affiliated with Johnson & Johnson, has experienced notable growth through quick commerce. Their key brands like #Stayfree, #Johnson's Baby, #Neutrogena, and Listerine are prominently featured. The company focuses on essential health and skin health & beauty segments, aligning with the evolving consumer preferences in the market. Publicis Groupe India Publicis Groupe Publicis Media Publicis Commerce

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Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is seeking to buy Minimalist at $350Mn 🚀 Are FMCG giants going to destroy new-age brands to diversify their portfolios? HUL is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire Jaipur-based skincare startup Minimalist for approximately ₹3,000 crore Founded by Mohit Yadav and Rahul Yadav, Minimalist valuation has skyrocketed from around ₹630 crore to ₹3,000 crore in just three years. In the financial year 2024, Minimalist reported revenue of ₹350 crore, nearly doubling from ₹184 crore the previous year. Reasons why HUL is interested ✅ acquisition aligns with HUL's broader strategy to tap into the younger consumer demographic ✅ minimalist’s numbers are good commanding a revenue multiple of approximately 10x ✅ Unilever Ventures have previously invested ₹110 crore in the brand so they know how things are  ✅ the deal is another FMCG giant acquiring a new brand to expand its D2C market It's amazing news for the entire D2C Community, what's your take on it?

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𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗸: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 In the entrepreneurial journey, the path from ideation to execution is fraught with challenges, a reality I was recently reminded of during a visit to a Lenskart store in Balewadi, Pune. Lenskart, a visionary company in the eyewear industry, has been a beacon of innovation and customer service. However, my experience highlighted a gap that many businesses, regardless of size or success, can fall into. Despite taking an appointment, I was unable to receive the complimentary eye test - a key service offering and a lead magnet for Lenskart - due to the absence of the store manager, who also serves as the refractionist. This wasn't my first encounter with such an issue, pointing towards a systemic problem rather than an isolated incident. Peyush Bansal, the CEO of Lenskart.com and a respected figure on Shark Tank India, has often emphasized the importance of standardization of processes and automation in scaling businesses. Yet, it appears that even the most well-intentioned advice can be challenging to implement within one's own organization. This experience isn't just about a missed eye test; it's a reflection on the broader entrepreneurial journey. It serves as a reminder that the road to success is paved with continuous learning, adaptation, and the humility to recognize that there is always room for improvement. To my fellow entrepreneurs, especially those who have faced criticism or felt discouraged after receiving feedback, remember that perfection is a moving target. It's not the absence of mistakes that defines our success, but our response to them and our commitment to growth. In sharing this feedback, my intention is not to criticize but to foster a constructive dialogue. It's a shoutout to all entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of growth and standardization. Let's take this as an opportunity to reflect on our practices, engage in meaningful conversations, and support each other in our collective pursuit of excellence. To Piyush Bansal and the Lenskart team, consider this a friendly nudge from a fellow entrepreneur who admires your work and believes in your vision. The journey of entrepreneurship is a shared one, with each of us contributing to a larger ecosystem of innovation and improvement. In conclusion, let's remember that preaching is indeed easier than practicing, but it's the practice that brings our visions to life. Here's to embracing our imperfections and turning them into stepping stones for growth. Note: This post reflects my personal experience and opinions, shared with the hope of contributing positively to our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Also, in the video, he mentioned that the manager would come at around 3-4 pm, but off the recording, he mentioned once that he would arrive at around 6 pm.

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LP 103 | OOH has surprised me as a medium that helps advertisers stand out in the digital advertising age. A recent Social Samosa article by Pranali Tawde highlighted the state of OOH advertising in India. Junaid Shaikh and Rupali Chavan shared some key points, while Chandan Mendiratta and Samyu Murali discussed their celebrated OOH campaigns. Brands have been attracted to OOH since dinosaur days due to its unique ability to reach consumers during their daily routines. It offers unparalleled visibility in physical spaces where digital distractions are minimal. Unlike the cluttered online advertising landscape, OOH provides a refreshing way for brands to cut through the noise. And DOOH is taking it to the next level with hyper-targeted advertising through advanced data segmentation and dynamic messaging. In the recent past, we've seen some incredible OOH campaigns like Swiggy's #WhyIsThisASwiggyAd made by Talented.Agency and AMAZON PRIME's Panchayat Lauki billboards created by Kulfi Collective, SoCheers, Initiative (IPG) and Trzy Innovationz. These not only boosted brand visibility but also sparked social and offline conversations. While the bigger agencies will undoubtedly explore this medium, indie agencies like mine won't be left behind. We're looking forward to 2025, ready to create unboring outdoor campaigns that blur the lines between traditional advertising and interactive, tech-driven storytelling. Motley is going OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH! #IndieAdAgencies #OOHAdvertising #MotleyIsUnboringAF #MeJasonMenezes

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Today's #SpotlightMondays is on the sparkling OGs of Indian strart-up ecosystem - CaratLane - A Tanishq Partnership. Mithun Sacheti and Srinivasa Gopalan started Caratlane in 2008 with a starting capital of 1cr. Coming from the family behind Jaipur Gems in Mumbai, Mithun had studied Gemology in the U.S. to join and run the family business for eight years. One day he decided to do something crazy - Sell jewellery online! After facing numerous rejections from VCs, their breakthrough came with funding from Tiger Global Management. The journey from 2008 to 2016 was challenging—revenues soared from zero to ₹132 Cr, but they faced significant losses of ₹63 Cr. In 2016, Caratlane was noticed by the Tata Group, who were setting up their own jewellery empire under brands like Tanishq, Mia, Zoya. They bought a majority stake, giving Tiger global a full exit. In 2017, Mithun Sacheti met veteran investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala who later became his biggest mentor and guiding force. Despite continued revenue growth (₹621 Cr in FY20), losses persisted. They raised ₹99 cr from Tata group in 2019 at a valution of ₹900cr only. They finally turned profitable in 2021 to their revenue reaching ₹2177Cr in 2023. This was also the time when Tata group bought out the entire stake of Mithun Sacheti for a whooping ₹4261Cr, making it the second largest exit for any e-commerce founder in India. Their product strategy has been multi category - from a child's first jewellery to everyday pieces to statement wedding designs. Their revolutionary offering was the democratization of Solitaire buying. You could go on their website and select the exact size, colour, clarity of diamond for your jewellery with authentication and at prices that a common man did not have access to before. Their distribution strategy has also been omni-channel - spanning over 123 retail stores across 45+ Indian cities and shipping globally to 132 countries like the USA, UK, Singapore, Dubai, Australia & Canada. Mithun Sacheti's journey has not been an easy one. But it highlights a few important takeaways: 1. Persistence Pays Off: Staying the course increases your chances of success 2. The Power of Mentorship: With guidance from Lee Fixel, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, and Tatas, Mithun leveraged the wisdom of his network 3. Customer-Centric Approach: In an industry rife with non-transparency, CaratLane stood out by prioritizing trust and fairness PS: I am very curious to see how Caratlane evolves to tap into the growing market of Lab grown diamonds.

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I am sure all my friends and old (oops - I mean young) colleagues from the advertising fraternity have already read this. During my chats some of the old school guys are lamenting on how traditional firms are getting squeezed. Some admiring how the deal will give the combined company a market cap of more than $30 billion. Others just believe it will still be business as usual and not much would change, and want to wait and watch. Some like me just reflecting on the fact that "change is the only constant", and ratifying a self belief that financial managers and accountants eventually run businesses :) Some noteworthy transaction details from the Omnicom press release - (link in the comment): - The transaction is expected to generate $750 million in annual cost synergies and be accretive to adjusted earnings per share for both Omnicom and Interpublic shareholders.  Omnicom will have an attractive pro forma financial profile: - Combined 2023 revenue of $25.6 billion, Adjusted EBITA of $3.9 billion and free cash flow of $3.3 billion - Combined 2023 revenue of 57% U.S. and 43% International - Strong balance sheet, commitment to investment grade rating with combined debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.1x before the benefit of synergies - Omnicom will continue its practice for use of free cash flow: dividends, acquisitions and share repurchases - Both Omnicom and Interpublic will maintain their current quarterly dividend through the closing of the transaction - The stock-for-stock transaction is expected to be tax-free to both Omnicom and Interpublic shareholders and is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to Omnicom and Interpublic shareholder approvals, required regulatory approvals, and other customary conditions. - The combined company will retain the Omnicom name and trade under the OMC ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange. As the ET article points out, while both companies are based in New York, but the rumblings are being felt the world over. Mohit, Naresh, Anurag, Shubho Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gp-6wqih?

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"Indian consumers are lapping up Chinese electronics brands as they offer value for money and don't suffer from the perception of poor quality anymore, giving them a strong market share across segments, said industry executives. This is despite Chinese electronic product companies coming under intense regulatory scrutiny in India amid a heightening of border tensions. As per market trackers Counterpoint Research and IDC, four Chinese brands-Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme and Oppo-are ranked in the top five for smartphones. The only one not from that country is South Korea's Samsung. Industry executives estimate this will translate into combined sales of almost Rs 90,000-95,000 crore. China's Xiaomi was examined by Indian government agencies over alleged foreign exchange violations in 2022, which coincided with a large proportion of its top leadership changing. The company ceded its No. 1 spot in the December quarter of 2022 to Samsung, eventually sliding to fourth. But by the June quarter this year, Xiaomi was back at the top on the back of an aggressive expansion in offline retail. Vivo is another Chinese company that has faced investigations over allegations of tax violations and money laundering. The Chinese have also gained ground in the fiercely competitive home appliances and TV segments, where the number of popular brands exceeds that of smartphones-as much as 40 in ACs to 15 in TVs. Qingdao-based Haier ranks fourth in refrigerators after LG, Samsung and Whirlpool, and also fourth in TVs after LG, Samsung and Sony, industry executives said, citing sales researcher GfK's figures for January to June of this year. "Indians no longer perceive these brands as Chinese and consider them international brands," said Nilesh Gupta, director at Vijay Sales, a leading consumer electronics retail chain present in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. "They have created brand equity for themselves in India through the years." They have also burnished their image through ads at global sporting events, the executives said. For instance, Vivo and Hisense were official sponsors of the just-concluded Euro football championship. In smartphones, the combined share of Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme and Oppo went up to 61.6% in the April-June period. This was compared to a 55% share in the same period a year ago. The only significant non-Chinese brands in smartphones are Samsung and Apple, Gupta said. Chinese brands have an edge, given their compelling prices, Gupta said. In appliances, Haier has found gaps in the market and filled them with innovative products such as bottom-mount refrigerators, thereby gaining share, he said. These are units that have the freezer compartments at the bottom." Full report: https://lnkd.in/gYEHCAQa

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Thrilled to get some glowing reviews on my book from some absolute industry stalwarts! Grateful for the same! :) ‘Most marketing books teach you WHAT marketing is all about – its concepts & principles. This one goes beyond and tell you HOW to be a good marketer – the processes & tools that you can use, to arrive at a sound marketing strategy & plan. A truly invaluable resource for anybody in marketing – or aspiring to get there’ Rohit Srivastava, Chief Strategy Officer, Contract Advertising, India ‘Saurabh’s ‘The Practical Marketer’, is a great encyclopedia for students of marketing and young marketing professionals. It’s a practical Kotler of our times for marketing in the complex Indian stage. In the fast-paced world today, the classical mentoring and learning on the job is going down. In other cases, brand managers find it awkward to ask basic questions on the go during everyday work. ‘The Practical Marketer’ can be a ready reckoner for all those times.’ Nikhil Rao, CMO Mars Wrigley, India As the name suggests, Saurabh’s book is a treasure trove of practical insights for anyone who wants to make a career in marketing. It will be of great value to both students as well as marketing professionals. Nitin Saini, Vice President Marketing, Mondelez In a country where most MBAs do the course without much practical experience, they can feel quite clueless in the early years. This book bridges the gap and is a great guide to learning the tricks and trade of the job called marketing. Saurabh expertly draws from his wide experience and observations of brands across multiple industries and creates a structured and categorized mental diagram of what young marketers should expect, and how their can contribute to their jobs and build their careers. Ganapathy Balagopalan, Deputy Chief Strategy Officer, Ogilvy India   ‘Right from when Saurabh was a young marketer in Cadbury during the early 2010s, his voice would be heard in the meetings involving the ace Cadbury marketing stalwarts and Contract Advertising. Never shy, always clear, always objective and fearless, one knew that his was a voice that would shine. Which is now even more amply reflected in the Practical Marketer where he shares the fundamentals of marketing for young hopefuls. A must read for youngsters coming into the Marketing universe.’ Raj Nair, Growth and Creative Consultant. Former CEO and CCO, Madison BMB. My book is now available for Pre Order at Amazon. Do book your copy now! https://lnkd.in/dzccvxjs #thepracticalmarketer

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'What were they thinking?' It was me last night during the USA vs England T20 World Cup fixture. Not for the cricket being played but for the two ads I saw. One was by MRF Tyre featuring Virat Kohli, and the other was by Lemonn (yes, with two n), an online broking startup. The first ad, by MRP Tyre, featured Virat Kohli, while the second one was by Lemonn, an online broking startup. In the MRP ad, the voice behind the camera asks Virat for advice: "Virat ji, can you recommend a good car tyre?" MRF once captured my childhood mind with the logo on Sachin Tendulkar's bat — a marketing genius. I don't know why they missed the mark here. Why ask a cricket star about car tyres? Asking Virat to vouch for tyres without context falls flat. Imagine seeing him take on rough terrain, showcasing the tyres' durability—that would resonate more. The Lemonn ad prides itself on being a no-cost ad. It literally shows lemons instead of DDLJ, Chak De India, Mohabbatein, or Dhoom characters in the iconic scenes. Their call to action: Like this no-cost ad, buy stocks at no cost. A fresh approach, sure, but does it build trust? Trust and competence are paramount when it comes to financial decisions. This is especially true when there are many established options. The Lemonn ad, despite the unique approach it tries taking, falls flat on these and, unfortunately, even on humor. What do you think? Should brands stick to their core competencies when choosing endorsers and narratives? Or is it okay to take a creative leap while risking credibility?

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📣 Arc Analysis: What's happening in FMCG and smart durables? My colleague Aditi Shrivastava has a sharp analysis on what might have triggered the sales drop in India's consumer markets. 📌 In Q2 FY25, Honasa Consumer saw a 7% ⬇ in revenue to Rs 462 crore, 📌 As did Wow Skin Science in FY24, ⬇ 23% to Rs 233 crore, 📌 Smart wearable brand Boat ⬇ 5% in revenue, 📌 Noise 🎧 - flat sales, 📌 Licious' revenue ⬇ 8% in FY24.   These companies did one thing in common. Aditi has the deets in this Arc Analysis. And for regular updates, don't forget to subscribe to our WhatsApp channel. The link is in the comments section.

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This morning, I stumbled upon an article in The Economic Times: https://shorturl.at/eaF0Q. It’s fascinating to see a major e-commerce platform like Flipkart taking on the role of price regulator for brands. Their new policy, based on average settlements over the past two months, seems a bit out of touch, especially in a market where commodity prices change daily. Interestingly, FDI norms specifically prohibit e-commerce platforms from interfering in brands' pricing decisions. It’s enlightening to see that we’re not alone in dealing with this. Last month, the e-commerce platform decided to update their rate card, restricting brands from changing the selling prices of their products and so, the past one and a half months working with Flipkart have been quite an experience. It appears there’s a broader issue at play with this approach and I hope this callout reaches the right team at Flipkart. It would be great to see these issues getting resolved for everyone to get back to business as usual. Kalyan Krishnamurthy Jeyandran Venugopal Aakriti Bhatia Walmart Kathryn McLay Rahul Sharma Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Piyush Goyal

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What is the process of Making Advertisements? Such an important topic, yet it isn't something you are likely to learn in B School. This is just one example of the many topics I cover in my book 'The Practical Marketer'. Thank you Dushyant Bhatt for sharing this fantastic conversation. The Practical Marketer: Your Ultimate Guide to Consumer Product Marketing is available on Amazon at https://amzn.in/d/0zRbvnR or at Crosswords Bookstore near you. #thepracticalmarketer #advertizing #brands #marketing

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Exciting Update For Advertisers! The government's decision to ease the mandate on self-declaration for advertisements brings much needed clarity and relief to the industry. No more confusion or uncertainty! It’s important to note that the SDC applies only to Ads related to health and food products. With this move, advertisers can focus more on strategy and creativity without worrying about cumbersome compliance issues. Kudos to the government for listening to our concerns and taking steps to simplify the process. #Advertising #BrandManagement #Marketing #GovernmentMandate #RegulatoryRelief #ClarityInAdvertising

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India’s Changing Consumer Spending: A New Opportunity for D2C brands?💡 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 50% 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬. 📉 This shift represents a new era of consumer priorities, with more disposable income being funneled into lifestyle, healthcare, and aspirational products. This trend marks a significant opportunity to innovate and meet the evolving needs of Indian consumers. With more purchasing power available for non-essential categories, brands need to strategically adapt their product portfolios to tap into this demand for enhanced experiences in wellness, technology, and personal care. 🚀 Key Insights: ▶ 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐲: With more money to spend outside of food, customers are exploring new product categories. ▶ 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Understanding where this increased spending is headed can help in crafting precise marketing strategies. ▶𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: With more disposable income, Indian consumers are willing to explore premium, personalized products, especially in beauty, wellness, and luxury categories. The ongoing consumer shift calls for more than just innovation; it requires a deep understanding of where today’s buyers are directing their money. Are we ready to create products that reflect these new priorities? 💡 #ConsumerProducts #Innovation #India #ProductDevelopment #ConsumerTrends #BusinessStrategy #WellnessProducts #LifestyleProducts

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This is a classic example of what #Thematic communication should be about. No brand. No used cases. No functional benefits. Just one line bridges the brand and the concept. Ander say strong. I have always believed in the notion that a thematic should be around the positioning and not the brand. Bravo! Universal simple insight. Beautiful narration. Pure magic. #HindustanUnilever #DaughtersDay2024 #BetiBannKeAana #ClinicPlus #Advertising https://lnkd.in/dYeTuXkg

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RELIANCE to revamp CENTRO Another example reiterating the Importance of STP & USP in Retail. If you think you need a Revamp, reach us at www.pchsi.com https://lnkd.in/gBsxghqz #retail #fashion #reliance #centro #brand #brandbuilding #brandidentity #brandpositioning #branding #brandimage #stp #usp #pchsi #peopleconnectindonesia

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'He is a brand that has managed to stand the test of time and become something beyond aspirational: Timeless.' 'MS Dhoni is an anomaly. He does not fit into any of the neatly laid boxes marketers have spent years perfecting.' 'Less words, more action.' 'He is multi-faceted. He is serious when he needs to be, and a jokester on other occasions.' an amazing read! for everyone trying to understand what a brand is? #marketingandadvertising #marketing #brandmanagement #branddhoni #brands #advertisingandmarketing #brandingandmarketing

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