ASICS’ Rajat Khurana on the company’s growth strategy in India’s evolving athletic footwear market

“Shoes are a mirror of a person’s soul,” a saying that has never been more true in today’s fashion-driven world. Once merely a necessity for protection and comfort, footwear has evolved into a powerful symbol of style and status, with consumers increasingly obsessed with the latest trends and innovations. This shift in perception has spurred brands to redefine their offerings, catering to a growing audience that values functionality and fashion. The sneaker market in India is forecasted to generate a revenue of three billion dollars in 2024, according to Statista, a market research firm. Furthermore, in terms of per capita revenue, India is expected to generate $2.06 per person in 2024.?

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82% of Gen Z in India agree that Spotify helps them escape ‘Doom-Scrolling’; reveals report

61% Gen Z believe people are more lonely today than they were 10 years ago, revealed The Spotify Culture Next Report 2024. Furthermore, 82% of Gen Z in India agree that Spotify helps them escape ‘doom-scrolling’. Gen Z is particularly active in Spotify’s collaborative features as they make up 60% of all Blend playlists created in the past two years and 52%? of all collaborative playlists this year. 55% of streams of celebrity blends in 2023-Q1 2024 came from Gen Z. Moreover, the generation shared Spotify user profiles 32 million times, representing 67% of all profile shares.

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Bikaji’s Neha Rao on company’s advertising strategies and consumer engagement besides expansion in new categories

‘Amitji loves Bikaji’—a jingle that sticks. With the festive season in full swing, the demand for snacks and namkeen has risen, and it is believed that India’s love for snacks will remain constant throughout the year. Legacy brands are rolling up their sleeves to capture the market, targeting emerging consumers like Gen-Z and millennials who shift toward healthier choices. In 2021, the ethnic namkeen and snacks market in India was valued at about Rs 10,800 crore. The namkeen and snack market in the country is forecasted to grow to about Rs 19,500 crore in 2025.

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Ram Bandhu launches ‘Ek Vichaar’ campaign in collaboration with Robin Hood Army

Ram Bandhu, a food products brand, partnered with Robin Hood Army, a volunteer-based organisation, to launch a campaign titled – ‘Ek Vichaar’. According to the company, this campaign aims to spread awareness amongst the people regarding the prevention of food wastage. From what is understood, the company has released a short film as a part of this campaign.

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How brands are using Diwali to connect with Indian consumers

Ahead of Diwali, toymaker Mattel has teamed up with designer Anita Dongre to create the first-ever Barbie Diwali doll, priced approximately Rs 1,999. The doll dazzles in a moonlight bloom lehenga, which includes a choli top, a floral Koti vest, and a flowing lehenga skirt, adorned with intricate motifs of dahlias, jasmine, and Indian lotus blossoms. Lalit Agarwal, country manager, Mattel India, says the Diwali doll will help showcase India’s vibrant cultural heritage on a global stage.

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COOX raises $125K in seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures for expansion

COOX, an Indian platform providing on-demand home services, has raised $125,000 in a Seed Series round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The funds are set to support COOX’s plan to expand its operational reach from 20 to 40 cities, increase marketing efforts, and enhance its technology through AI integration to improve operational efficiency and scalability.

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Ayushmann Khurrana joins Birla Brainiacs as investor and brand ambassador

Birla Brainiacs, a hybrid homeschooling platform, has announced Ayushmann Khurrana as an investor and brand ambassador. According to the company, this partnership with Ayushmann Khurrana comes at a pivotal moment, as families increasingly seek personalised and flexible educational solutions.?

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Edelweiss Mutual Fund asks viewers to reflect on true prosperity with Bachpan Waali Diwali campaign

Edelweiss Mutual Fund’s new campaign, Bachpan Waali Diwali, prompts viewers to question, ‘Is money the only real prosperity?’.? The campaign, presented through a digital film, revisits the simplicity of Diwali celebrations from childhood. It aims to highlight memories of family time, homemade sweets, handcrafted decorations, and the traditional practice of lighting diyas and performing Lakshmi puja at home.

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People Movement: Check out who moved where

KlugKlug has appointed Shuchi Sethi as country manager for India to lead its expansion and revenue growth across all regions, including North, West, and South India. In this role, Sethi will focus on driving awareness around data-driven solutions for influencer marketing, addressing the growing demand for transparency and ROI in influencer engagements. With a decade of experience in the influencer marketing sector, her expertise aligns with KlugKlug’s vision of delivering strategic value to brands.

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Kuku FM harnesses AI for scalable, personalised content creation

Google and Nandan Nilekani’s Fundamentum Partnership-backed audio content platform Kuku FM wants generative AI to become an integral part of everything it does — content creation, production and dissemination. Lal Chand Bisu, co-founder & CEO, says, “We know accurately which GenAI model can work for which genre. Certain models don’t handle science fiction well while others don’t handle true crime well and so on. The capability varies genre to genre.”

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