It's target youth for Rado

A spirited campaign, online communication, iPhone apps and hi-tech designs – Rado's latest agenda is to spark a connection with the younger generation.

Inaugurating the brand's 14th store, at The Express Mall, Chennai, Mr Olivier Cosandier, Rado Vice-President  says, “Fifteen years ago, we had older customers, but now, we have lot of youngsters buying Rado. We are there in the online media space and Indians have a very strong share there.” And that's perhaps why the brand's latest designs and innovations have an instant appeal with the younger generation.

The brand has recently started its own iPhone application which goes beyond guiding users through its products, stores, news and special events. It serves as a guide to art and design highlights in 24 cities around the globe, including Mumbai. The brand states that, “Within each city guide are dedicated sections on city information, architecture, art, design and fashion, comprising 302 geo-located objects.”

Though the number of people who have downloaded the app has not yet been determined, they hope to connect with the younger iPhone wielding Rado fans.

At BaselWorld 2011, Rado premiered its global advertising campaign ‘Unlimited Spirit' where each of the new ads boldly presents one of the Swiss brand's iconic watches against colourful backgrounds.

Stating that ‘Unlimited Spirit' is more than just a campaign and the driving essence of the business, Mr Olivier explained that the brand hopes to highlight its breakthroughs through this. Watches like the world's thinnest ceramic watch and the edgy new Rado material Ceramos are the latest in its slew of products, and an instant winner with the younger section of its customer profile.

The new Rado store in Chennai, the second in the city, houses an exclusive selection of the brand's celebrated products such as Rado Sintra, Ceramica, Centrix, Integral, True and V10K, apart from its range of high-end jewellery watches.

Rado falls under the umbrella of the Swatch Group and has 175 points of sales in India, including its own boutiques, multi-brand outlets and shop-in-shops.

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Love It Light - Diet Coke Commercial

Amazon Pushes into Indian Market with Free Shipping from Abroad

Amazon’s UK division has announced that it’s offering free Super Saver delivery to India.

It’s possible to order and get some items delivered from eCommerce sites abroad to India. But the shipping costs play a major spoilsport. At times, the shipping charges might be 100% higher than the price of the product itself. That’s what makes Amazon’s announcement extremely exciting.

Foreign Direct Investment is not permitted in multi brand retail chains in India. That’s the reason Walmart and other major retailers from across the globe tie up with Indian companies to set up cash and carry outlets instead. Under the current laws, Amazon will also fall under the same category.

While the sales records of Indian eCommerce are not bringing down the roof, the segment is growing from strength to strength. In the past of couple of years, people have started shedding their apprehensions over using credit cards online. The debit card and Internet banking gateways have brought even those without credit cards (they make a huge chunk of customers) into the fold.

Every eCommerce site worth its salt has gotten venture capital and at times the prices are lower than the local shops. People are just throwing themselves at sites that offer free shipping.

If there is a right time to enter the Indian eCommerce market, it is right now. That might be the reason Amazon is promoting this offer to test the waters. There are two interesting things to note.

First one is the minimum amount of purchase. 25 Pounds is roughly equivalent to Rs. 1800, which for most of the middle class and the young crowd (the target group) with disposable income is next to nothing. So, Amazon is counting on people to atleast give the offer a go once, more like an impulse purchase. And am pretty sure they will. Actually I am going to order some CDs for myself this weekend.

Secondly, the terms of service says, at the end of the offer period Amazon reserves the right to extend, amend or withdraw this offer. The decision might be based on how fabulous the response is.

From the regulatory perspective, how far along Amazon can get away with this offer is a bit unclear. Indian Government allowed PayPal to operate in the eWallet space for years before the axe came down. Let us wait and watch.

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BirchBox business model

Global Ethics expands One brand

Procter & Gamble has sold its Pringles crisp brand to Diamond Foods for $2.35bn

Diamond Foods, the US food manufacturer, also owns the Kettle chips brand, Diamond of California and Emerald nuts brands and microwave popcorn brand Pop Secret.

The acquisition will triple Diamond’s existing business and create a snack-food company with revenue of approximately $2.4bn and estimated earnings of $410m, according to the companies

KFC drops 'Finger Lickin' Good' in health-focused revamp

Kentucky Fried Chicken is to replace its 50-year-old 'Finger Lickin' Good' slogan with 'So Good', as it introduces a healthier focus, which will include displaying calories alongside prices on menus.

KFC: 50-year-old slogan goes in health-focused revamp

There will be new menu offerings, including the full rollout of its first griddled chicken product, called the Brazer, which will feature a burger, a tortilla-style wrap and a salad containing fewer calories, salt and fat than KFC's standard offerings.

The chain's 800 stores will also switch from using rapeseed, sunflower and palm oil, to just rapeseed, reducing saturated fats across the KFC range by 25%.

The new slogan will appear in ads set to run in two months' time. 'Finger Lickin' Good' has been retired before now, with a nine-year absence before getting restored in 2008.

KFC's pledge to display calories on menu boards from September comes as the Department of Health continues negotiations with food retailers to display more nutrition information.

Executives from fast-food chains, including McDonald's and Pizza Hut, and supermarket Tesco, as well as food producer PepsiCo, are members of the DoH's Food Network, which is currently working to agree initial pledges, which will form part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal.

Martin Shuker, managing director of KFC UK and Ireland, said: "We're excited to be launching So Good, because it's much more than just a new slogan. It's about becoming better at everything we do, including our great tasting food, the work we do with our people, and the way we operate in the local community."

P & G NEW CAMPAGIN

Apple world in 30 yeaRS

Coca-Cola India uncorks fruit juice range

 

Coca-Cola India announced the launch of Minute Maid 100%, a range of pure fruit juices, at Food Forum 2011 in Mumbai.

The Minute Maid brand is present via Minute Maid Pulpy Orange and Minute Maid Nimbu Fresh.

But the 100% range will have no preservatives or added colour and will be available in three flavours — apple, grape and orange.

The brand will sport the tagline Life ka Ras.

Pure juice brands in India include Real (Dabur), Tropicana (PepsiCo) and Saint (Parle Agro).

Buffett hopes Monday will ring in new business from India

During Warren Buffett's India visit, there was some time for the Oracle to show his funny side to the Indian media. Yes, he did speak about inflation, and investment opportunities, but it is what he had to say about rebirth and his family that you may want to know. He also spoke about his mantra for improved earnings and his recipe for success - Be in the right business and with the right people.


Q: Which countries are you looking at investing in and where does India rank among your list of countries to invest in?

A: We are looking to make big investments anywhere in the world, if we can find really good businesses run by people we admire and trust and where we understand the business. Certainly, India is in the top four-five countries in the world that have the sort of business that we are looking for. So, I have been dropping my phone number around as I have covered the city and I hope that it rings on Monday morning with good news.

Q: The best case scenario for inflation in India next year is projected between 5% and 6%. We are going end this fiscal, that’s March 31, 2011 at about 8%. I know you have often said that inflation dwindles the equity investor and it is perhaps the best alternative amongst other alternatives as a hedge against inflation. But given the fact that we are dealing with fairly high levels of inflation in India, what would your advice be to people who are investing what should they change, what should they do?

A: Inflation, someone said many years ago that it is an invisible tax that only one man in a million really understands. It is a tax on people that have had faith in their currency, the governments issued it. The best investment against inflation is to improve your own earning power, your own talent. Very few people maximize their talent. If you increase your talent, they can’t tax it or they can’t take it away from you.

So, if you become more useful in your activities, your profession, doctor or whatever may be, that is the best protection against a currency that might decline at a rapid rate and the best passive investment is a good business. If you own an interest in a good business, you are very likely to maintain purchasing power no matter what happens with the currency. It’s interesting that in the United States, the value of the dollar since I was born has declined by 94% to 6 cents.

Inflation is a very cruel tax on people who believe in fixed dollars but things can work out pretty well even during inflationary times. If somebody told me when I was born that the dollar bill is going to go to 6 cents I might have said let me go back. I am not interested in emerging into that kind of a world. But actually it has worked out pretty well. I have no complaints. 

Q: An article that you wrote in 1977 said that companies should be doing one of five things - hiking turnover, cheaper leverage, more leverage, lower income taxes, wider operating margins on sales. What would you now say to companies who are looking at bettering their return on equity?

Buffet: I do look at those qualities in terms of businesses. When I look at something like a Coca-Cola which has been around since 1886, I say to myself ‘They are now selling 1.6 billion eight ounce servings of Coca-Cola products everyday throughout the world.’ Everybody in this room has something in their mind about Coca-Cola and I hope it’s good incidentally.

What are the chances that Coca-Cola will be selling more products five or 10 years from now than presently? I would say it’s almost a certainty. There will be more people, they will have more purchasing power; this product is a huge bargain.

If you buy it on weekend specials like I do, this product sells at about twice the price that it sold at about 100 years ago. There aren’t many products like that. The cost of this represents for the average person maybe a minute or two of their earning power and it provides a moment of refreshment, happy memories and all kinds of things.

Will they be selling more Coca-Cola few years from now than they are right now? Almost certainly, they are Coca-Cola products. Will they be able to price their products so as to counteract the effects of inflation? Sure. It’s a simple type of evaluation. I stick with products where I can really see what’s likely to happen over 5-20 years and then those variables that we talk about in terms of return on equity enter into my calculations.

The important thing is to be in the right business and with the right people. If you are in the right business, you don’t go crazy in terms of what you pay for it. It’s just like my buying the farm. I didn’t go crazy in terms of what I paid for the farm; I had an honest guy running it. It happened to be my son. Now corn is selling for over twice the price it was in the mid 80’s, soybeans are selling at three times the price.

So, the farm is worth more money than before and over the years it’s just kept delivering a cheque to me every year. That’s what investment is about. It’s really looking at the future income potential of the business and comparing it to what you have to lay out now to get that income potential.

When you get into buying something where you just betting on whether people will pay a little more for it next year but it doesn’t produce anything, there is nothing illegal about it. It is not illegal, it’s not immoral and probably it isn’t financial fattening either but you are betting on investor attitude or speculator attitude rather than betting on the asset itself.  

             

Q: Since we are talking about money, I want to talk to you about your decision to give yours away. That makes you a selfless man to the world, it makes you the ambassador of philanthropy. But what about your family, does your family sees you as a selfless man as well? How did you get them to buy into your decision, to give away 99% of your wealth?

A: They haven’t talked to me for quite a while. My family is going to be in the upper quarter of 1% or something like that of humanity in terms of the funds that they have at their disposal. My goal originally was to leave my children enough so that they could do anything, but not enough so that they could do nothing. I have gotten a little more frivolous as time has passed so they are even getting a little more than that.

Q: You are in India. This is the land of Karma and spirituality, do you believe in god, in a higher being, in a higher consciousness? This is also the land that believes in the concept and idea of rebirth. If you were to be reborn, what would you like to be reborn as? If you could do anything differently then what would it be?

A: Probably I could be reborn as Sophia Loren’s boyfriend.

Podio opens pop-up store

Hurricane Party app makes social networking

New Pringles Twin Pack with free Snack Box

Summer time lunch snacking has never been easier with the new Pringles Twin Pack and free snack box. This snacking offer includes two large Pringle cans and a convenient and handy-to-use snack box that tucks away neatly into any lunchbox, picnic basket or laptop bag.

The snack box will keep your midday munchies in crisp condition without you having to stash the larger tins in an office draw or carry them around.

Whatever the flavour - Sour Cream and Onion, Salt and Vinegar or the much loved Original - Pringles are the only potato chip snack that promises 90 perfect chips in a can and can now be enjoyed at any convenient snacking opportunity. RSP :R39.33

Amazon’s Android Appstore app pricing strategy revealed

Retail giant Amazon is preparing to launch its own app store on the Android platform on Tuesday, March 22.


Amazon’s Android app store will be a curated market, meaning Amazon reviewers will determine which apps are allowed inside, similar to Apple’s iTunes App Store. 


Customers will be able to purchase apps through the Amazon.com website or directly through a native Amazon app on their Android devices.

For apps that have links to purchase and download other apps, those links must go through the Amazon market. 

An Amazon app store is possible on Android because, unlike Apple, Google allows third parties to set up their own software shops on the Android platform. Some critics point out that an Amazon app store in addition to an official Android app market may create confusion on the platform.

However, it’s worth noting that Amazon payment systems are deployed in more countries than Google Checkout, so an Amazon app store may pose serious competition to the Android Marketplace, and possibly even iTunes.

How Procter & Gamble Became The Maker Of EVERYTHING You Buy For Your House

We guarantee you've used at least two Procter & Gamble products today. Did you brush your teeth or wash your hands? Then yup, you probably qualify.

Even though they dominate your life now, P&G took a long time to become the wonder brand they are today. The path to success took a lot of creativity and innovation.

P&G invented branding in the 19th century; since then it has acquired products and companies like wildfire, from Cover Girl to Pepto Bismol.

Here's how the little soap and candle shop transformed itself into a global giant.

1837: Two Ohio brother-in-laws start a soap and candle company

William Procter and James Gamble, brothers-in-law from Cincinnati, became business partners on a suggestion from their wives’ father.

A candle and soap maker respectively, the men decided to combine their crafts to form the Procter & Gamble Company. By the late 1850s, they reached $1 million in sales and had about 80 employees.

1883: P&G launches its first big brand, Ivory Soap

Procter & Gamble branded its first major product — Ivory Soap.

After designing the era’s purest bar of soap and trademarking the word “ivory,” the company embarked on a mass marketing campaign to promote the product.

It took out an ad in The Century Magazine, the most popular monthly of its day, as well as in smaller, local papers. Almost one decade later, Ivory Soap got its very own slogan: “It floats"

1930: P&G goes international when it buys a British soapmaker

Procter and Gamble became an international corporation when it bought England's Thomas Hedley & Company, the makers of Fairy Soap. Like Ivory Soap, Fairy Soap also boasted its ability to float.

Today, P&G has workers in over 80 countries and distributes many of its products worldwide.

1946: P&G revolutionizes laundry with Tide detergent

After the war, Procter & Gamble grew tremendously thanks to a new product, Tide. “The washday miracle” transformed households by making laundry easier and faster.

By the late '40s, detergent replaced soap as the preferred way to clean clothes. Tide became the number one brand. Early Tide ads, which had a $21 million dollar budget, used bright colors and images of happy housewives to entice consumers. 

1955: P&G develops Crest toothpaste and it quickly becomes the #1 brand

After five years of research and development, P&G introduced Crest toothpaste.

The new fluoride-based formula claimed to help fight cavities better than any other brand. In 1960, the American Dental Association endorsed the brand and by the end of the next year, Crest replaced Colgate as the number one brand. This milestone solidified P&G's place in the toiletries industry.

1956: P&G hits a major sales milestone— $1 billion

P&G hit its $1 billion sales mark in 1956.

Today, that figure is about $80 billion. Not bad for a little company from Cincinnati!

1961: P&G starts making disposable diapers and parents everywhere rejoice.

Procter & Gamble spearheaded the mass production of disposable diapers by introducing Pampers to households everywhere.

P&G engineer Victor Mills came up with the idea after his grandson was born. Mills, like many other consumers, had grown tired of messy cloth diapers and spent years trying to figure out an easier way to get the job done.

1950s and '60s: P&G invades kitchens everywhere with food and beverage products

Technically, P&G had been helping dinners get made since the very beginning when it sold lard for cooking. And In 1911, it began selling Crisco, the first all-vegetable shortening—an instant hit!

The company really took over kitchens, though, in the mid-20th century with Jif peanut butter (1956) and Folgers coffee (1963). Pringles, one of P&G's only remaining food products, was introduced in 1968. 

1982: Got a cold or a stomach ache? PG can now take care of you.

PG added Pepto Bismol and Chloraspetic to its rapidly growing family when it acquired Norwich-Eaton Pharmaceuticals in 1982.

Then, in 1985, the company bought Richardson-Vicks, the makers of Vicks and Nyquil, for $1.2 billion (its largest purchase yet), as well as the brands Dramamine and Metamucil.

These purchases solidified P&G's place in drug stores everywhere.

1988: P&G enters the beauty business when it buys Cover Girl and a slew of similar brands

In 1989, Procter & Gamble entered the makeup market when it bought Noxell, the company that makes CoverGirl and Noxema, in a $1.34 billion deal.

Then, in 1991, it scoops Max Factor and Betrix from Revlon. Though P&G acquired Pantene hair products in the '85 Richardson-Vicks deal, it wasn't until the '90s that it became a billion-dollar brand.

A successful marketing campaign helped make the product a beauty essential, rather than a functional cleaning device.

Today: Procter & Gamble brands keep spreading

These days, Procter & Gamble owns 83 brands, 23 of which raked in over $1 billion last year.

It even earned a top spot on Forbes’ list of the world’s most admired companies, thanks to innovative products like the Swiffer and marketing ingenuity like the Old Spice guy.

Volkswagen - Test Drive in Print Ad

McDonald's to double network, revenue by 2014

Retail food chain company McDonald's India has joined hands withIndian Oil Corporation (IOC) to increase its presence in petrol stations in west and south and aims to more than double its sales by 2014 from both these regions.

Under the agreement, IOC will provide space to McDonald's for opening ''Drive Thru'' restaurants in the west and south.

IOC has more than 8,000 fuel outlets in the south and west and this agreement will support McDonald's expansion plans and help it double its presence in the regions by 2014.

Presently, McDonald's has 108 outlets in the south and west and a total 211 across the country.By 2014, the fast food giant plans to up its headcount by another 10,000 in the south and west.

McDonald's already operates restaurants under the oil alliance programme with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) andBharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL).

Android 2.x Now Powers 92% Of Android Smartphones

Google’s bi-monthly Android platform versions report is out, visualising the different firmwares running on Android smartphones worldwide.

Using data collected in the two weeks leading up to March 15, the Eclair (2.1), Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3.x) firmware releases now comprise 92% of the total Android handsets accessing the Android Market during that period.

Honeycomb-powered tablets make up just 0.2% of the market with it likely that the Motorola Xoom constitutes a large number of devices in that category, An increase in Android 2.x platforms has meant smartphones running Android 1.5 are now down to 3% with Android 1.6 now holding 4.8% of the market.

World's most uncanny humanoid robot

eBay To Allow 50 Free Listings Per Month

eBay, the world’s biggest online auction website, has announced that it is to open up its auction platform, allowing users to list up to 50 items per month for free, effective from April 19. Items will be able to be listed at any start price and “Buy It Now” options will be available for free.
 Internet users back to the auction site to buy and sell products.

Facebook drops the comment button

Be careful if you're typing something on your Facebook wall today: the social network has made a tiny change to how things work.

Facebook's "Comment" button has disappeared. Now you just need to hit the Enter or Return key to post your comment. If you want a paragraph break in the comment, you have to remember to hit Shift and Enter.

There are also small changes to the way comments are deleted. Clicking the "x" to the top-right of any comment now re-opens its text in an editable box, so you can make changes and re-post.

Subway sandwiches beat McDonalds burgers

Subway has surpassed McDonalds to become the largest restaurant chain on the planet and is now spread out more globally than McDonald's.

The sandwich chain surpassed the world's largest hamburger chain in terms of number of stores in the US in 2002 and now it has taken the global lead.

innovative on-line business

HP to give $1 m for education fund in India

Global technology major Hewlett-Packard (HP) plans to invest $1 million to support innovative initiatives in science, math and technology education among students and teachers in India.

The company announced its contribution to the newly set up Education Innovation Challenge Fund for India, led by a consortium of educational institutions here.

Making this announcement on the sidelines of the HP Catalyst Summit, Ms Jeannette Weisschuh, Director of Global Education Programmes, HP, said the company was committed to empowering students and teachers with technology, such as effective use of tablet PCs, cloud computing in education and converting textbooks into social media platforms for discussions and assessments.

The fund, which will be operationalised in August 2011, will grant aid to public and not-for-profit educational institutions.

Warner Bros to offer movies through Facebook

Warner Bros is making some of its films available on Facebook, opening up a new revenue source for the Internet social network and signaling new competition for online entertainment companies.

Consumers can pay for the movies using Facebook Credits, a virtual currency so far used mainly in social games on the site, according to Warner Bros, a unit of Time Warner Inc, on Tuesday.

Facebook, which makes money mostly through online advertising, takes 30 per cent of the revenue from sales by third parties on the website using Credits.he service will initially be available in the United States, the company said.

The streaming of full-length Hollywood films on Facebook creates a new role for the 500-million-plus member social network, which has grown into one of the most powerful Web players by making it easy to share photos, videos and other content with friends.

In a note to investors on Tuesday, Goldman Sachs analyst Ingrid Chung said Facebook represents a long-term threat to online rental service Netflix Inc that caught Wall Street investors by surprise.

"The 'wisdom of friends' could be a bigger driver of movie viewership than the 'wisdom of crowds,.

The first movie available on the Warner Bros Entertainment page on Facebook is "The Dark Knight". Additional titles will be available for rental or purchase in the coming months.

Rentals cost 30 Facebook Credits, or $3, for 48 hours, and viewers can pause and restart a movie whenever they log back in.

One person close to the Warner-Facebook project told Reuters that it was not a partnership, but rather, a Facebook application that Warner developed on its own, using the website's open payment and technology standards.

More than 400 games and applications use Facebook Credits, the company said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. "We're open to developers and partners that want to experiment using credits in new and interesting ways, and we look forward to seeing what they come up with."