Reebok aims to re-position as multi-fitness brand; breaks ties with e-retailers

Reebok in an year’s time, especially after the scam by then MD (Shubhinder Singh Prem), has lost a lot in terms of consumer interest and loyalty. Who were the gainers? Puma and Nike.

Moreover, this image has been further degraded by online retailers who have been selling Reebok products at discounts as low as 70 per cent, making it a mass brand rather than a brand which is need specific. These products have been stocked last year which is being sold till date at dead low prices, as low as Rs 399.

The brand, after seeing an all time low in brand image, now plans to bring back the brand premiumness with its new management by Adidas group worldwide. Now the brand looks at liquidating its old merchandise and re-position the brand as  multi-fitness brand.

 

Are you a startup and looking for incubation? Apply for VentureNursery’s 4th season

iGrow had recently reported that VentureNursery started the third session of incubation for five startups, a thirteen week session. Along with, starting the third session, the incubators have opened up applications for the fourth session which is slated to begin on October 1, 2013.

The incubation centre is currently focused on six sectors including Media & Entertainment, Retail, e-Commerce, Consumer Technology, Education and CleanTech. The centre is a mix of Angels-in-Residence and Charter Angels, Advisors-in-Residence and Executives-in-Residence to provide complete support to the start-ups.

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Michael Kors makes India entry

If it’s luxury in India, it has to come in collaboration with Genesis Luxury. This time the luxury brands conglomerate inks franchising agreement with the American luxury s brand Michael Kors. Under the agreement, the brand will open its retail stores in India. The first store had already come up in the luxury mall of the capital DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj.

Pic via yoursingapore.com

Tata Elxsi’s incub@TE signs first startup

One of India’s leading design company, Tata Elxsi, has signed its first startup for its recently launched incubation centre incub@TE. The centre has appointed Big V Telecom, an emerging tech start-up that offers customized Business Telephony Solutions for businesses and consumers. Currently operational with its solution in select region, the company now looks at scaling its presence across India and also various international markets.

Founded and led by Keshor Daga, Big V has won the “Most Innovative franchise business in the service sector” award by BIG Research in partnership with NDTV Profit; “Most Innovative Managed Services” during Aegis Graham Bell Awards 2012; and “Business Excellence Awards” by the Institute of Economic studies.

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After icecreams, its ready-to-eat & frozen food for Creambell

After creating a successful name in the icecream industry and infact breaking the brands including Amul, Kwality Walls and Mother Dairy, Creambell now plans to shake the Rs 1,000 crore ready-to-eat & frozen food market, with a new brand Farmbell.

With a few players leading the market, the situations are going to be similar for the brand as it was in the icecream segment, as the one’s existing are almost synonymous to the products including McCain, Gits, Vegit and others. The good part of the story, a report by Euromonitor International unveils with changing consumption patterns and lifestyle, the convenience food sector has grown by 70 per cent over the last decade, creating a huge market. The brand will hit the shelves in next two years.

The company will leverage its existing cold chain and back-end processes for the new venture.

Manmeet Vohra joins Tata Starbucks as Director – Marketing & Category

Tata Starbucks Limited has announced the appointment of Manmeet Vohra as its new Director – Marketing and Category. In her new role, Manmeet will lead all marketing and category aspects for the company in India. Prior to this, she was the Marketing Director at TAG Heuer and brings with her eleven years of extensive marketing experience in the luxury industry.
She takes over Sushant Dash’s position, who has been associated with the Tata Group for close to twelve years and joined Tata Starbucks Limited in August 2012, will continue this association in his new role as the Global Brand Director of Tata Global Beverages Limited.

Celio plans to raise stake in Future Group JV; FIPB says “ok!”

Its a good news for the French fashion brand Celio as Foriegn Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approves its plans to raise the stake in Future Group JV. The brand can now raise its stake from 50:50 to upto 100 per cent, thus allowing it to invest nearly Rs 40 crore in the country.

As the news come in, the two companies are already in talks to discuss the details of the deals. The brand has been operational in the country since four years with 30 standalone stores and over 100 shop in shops.

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Now shop on call with Big Bazaar Direct

Kishore Biyani has always been known to do the firsts in retail. He has been keen on experimenting new strategies and working towards transforming them into success stories. This time Biyani pilots a new service with its favourite baby Big Bazaar.

Big Bazaar in Nagpur introduces Big Bazaar Direct service, which will let consumers order their groceries on phone. Biyani thinks its time to come up with strategies that would help retailers to offer their services even when there are physical store space constraints.

The company has already leased 2 lakh square feet area at Gumgaon for setting up a godown and will be fully operational by August.

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Google India to connect women startups online with WeOW initiative

Google India launches its special initiative Women Entrepreneurs on the Web (WeOW). This initiative will help Indian female entrepreneurs to connect, grow their online presence, and utilize Google products to launch and scale their businesses. As part of the program, entrepreneurs can also connect with customer, track and optimise their efforts along with connecting with other entrepreneurs through communities.

The programme will specially help women entrepreneurs, according to Google the number is 1.3 million, to expand business in Tier II and Tier III cities.

Vijay Sales ties up with Snapdeal; to sell through the marketplace

The online market, Snapdeal.com, has entered a strategic tie up with Vijay Sales. Under the agreement, Vijay Sales with leverage Snapdeal’s huge platform to reach out  a larger target audience which shops online.

The online store at Snapdeal will showcase all the popular electronics brands housed by the retailer to its 20+ million members spread across 4000+ towns and cities in the country.