* 20 Eyeshadow, 2 Brow Pressed Powder
* 3 Lipsticks, 6 Lip Gloss, 4 Blush
* 1 Lip Liner Pencil, 1 Black Eye Liner Pencil
* I Mascara
* 2 Eye Shadow Applicators & 3 Brush Applicators
Monday, June 30, 2008
The Color Institute ~ Complete Colors ~ Compact
* 20 Eyeshadow, 2 Brow Pressed Powder
* 3 Lipsticks, 6 Lip Gloss, 4 Blush
* 1 Lip Liner Pencil, 1 Black Eye Liner Pencil
* I Mascara
* 2 Eye Shadow Applicators & 3 Brush Applicators
Pour Femme by Bulgari 1 Powder Compact in Gold Case
Luxurious and pure, a sensual blend with notes of sambac jasmine tea, mimosa and prelude rose.
Pressed Mineral Powder & Compact
Pssst... you with the shiny T-zone!
Don't hide that gorgeous skin under a thick layer of cake powder. Simply send that sheen undercover and protect your skin from harmful UV rays with a few dabs of whisper light provocateur powder. The soft mineral formula can be used with a brush for light coverage or a sponge for a more opaque finish.
And don't worry ~ your secret is safe with us!
provocateur pressed mineral powder made in USA
compact made in china (made of all man made materials)
Too Faced California in a Compact Bronzing Powder, Beach Bunny
Warm up and get your "glow-on" with California In A Compact! This Beach Bunny-inspired bronzer combines four illuminating shades of sun-kissed bronzers and shimmers that add just the right amount of California's deep summertime tan anywhere, anytime of the year!
Beach Bunny ~ deep cocoa and golden bronzes - mix to create a dark tan
Backstage Benefits:
Our deepest shade of bronzer ~ looks like a true sun worshipper's tan, without the damage
Shimmers, highlights and brightens immediately
Four golden shades can be worn mixed or separately...control your tan
Neutralizes a blotchy skin tone so that skin appears smooth and pores seem to disappear!
"It's like having the sand, surf and celebrity lifestyle crammed into one sun-soaked compact" ... Jerrod
"tested on celebrities, not animals"
I Always Knew They Were Talented
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Usher as performed by The RockAFire Explosion from the ShowBiz Pizza Place. (PS: There are a ton more performances on the YouToob.)
Brand Update : Motorola
Motorola has launched the lastest addition into the MotoRockr music edition phones. The latest launch MotorockrE8 comes with a morphing keypad which transforms into music mode and call mode depending on the usage situation.
The brand as usual features Abhishek Bachchan and is one of the 
cool ads I have seen in the recent past.
cool ads I have seen in the recent past. Watch the tvc here : Motorockr
Motorola it seems is all out to capture the music phone space in the Indian market. Motoyuva is also pitching on music as the main attribute for positioning.
What I liked about the ad was the perfect match between the brand and the celebrity. And to see Abhishek dancing to the Tamil number " Apidi podu " gives a special feeling especially to the South Indian consumers.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Laughing Without Smiling: A Challenge
When I was younger, in the caveman days when I was in High School, my friends and I used to sit around watching Superchicken reruns, eating many meatball hoagies and drinking scads of Hi-C Ecto-Cooler. During the downtimes, we would challenge each other to try to laugh without smiling. Strangely enough, the idea came from listening to, of all things, the U2 song "Running To Stand Still". The original lyric was:
Today, during one of the many rainstorms that have passed over the area, a few of my family members were sitting around chatting and I brought up the challenge again. Before you knew it, we were in tears laughing, totally dismantling the premise of the challenge. At some point I thought it might be a good idea to open up the challenge to other people. And thus, a vidcast was born.
So here is the challenge. Can you laugh without smiling? If you can, we'd love to see your video attempts. You can upload them to YouTube and then link them here...or better yet: I've started a Facebook group for this little challenge. Feel free to join and add your video attempts over there. Should be fun and at the very least, be a great time waster. Have fun!
RSS feed.
Download now.
"You gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice."I changed the first lyric and the rest was history.
Today, during one of the many rainstorms that have passed over the area, a few of my family members were sitting around chatting and I brought up the challenge again. Before you knew it, we were in tears laughing, totally dismantling the premise of the challenge. At some point I thought it might be a good idea to open up the challenge to other people. And thus, a vidcast was born.
So here is the challenge. Can you laugh without smiling? If you can, we'd love to see your video attempts. You can upload them to YouTube and then link them here...or better yet: I've started a Facebook group for this little challenge. Feel free to join and add your video attempts over there. Should be fun and at the very least, be a great time waster. Have fun!
RSS feed.
Download now.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Book Review : The Last Lecture
Book : The Last Lecture
Author : Dr Randy Pausch with Jeoffrey Zaslow
Publisher : Hachette India
Price : Rs 295
Book Review #6
Author : Dr Randy Pausch with Jeoffrey Zaslow
Publisher : Hachette India
Price : Rs 295
Book Review #6
I happened to come across the name Randy Paush accidentally . I happened to read the Time magazine featuring an inspirational lecture of a Carnegie Mellon University professor who was detected with a terminal cancer.
That hooked me and a Google search on Randy Pausch landed me on the lecture and the book.
The story of Randy was somewhat like a Bollywood movie. A high flying computer science professor at a very young age detected with cancer and then becoming a celebrity with one speech.
Carnegie Mellon University has a lecture series where it ask eminent academicians to make a lecture assuming that it will be their last lecture. The series was aptly named as Last Lecture.
When Dr Randy was approached by the university, he was already diagnosed with pancreatic cancer . So it was destined to be his last lecture.
Like the true American spirit , Randy talked about hope rather than death . The lecture which was uploaded in Youtube spread like a wildfire inspiring millions.
The lecture lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes and time will run fast once you get hooked on the message
Watch the video here : Last Lecture
Randy titled the lecture as " Really Achieving your childhood dreams " talked about achieving what you always wanted.
The phenomenal acceptance of the lecture across the world prompted the publishers to persuade Randy to write a book. The book was written by Jeoffry Zaslow and Randy. Everyday the professor will ride the bike in his neighbourhood and he spoke to Zaslow through his cellphone headset. Thus after 53 bike rides , the book was born.
Ofcourse the book became a best seller owing to the basic life funda that the professor was talking about.
This book was one of the few books I finished reading at a stretch. I felt a change in my self after reading through.
The book is divided into two parts . The first part details the actual lecture he delivered at the Carnegie Mellon. The chapters gives you more insights and background about how he achieved his childhood dreams. The second part gives the Professor's view about ' how to live ' .
What struck me in this book is the following phrase " Time is all you have and you may find that one day that you have less time than you think".
Yes we all know that! . We know that one day we will die so what ? We Indians have a typical way of dismissing the very notion of death.
But there is a big difference between information and realization. When you read this book , if you are lucky ,this truth will be revealed to you.
Another lesson that struck me was about obstacles. Dr Randy likens obstacles to a brickwall. Brickwalls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Only those who want it so badly can scale that brickwall.
He also talks about the basics of better living like
Aiming high
Showing gratitude
Being childlike
Never giving up etc
Although these lessons have been much talked about in different books, I felt that these lessons carry more authenticity coming from a man who knew that his days are numbered.
Last Lecture is a book I recommend because ,more than inspiring, it will bring you back into reality and the present.
Dr Randy Pausch gave the Last Lecture on September 18 , 2007. Although at that time doctors gave him 3-6 months of life, the professor is still alive fighting the disease.
That hooked me and a Google search on Randy Pausch landed me on the lecture and the book.
The story of Randy was somewhat like a Bollywood movie. A high flying computer science professor at a very young age detected with cancer and then becoming a celebrity with one speech.
Carnegie Mellon University has a lecture series where it ask eminent academicians to make a lecture assuming that it will be their last lecture. The series was aptly named as Last Lecture.
When Dr Randy was approached by the university, he was already diagnosed with pancreatic cancer . So it was destined to be his last lecture.
Like the true American spirit , Randy talked about hope rather than death . The lecture which was uploaded in Youtube spread like a wildfire inspiring millions.
The lecture lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes and time will run fast once you get hooked on the message
Watch the video here : Last Lecture
Randy titled the lecture as " Really Achieving your childhood dreams " talked about achieving what you always wanted.
The phenomenal acceptance of the lecture across the world prompted the publishers to persuade Randy to write a book. The book was written by Jeoffry Zaslow and Randy. Everyday the professor will ride the bike in his neighbourhood and he spoke to Zaslow through his cellphone headset. Thus after 53 bike rides , the book was born.
Ofcourse the book became a best seller owing to the basic life funda that the professor was talking about.
This book was one of the few books I finished reading at a stretch. I felt a change in my self after reading through.
The book is divided into two parts . The first part details the actual lecture he delivered at the Carnegie Mellon. The chapters gives you more insights and background about how he achieved his childhood dreams. The second part gives the Professor's view about ' how to live ' .
What struck me in this book is the following phrase " Time is all you have and you may find that one day that you have less time than you think".
Yes we all know that! . We know that one day we will die so what ? We Indians have a typical way of dismissing the very notion of death.
But there is a big difference between information and realization. When you read this book , if you are lucky ,this truth will be revealed to you.
Another lesson that struck me was about obstacles. Dr Randy likens obstacles to a brickwall. Brickwalls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Only those who want it so badly can scale that brickwall.
He also talks about the basics of better living like
Aiming high
Showing gratitude
Being childlike
Never giving up etc
Although these lessons have been much talked about in different books, I felt that these lessons carry more authenticity coming from a man who knew that his days are numbered.
Last Lecture is a book I recommend because ,more than inspiring, it will bring you back into reality and the present.
Dr Randy Pausch gave the Last Lecture on September 18 , 2007. Although at that time doctors gave him 3-6 months of life, the professor is still alive fighting the disease.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Lancome Colour Color Focus Eyeshadow Quad Peep Optic Exhibition Spontaneous Travel Size
From a special purchase, discontinued colors from Lancome's Color Focus Collection of Eye Shadows. The colors are Peep, Optic, Exhibition and Spontaneous (light grey, pink dark and light mauve). These are great sizes (2.5" gwp) for your purse or gym bags. The cases are scratched a bit, but the eye shadows are in top condition (new and unused).
Lancome Palette Blush Subtil Eye Shadow Powder
Beautiful palette in soft black leather case with magnetic lock. New no Box the size of this palette 3.5 x 3.5"
Lancome Color Focus Eye Shadow Quad Olive No Box
Lancome Color Focus Eye Shadow Quad Olive Eyeshadow. Powder Eye shadow Exeptional Wear Eye shadow palette Mystique.
Lancome Eye Shadow Quad Platinum Unboxed
Lancome Maquiriche Eye Shadow Quad New Unboxed , Deluxe sample but very large size - almost as regular size !
Lancome Color Focus Eye Shadow Quad Olive No Box
Lancome Color Focus Eye Shadow Quad Olive Eyeshadow. Powder Eye shadow Exeptional Wear Eye shadow palette Mystique.
Lancome Color Focus Eye Shadow Quad Gold Unboxed
Lancome Color Focus Eye Shadow Quad Gold Unboxed- the colors are - Positive (beige, non shimmer) , Gaze (beige shimmer) , Scene (brown matte), Candid (Brown-Golden shimmer).
Jawbone #211: You Don't Need To Know Me
We're back with more Jawbone goodness! Goonie talk. More Karen Allen. Podcast listener wars. Impressions. Lucky Charm lady. Dunking old ladies and more. Plus, a big announcement for all fans of MST at the very end of the show. Enjoy!RSS feed.
Download now.
Have A Shin-Kicking Good Time!
Yes, this is a real sport. Don't believe me? Read this article. I'm glad someone is doing their part to keep competitive shin-kicking alive and well. Thanks to Monica for the heads up.
Himalayan : Live Natural
Brand : Himalayan
Company : Mount Everest ( Tata tea)
Agency : Rediffusion Dy&R
Brand Analysis Count : 334
Company : Mount Everest ( Tata tea)
Agency : Rediffusion Dy&R
Brand Analysis Count : 334
Himalayan is the latest branding initiative by Tatas. The brand which originally belonged to the Balsara Group came to the Tata fold in 2007. In 2008, Tatas began to aggressively promote 
this brand.
The Indian bottled water market is around Rs 1200-1500 crore ( source: FE, Domain B ) . However Livemint puts the market at around Rs 8500 crore. The market is growing at a rate of 25% per year.
The bottled water is divided into Natural Water segment and Ordinary bottled water. In Natural water category, the water is packaged from the source and no processing is done. The ordinary bottled water is chemically processed. Natural water category is hardly 10% of the total market.
Himalayan is the market leader in the Natural water category . Before being taken over by Tatas , the brand was focusing on institutional markets and also international markets. Infact Himalayan is the only Indian brand of natural bottled water to be internationally accepted and markets across Europe and US.
Himalayan has now forayed into the consumer market in India. The market leader in Indian bottle
d water market is Bisleri with a market share of 16 % followed by Kinley and Aqua Fina with a share of 14% The rest of the market is dominated by regional and unorganised products.
Himalayan is a premium brand priced well above the ordinary mineral water. Hence the challenge is to convince the customers to pay a premium price for a product like water. The USP of Natural water is that they are Naturally pure and also has a distinct taste derived from its origin.
The brand is currently running a tvc across the country
watch the tvc here : Himalayan
The brand has taken the tagline " Live Natural " highlighting the main strength of the brand.
For a marketer of branded water,the challenges are many :
1.Water is a commodity : Hence to brand it and sell it is in itself a herculean task.
2.Water is perceived to be a freely available resource : Hence customers will have a mental block in paying for drinking water.
3.Between brands, to differentiate is not easy
4. The market is price sensitive.
5. The market is mostly restricted in terms of usage situations. Most of us buy mineral water only while traveling. ( ofcourse in places where pure water is unavailable, even households buy mineral water)
So far ,brands like Bisleri has built the market on Purity and Safety. Although we have lot of water sources, availability of potable water is still a problem. Especially when one is traveling , the risk is higher. Hence the bottled sealed water offered the solution. The wordings on the bottle further reassured the customers about the purity of the water.
Bisleri is almost generic to the category and has built the brand with heavy investment.
Himalayan has the task of adding more value to it because of the premium pricing. Hence the brand has to take some laddering up inorder to appeal to the consumers.
The current campaign lives up to the expectation. What was appealing about the brand was the Pink color and the bottle. My wife , after seeing the ad, exclaimed that she is tempted to buying the water.
Tatas has retained some of the unique brand elements like the color. But it had done some changes in the bottles and graphics . The bottle has been designed by SIPA of Italy and Rediffusion has done the other graphic changes. Like in the case of the global icon Absolut which uses bottle shape as differentiators, Himalayan is also trying to offer visual differentiation using label color and graphics.
Another strength of Himalayan is the brand name. Himalayan offers instant imagery of the Himalayas and brings in the visuals of Cool, Pure, Indian and Natural imagery.
Alarmed by the launch of Himalayan, Parle has launched another brand " From the Himalayas ". Tatas took the brand to the court and today's newspaper reports suggest that Tatas has won the initial round of fight. The contention of Parle is that Himalaya is a generic term and could be used by anyone.
In an interview with Financial Express , the CEO of Mount Everest Mr Pradeep Poddar made an interesting statement. He said " In my opinion , Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs flattens onto a continuum where self actualization vies for attention with basal needs. "
Infact this statement highlights the relevance of Maslow's theory even in this era. Although the theory has its drawbacks, it gives a clear idea of possible needs of an individual.
So when Poddar says about looking at these needs as a continuum,it makes more sense. So even when a customer feel a physiological need , there also exists a need for self actualization. So marketers can link their products to these needs that co-exists at a given point of time.
That is also the concept behind laddering . The brand while satisfying the functional need, also takes care of the higher needs.
Himalayan is now piggy backing on the strength of Tata Tea in reaching out to the Indian consumers. The brand can leverage the intense distribution strength of Tata Tea.
Unlike the ordinary mineral water, Himalayan hopes to give a new experience to the customers. The brand is trying to give the customers the same experience that beverages like cola gives to consumers. Although it is a ' Himalayan Task' it is not impossible.
The trend is favorable to products like Himalayan which has the health tag.
Whether Himalayan can reach the summit will be an interesting story to watch
this brand.The Indian bottled water market is around Rs 1200-1500 crore ( source: FE, Domain B ) . However Livemint puts the market at around Rs 8500 crore. The market is growing at a rate of 25% per year.
The bottled water is divided into Natural Water segment and Ordinary bottled water. In Natural water category, the water is packaged from the source and no processing is done. The ordinary bottled water is chemically processed. Natural water category is hardly 10% of the total market.
Himalayan is the market leader in the Natural water category . Before being taken over by Tatas , the brand was focusing on institutional markets and also international markets. Infact Himalayan is the only Indian brand of natural bottled water to be internationally accepted and markets across Europe and US.
Himalayan has now forayed into the consumer market in India. The market leader in Indian bottle
d water market is Bisleri with a market share of 16 % followed by Kinley and Aqua Fina with a share of 14% The rest of the market is dominated by regional and unorganised products.Himalayan is a premium brand priced well above the ordinary mineral water. Hence the challenge is to convince the customers to pay a premium price for a product like water. The USP of Natural water is that they are Naturally pure and also has a distinct taste derived from its origin.
The brand is currently running a tvc across the country
watch the tvc here : Himalayan
The brand has taken the tagline " Live Natural " highlighting the main strength of the brand.
For a marketer of branded water,the challenges are many :
1.Water is a commodity : Hence to brand it and sell it is in itself a herculean task.
2.Water is perceived to be a freely available resource : Hence customers will have a mental block in paying for drinking water.
3.Between brands, to differentiate is not easy
4. The market is price sensitive.
5. The market is mostly restricted in terms of usage situations. Most of us buy mineral water only while traveling. ( ofcourse in places where pure water is unavailable, even households buy mineral water)
So far ,brands like Bisleri has built the market on Purity and Safety. Although we have lot of water sources, availability of potable water is still a problem. Especially when one is traveling , the risk is higher. Hence the bottled sealed water offered the solution. The wordings on the bottle further reassured the customers about the purity of the water.
Bisleri is almost generic to the category and has built the brand with heavy investment.
Himalayan has the task of adding more value to it because of the premium pricing. Hence the brand has to take some laddering up inorder to appeal to the consumers.
The current campaign lives up to the expectation. What was appealing about the brand was the Pink color and the bottle. My wife , after seeing the ad, exclaimed that she is tempted to buying the water.
Tatas has retained some of the unique brand elements like the color. But it had done some changes in the bottles and graphics . The bottle has been designed by SIPA of Italy and Rediffusion has done the other graphic changes. Like in the case of the global icon Absolut which uses bottle shape as differentiators, Himalayan is also trying to offer visual differentiation using label color and graphics.
Another strength of Himalayan is the brand name. Himalayan offers instant imagery of the Himalayas and brings in the visuals of Cool, Pure, Indian and Natural imagery.
Alarmed by the launch of Himalayan, Parle has launched another brand " From the Himalayas ". Tatas took the brand to the court and today's newspaper reports suggest that Tatas has won the initial round of fight. The contention of Parle is that Himalaya is a generic term and could be used by anyone.
In an interview with Financial Express , the CEO of Mount Everest Mr Pradeep Poddar made an interesting statement. He said " In my opinion , Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs flattens onto a continuum where self actualization vies for attention with basal needs. "
Infact this statement highlights the relevance of Maslow's theory even in this era. Although the theory has its drawbacks, it gives a clear idea of possible needs of an individual.
So when Poddar says about looking at these needs as a continuum,it makes more sense. So even when a customer feel a physiological need , there also exists a need for self actualization. So marketers can link their products to these needs that co-exists at a given point of time.
That is also the concept behind laddering . The brand while satisfying the functional need, also takes care of the higher needs.
Himalayan is now piggy backing on the strength of Tata Tea in reaching out to the Indian consumers. The brand can leverage the intense distribution strength of Tata Tea.
Unlike the ordinary mineral water, Himalayan hopes to give a new experience to the customers. The brand is trying to give the customers the same experience that beverages like cola gives to consumers. Although it is a ' Himalayan Task' it is not impossible.
The trend is favorable to products like Himalayan which has the health tag.
Whether Himalayan can reach the summit will be an interesting story to watch
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Rifftrax in Cleveland, Please?
I don't ask much from you. Well, sometimes I do. But let this be an exception. Please go and demand the Riffers from Rifftrax (formerly of MST3K) come to Cleveland. It would help if you were actually from Cleveland as well. :) Thanks.
BTW, I just realized that the Rifftrax of Spider Man 3 features one of my favorite writers James Lileks!
PS: Stay tuned to this blog for more exciting MST-related news soon! :)
BTW, I just realized that the Rifftrax of Spider Man 3 features one of my favorite writers James Lileks!
PS: Stay tuned to this blog for more exciting MST-related news soon! :)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Comfort : Make a Good Clothes Day
Brand : Comfort
Comfort is the new launch of HUL in the fabric care market. Although the brand was launched in early 2008, it was recently that the brand began making noise in the media. Comfort
is a global brand with its origin in UK in 1969.
Indian fabric care market is huge .The numbers available in the media is confusing . Rediff puts Rs 8800 crore market size to the laundry care industry.
The fabric care market is broadly divided into three categories
Prewash : Stain removers, softners etc
Main Wash : Detergents
Comfort is initially launched its fabric softener product in India. Although the market is nascent, there is a hidden potential for such fabric care products in the urban market.
On the promotion side, the brand had just playing imported ads from the other markets
Watch one tvc here : Comfort ad
The ads are in the genre of animation /claymation and is totally out of sync with the Indian consumer's tastes. I am not sure why a company like HUL need to cut costs by importing foreign ads which are totally out of place in India.Frankly speaking , the ads does not convey any meaning and I never understood what the characters said . Hence I may not be able to speak on the positioning strategy of this brand.
The category is still emerging. The need for a fabric softener is not currently felt by Indian consumers. Especially the pre-wash treatment of clothes are new to Indian consumer. In the case of expensive clothes, consumers depend on drycleaning and for ordinary daily wear , we have taken for granted that the clothes should withstand the detergents and lasts for a reasonable time.
Hence the task of this brand is to create an awareness about the need for such products. There has been products like Bambi, and Ezee which had the softeners but failed to create a category .
Another hindrance to the category's acceptance will be the time and effort for using these products. In this fast life, do the customers have time to soak the clothes in softeners first and then wash it ? I guess no. In some cases where the clothes are pretty expensive, consumers may take the pain but in normal course, it is unlikely.
It was the reason why Unilever introduced Comfort Pearls in UK. Comfort pearls can be put in the washing machine along with the detergent and it gives the same result. It is a smart way of making the product easy to use for the consumer.
In India, the brand wants to test the market first before going all out. So initially this brand will be a niche product and I think that the category will be restricted to a niche.
But the way HUL has promoted this brand is a deviation from the usual best practices for which HUL is famous for. The company failed to take the local consumer tastes into consideration and just put some campaigns for the sake of it. There has been a trend in HUL to depend on foreign commercials fueled by the success of Axe campaigns. Lux , Rexona deo and Dove are other brands which recently started showing foreign ads. I feel that this is a unhealthy trend which can disconnect the brand from the consumer. Again and again it has been proved that Indian market needs to be addressed differently and HUL is trying to implement the plan of " One message( ad) for entire world ".
Its sad to see this from a company which talked about " Dirt is good ".
Company : HUL
Brand Analysis Count : 333
is a global brand with its origin in UK in 1969. The fabric care market is broadly divided into three categories
Prewash : Stain removers, softners etc
Post wash: Whiteners
Obviously the mainwash category is huge and dominates around 60-70% of the total market. On the promotion side, the brand had just playing imported ads from the other markets
Watch one tvc here : Comfort ad
The ads are in the genre of animation /claymation and is totally out of sync with the Indian consumer's tastes. I am not sure why a company like HUL need to cut costs by importing foreign ads which are totally out of place in India.Frankly speaking , the ads does not convey any meaning and I never understood what the characters said . Hence I may not be able to speak on the positioning strategy of this brand.
The category is still emerging. The need for a fabric softener is not currently felt by Indian consumers. Especially the pre-wash treatment of clothes are new to Indian consumer. In the case of expensive clothes, consumers depend on drycleaning and for ordinary daily wear , we have taken for granted that the clothes should withstand the detergents and lasts for a reasonable time.
Hence the task of this brand is to create an awareness about the need for such products. There has been products like Bambi, and Ezee which had the softeners but failed to create a category .
Another hindrance to the category's acceptance will be the time and effort for using these products. In this fast life, do the customers have time to soak the clothes in softeners first and then wash it ? I guess no. In some cases where the clothes are pretty expensive, consumers may take the pain but in normal course, it is unlikely.
It was the reason why Unilever introduced Comfort Pearls in UK. Comfort pearls can be put in the washing machine along with the detergent and it gives the same result. It is a smart way of making the product easy to use for the consumer.
In India, the brand wants to test the market first before going all out. So initially this brand will be a niche product and I think that the category will be restricted to a niche.
But the way HUL has promoted this brand is a deviation from the usual best practices for which HUL is famous for. The company failed to take the local consumer tastes into consideration and just put some campaigns for the sake of it. There has been a trend in HUL to depend on foreign commercials fueled by the success of Axe campaigns. Lux , Rexona deo and Dove are other brands which recently started showing foreign ads. I feel that this is a unhealthy trend which can disconnect the brand from the consumer. Again and again it has been proved that Indian market needs to be addressed differently and HUL is trying to implement the plan of " One message( ad) for entire world ".
Its sad to see this from a company which talked about " Dirt is good ".
Monday, June 23, 2008
Baby Break!
Just a cute update. Kateri is six and half months and extremely cute.
You may now return to your day. Thank you.
You may now return to your day. Thank you.
Caption This: 6-23-08
This was one of my presents for Father's Day - a Giant Butter Cookie Man. What better fodder for this week's Caption This. Enjoy!
Comedian George Carlin Dead at 71
I think he went a little nuts at the end of his career, but some of his performances are legendary. Whenever I pull up behind several people at a red light I always think of Carlin's driving routine where he states that "you have to figure out which one of these idiots is the fastest." He will be missed. Read the whole story here.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Cosmetics Silky-Finish Lipstick
What it is: Benefit's silky-finish lipsticks packaged in a one-of-a-kind custom lipstick case with Benefit's signature "loop" - it's the ultimate status symbol that's so fabulously sexy, you'll want one in every shade. What it is formulated to do : This innovative formula slides on silky smooth for the softest, sexiest lips ever. Sheer coverage with build able color - wear as little or as much as you like. Lipstick glides on effortlessly with the slant tip for flawless, even coverage. What else you need to know : Now that your lips are flaunt-able, find a complementary Love Your Look creaseless cream shadow/liner and sheer cream blusher to complete your look. Benefit's Love Your Look makeup to match your lifestyle collection takes the guesswork out of gorgeous. Choose from three unique looks : The Lana light neutral shades, The Gabbi medium neutral shades, and The Betty deep neutral shades. Go for a "lifestyle look" or, be daring and mix and match! All of the beautiful shades for lips, eyes, and cheeks will get you the look you want! You'll love the hidden surprise a "beauty fortune" inside every package.
Series Make-up Case Green Butterfly
Product Description Pretty fabric covered lipstick case with a mirror inside. Keep your lipstick or lip gloss inside this 3 1/2 inch long lipstick case. Make a great gift for friends.
Series Make-up Case Maroon Butterfly
Product Description Pretty fabric covered lipstick case with a mirror inside. Keep your lipstick or lip gloss inside this 3 1/2 inch long lipstick case. Make a great gift for friends. More different colors available. Low shipping and ship fast for holidays!
Lipstick Case, Box with Mirror Series Make-up Case Red
Pretty fabric covered lipstick case with a mirror inside. Keep your lipstick or lip gloss inside this 3 1/2 inch long lipstick case. Make a great gift for friends. More different color available, Click cargohold and find out more. Low shipping cost and ship fast for Holidays!
Lipstick Case Box with Mirror
Product Description Pretty fabric covered lipstick case with a mirror inside. Keep your lipstick or lip gloss inside this 3 1/2 inch long lipstick case. Make a great gift for friends. More different color available, Click cargo hold and find out more. Low shipping cost and ship fast for Holidays!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Pureology Hydrate Liter Deal
* 100 percent vegan formula
* Anti Fade Complex
* Zero Sulfates
* certified organic botanicals
* aroma therapy essences
Serious Colour Care, Antifade Complex, Hydrate Conditioner
Daily hair care product for color-treated hair in need of essential hydration, nourishment, enhanced color brilliance and color protection. Use with Hydrate Shampoo.
Hydrate Condition
Keep color radiant and feel this award-winning conditioner working to moisturize, detangle and lock in color. Advanced Nano Technology formula infuses vital moisture and healthy color brilliance while maximizing color retention. Feel it working.
Feet Keep Washing Up On Shore
Heard about this on Hometown Tales. This is really weird:
"A fifth human foot in a year has washed ashore off the coast of British Columbia, and this time it's a left one. The first in the series was found nearly a year ago on Jedidiah Island in the Strait of Georgia. Within days, another right foot was found inside a man's Reebok sneaker on nearby Gabriola Island. The third was found in the same area, on the east side of Valdez Island in early February.Read the full story here.
The origin on any of the remains is still unknown."
Monday, June 16, 2008
Eternity By Calvin Klein For Men
ETERNITY FOR MEN symbolizes the spirit of today's man: sensitive yet masculine, refined yet strong. Fragrance notes: greens, crisp jasmine, sage, basil, and rosewood, very refreshing and crisp. Recommended use: daytime.
Cool Water For Men
Cool Water by Davidoff for Men EDT Spray 4.2 OZ Launched by the design house of Davidoff in 1988, Cool Water by Davidoff possesses a blend of lavender, jasmine, oakmoss, musk, sandalwood. It is recommended for daytime wear.
More Baby Creepiness
A few weeks back, I posted a link for Manbabies. Weird and creepy, yes. Yet we all collectively could not look away. Now, Paul from Paul and Storm gives us this bit of baby creepiness. Should you enjoy? Yes. But only after you run screaming from the room in fear to cleanse yourself of the weirdness.
Brand Update : TVS Scooty
In the marketing classrooms, we used to exhort the wannabe marketers to be more proactive to the changing environment. Often this discussion stems during the discussion on the concept of Marketing Myopia.
Its a well known cliche that to be No.1 is more difficult than being No.2 To sustain the market leadership position, one has to be more vigilant and proactive.
The context is relevant with the launch of TVS Scooty Teenz Electric - the first electric scooter from TVS stable. The market leader is proactive.
The electric scooter market has been making some noise in the recent past. Numerous players has entered the fray notably Hero Motors, Yo Bike , Avon etc. According to Business Standard, the market is estimated to touch a figure of 240,000 units in 2009.
The emerging category was seen as a natural choice for cycle riders esp. girls.
It was interesting to note that most of the scooter manufacturers preferred to wait and watch the movements in this category rather than plunge head on. So while Bajaj and Kinetic talked about its plan for an electric scooter variant, no prototype was coming in.
Then the inevitable happened. Indian Government decided to put the burden of higher international oil prices on its citizens and a whopping 10% price increased follow suit.
Customers were at a shock. So was the auto manufacturers.
Inevitably, the current price increase has upset the travel plans of many. Cars no longer is affordable for a daily travel to the office.Even the bikes become expensive to travel.
This has made the electric scooter an attractive option - a desperate option .
The launch of TVS Scooty Teenz Electric is in a way an acknowledgment of the fact that electric scooters are not a fad but a trend. There is only one reason - the price of the fuel.
Teenz Electric is a variant of Scooty and comes under the category of electric scooters which needs the riders to have a license. ( age 16 +). The vehicle is powered by a 800 w motor and boasts of
Larger storage space
Puncture resistant tires
Range selecter - power and economy mode
Charge indicator
and unmatched fuel efficiency and cost reduction.
Further, the brand will also offer the complete product range to the customers. Customers will try out both versions and settle for any one with in the Scooty brand.
Its a well known cliche that to be No.1 is more difficult than being No.2 To sustain the market leadership position, one has to be more vigilant and proactive.
The context is relevant with the launch of TVS Scooty Teenz Electric - the first electric scooter from TVS stable. The market leader is proactive.
The electric scooter market has been making some noise in the recent past. Numerous players has entered the fray notably Hero Motors, Yo Bike , Avon etc. According to Business Standard, the market is estimated to touch a figure of 240,000 units in 2009.
The emerging category was seen as a natural choice for cycle riders esp. girls.
It was interesting to note that most of the scooter manufacturers preferred to wait and watch the movements in this category rather than plunge head on. So while Bajaj and Kinetic talked about its plan for an electric scooter variant, no prototype was coming in.
Then the inevitable happened. Indian Government decided to put the burden of higher international oil prices on its citizens and a whopping 10% price increased follow suit.
Customers were at a shock. So was the auto manufacturers.
Inevitably, the current price increase has upset the travel plans of many. Cars no longer is affordable for a daily travel to the office.Even the bikes become expensive to travel.
This has made the electric scooter an attractive option - a desperate option .
The launch of TVS Scooty Teenz Electric is in a way an acknowledgment of the fact that electric scooters are not a fad but a trend. There is only one reason - the price of the fuel.
Teenz Electric is a variant of Scooty and comes under the category of electric scooters which needs the riders to have a license. ( age 16 +). The vehicle is powered by a 800 w motor and boasts of
Larger storage space
Puncture resistant tires
Range selecter - power and economy mode
Charge indicator
and unmatched fuel efficiency and cost reduction.
The new variant is targeted at young ladies who travel 10-15 km a day.
A major reason for the luke warm response to electric scooters is the perceived lack of power of the vehicle. The manufacturers have tried to cut the power down to enhance fuel efficiency .
But for customers, fuel cost was not compelling enough to choose these type of vehicle.
More over there was issues of battery life and maintenance . Since the category was entirely new, consumers also adopted a wait and watch approach. But surely the dampener was the lack of power. The slow moving small scooter did not met many hygiene factors .
A major reason for the luke warm response to electric scooters is the perceived lack of power of the vehicle. The manufacturers have tried to cut the power down to enhance fuel efficiency .
But for customers, fuel cost was not compelling enough to choose these type of vehicle.
More over there was issues of battery life and maintenance . Since the category was entirely new, consumers also adopted a wait and watch approach. But surely the dampener was the lack of power. The slow moving small scooter did not met many hygiene factors .
Compared to a full fledged electric scooter manufacture, the launch of Scooty Electric makes immense sense . In a way, the product line has been expanded to include an emerging category. Here the brand is taking a chance. Still the trend towards electric scooters are not concrete. The truth is that there will be many who will be checking out these vehicles but the shift in preference is not yet visible . By offering the variant, Scooty will be in a position to ride the wave when it happens. If the wave will not happen , then also the brand is not going to take a hit.
Further, the brand will also offer the complete product range to the customers. Customers will try out both versions and settle for any one with in the Scooty brand.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day!
You know who you are. What are you doing on this parental holiday? BTW, could you imagine if Dad's Day was in January? What a drag that would be.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Washy Ad Jeffy
I haven't drawn anything for Coulton for a while. Luckily, he released a new catchy song called "Washy Ad Jeffy" that is a mnemonic device to remember all the US presidents. You can read the whole story at his blog which incidentally is also the place where you can purchase the song. BTW, I should have done a visual like this for his song "The Presidents" but I was young and stupid back then. I'm much smarter now.
PS: You can buy a print of this image here, if one would like.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Jawbone #210: Friday the 13th Solocast
Solocast tonight. Lots of voicemails. Bitter podcasting. Good mashup. Week off. Enjoy the show!RSS feed.
Download now.
Dr Scholl's : Taking care of the Foot
Brand : Dr Scholl's
Company : SSL-TTK
Brand Analysis Count 332
Dr Scholl's is an interesting niche brand. The brand is launched in India by SSL International which owns the brand through a joint-venture with TTK ltd.
Dr Scholl's is a foot care brand. You will see a range of Dr Scholl's product when you visit prominent footwear retailers like Bata. Dr Scholl's sells a range of products like
comfort soles
Acupressure soles
Creams
Odor Control sprays etc
The category in which Dr Scholl's operate can be termed as Slow Moving Consumer Goods ( SMCG) because this foot care products are not popular in India. But with the rising lifestyle, Indian consumers are slowly becoming aware of the utility of such products.
Dr Scholl's is an American brand. The founder of this brand is Dr William Mathais Scholl. The first product rolled out in 1906. In India although this brand was there for a while, serious marketing efforts began to shape up after 2003 when the company tied up with TTK group.
The Indian footcare market is estimated to be around Rs 50-60 crore ( Businessline). The market is dominated by crack-creams and anti-fungal creams.
Dr Scholl's have four types of foot care products -
Removal : hair, follicles,hard skin etc
Relief : Pain relief,
Comfort : Soles
Care : Creams
Although the potential of this market seems attractive, the challenge for the brand is to create a footcare culture. Although we are conscious about personal care , seldom we bother too much about our foot ( my personal opinion). For gents, the concept of footcare is to buy comfortable shoes and socks, clean the feet and some pedicure. Ladies are much more caring about the feet. But still, the care is restricted to the use of creams.
Hence Dr Scholl's has the unenviable task of creating awareness about proper foot-care (need) followed by educating consumers about the foot-care products and then building the brand.
Dr Scholl's is now taking the consumers who already have seen or used these products. Hence the target is the SEC A, A + consumers who is already aware of such products.
Dr Scholl's products are often expensive and unless the consumer is convinced, he may not buy it. Secondly, most of the footcare products need to be continuously used. Hence the brand has to spent lot of money on building the " need factor".
As a part of the strategy, the company is trying to strengthen the distribution reach . Now most of the footwear shops carry this brand and display is also carefully managed.
Smartly , this brand has positioned itself as a footcare brand. Now the challenge is to own the space in the mind of the consumer. At this point, the brand needs a celebrity who can increase the awareness about both the product and brand. Also the brand should be educating the consumers about the importance of proper footcare . Endorsements by doctors, physios etc can give a big boost to the category as a whole.
The brand also has extended to footwear like acupressure sandals.
Dr Scholl's faces the critical issue of developing a category with good potential. Indian consumers are now aware about investing in health. The investment is more biased towards the upper-body ( Joke !)
Dr Scholl's has to be the category pioneer and if done with earnest, the rewards are there for the taking.
Company : SSL-TTK
Brand Analysis Count 332
Dr Scholl's is an interesting niche brand. The brand is launched in India by SSL International which owns the brand through a joint-venture with TTK ltd.
Dr Scholl's is a foot care brand. You will see a range of Dr Scholl's product when you visit prominent footwear retailers like Bata. Dr Scholl's sells a range of products like
comfort soles
Acupressure soles
Creams
Odor Control sprays etc
The category in which Dr Scholl's operate can be termed as Slow Moving Consumer Goods ( SMCG) because this foot care products are not popular in India. But with the rising lifestyle, Indian consumers are slowly becoming aware of the utility of such products.
Dr Scholl's is an American brand. The founder of this brand is Dr William Mathais Scholl. The first product rolled out in 1906. In India although this brand was there for a while, serious marketing efforts began to shape up after 2003 when the company tied up with TTK group.
The Indian footcare market is estimated to be around Rs 50-60 crore ( Businessline). The market is dominated by crack-creams and anti-fungal creams.
Dr Scholl's have four types of foot care products -
Removal : hair, follicles,hard skin etc
Relief : Pain relief,
Comfort : Soles
Care : Creams
Although the potential of this market seems attractive, the challenge for the brand is to create a footcare culture. Although we are conscious about personal care , seldom we bother too much about our foot ( my personal opinion). For gents, the concept of footcare is to buy comfortable shoes and socks, clean the feet and some pedicure. Ladies are much more caring about the feet. But still, the care is restricted to the use of creams.
Hence Dr Scholl's has the unenviable task of creating awareness about proper foot-care (need) followed by educating consumers about the foot-care products and then building the brand.
Dr Scholl's is now taking the consumers who already have seen or used these products. Hence the target is the SEC A, A + consumers who is already aware of such products.
Dr Scholl's products are often expensive and unless the consumer is convinced, he may not buy it. Secondly, most of the footcare products need to be continuously used. Hence the brand has to spent lot of money on building the " need factor".
As a part of the strategy, the company is trying to strengthen the distribution reach . Now most of the footwear shops carry this brand and display is also carefully managed.
Smartly , this brand has positioned itself as a footcare brand. Now the challenge is to own the space in the mind of the consumer. At this point, the brand needs a celebrity who can increase the awareness about both the product and brand. Also the brand should be educating the consumers about the importance of proper footcare . Endorsements by doctors, physios etc can give a big boost to the category as a whole.
Dr Scholl's faces the critical issue of developing a category with good potential. Indian consumers are now aware about investing in health. The investment is more biased towards the upper-body ( Joke !)
Dr Scholl's has to be the category pioneer and if done with earnest, the rewards are there for the taking.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Recording Tomorrow
What the heck is with this thing called summer? Kids are swimming everyday. They are enjoying sleepovers and laser tag. I'm working like crazy and putting together futons and taking apart bunkbeds. With all this stuff happening, there's no time to do a show tonight. But we will record on Friday, most likely early evening. Neil might even be there! So excuse the lateness. But until tomorrow, enjoy this clip of our favorite New Zealanders, Flight of the Conchords!
Lumiere Grande Colour
Turn up the volume for beauty and fantasy with luminescent Lumiere and Fireworks colors. Apply dry like an eye shadow, or mix with water or LiquiSet for dramatic, opaque color.
Bare Escentuals - Glimmer Eye Shadow
This glimmer can be used as a shadow or even a body color. It is so versatile and fantastic. It can be used wet or dry. Bikini is a beautiful true, sugar-and-spice little girl pink.
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