MAM
Hansa Research, Ipsos sign MoU to jointly bid for IRS
MUMBAI: Hansa Research and Ipsos have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly bid for the new Indian Readership Survey (IRS) contract that starts with IRS 2013.
Hansa Research has been conducting the IRS since 2003. So far, Hansa has been doing it with Media research Users Council (MRUC).
The Indian Readership Survey (IRS) has been owned and administered by Media Research Users’ Council (MRUC), an Industry body set up in 1994. Earlier in 2011, MRUC and ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulation) decided to merge their parallel readership studies by entering into an alliance to form the RSCI, which is now taking charge of administering the IRS.
Hansa Research Group MD Ashok Das said, “We are happy and excited to work with Ipsos on this prestigious project, and hope to bring in a number of new ideas into the IRS.”
This joint bid will combine Hansa’s experience of readership measurement in the Indian context with Ipsos’ global expertise of conducting readership surveys in 60 countries.
Ipsos-India CEO Mick Gordon said, “We are delighted to be working with Hansa on this very exciting project and we hope we can persuade RSCI (Readership Studies Council of India) that our combination will be a very big plus for the industry. Ipsos measures readership in more than 60 countries around the world and has made a name for itself in introducing many innovations into this specialist area of market research – we were the first to use CAPI and DS-CAPI in readership measurement, for example. We believe we can add significant value to Hansa‘s proven expertise and experience on the ground in India.”
Through the joint participation of these two entities, the two companies expect to make a very strong and forward looking pitch for the new IRS contract.
The current sample size of the IRS is 262,000.
Hansa Research is a global full service market research agency headquartered in India, conducting market research in 77 countries with offices in India and US. Over the last few years, Hansa has developed sound mechanisms to reduce fieldwork related issues that has been widely acclaimed by research users for its ability to minimise some long standing industry weaknesses.
The Pulitzers are given out annually by Columbia University on the recommendation of a board of journalists and others. Each award carries a $10,000 prize except for the public service award, which is a gold medal.
Matt Wuerker of Politico, Massoud Hossaini of Agence France-Presse, and Craig F. Walker of The Denver Post bagged the prize in Editorial Cartooning, Breaking News Photography and Feature Photography respectively.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches Maejoy accessories brand with Myntra partnership
New label debuts with 250 plus handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery.
MUMBAI: When style meets sparkle, a new brand is ready to take centre stage. Actor and entrepreneur Malaika Arora has launched a lifestyle accessories label called Maejoy, developed in collaboration with Exceed Entertainment and Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL), the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra. The brand enters the market with a debut collection of more than 250 styles spanning handbags and lab grown diamond jewellery, two categories that continue to define everyday personal style for modern consumers.
The handbag lineup includes crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, backpacks, clutches and workwear inspired designs. The pieces are crafted using materials such as synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestones and metallic finishes.
Alongside the bags, Maejoy has introduced a jewellery range featuring lab grown diamond rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets. The pieces are set in 925 sterling silver bases with gold, silver and rose gold tones, and include diamonds certified by IGI and GCI.
Positioned as a premium yet accessible accessories label, Maejoy is built around the philosophy “The Joy of Being Me”, aiming to blend aspirational fashion with everyday usability. The brand’s positioning centres on three pillars: authenticity, empowerment and accessibility.
Arora described the venture as a natural extension of her long association with fashion and personal style.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business or through personal style, I have always believed fashion should feel empowering yet effortless. The Joy of Being Me celebrates individuality while making global fashion trends more accessible,” she said.
MJIPL, CXO and head of house of brands Suman Saha said the brand brings together Arora’s style perspective with a strong opportunity in the accessible premium accessories segment.
“Maejoy combines Malaika Arora’s distinctive style sensibility with fashion forward designs that we believe will resonate strongly with consumers looking for elevated yet wearable accessories,” he said.
Exceed Entertainment CEO Afsar Zaidi added that building celebrity led brands requires balancing authenticity with market viability.
“Malaika commands respect both as a fashion icon and a businesswoman. Bringing her creative vision together with Myntra’s brand building expertise creates a strong foundation for Maejoy,” he said.
The collection is available exclusively on Myntra through its website and mobile app, making the brand accessible to millions of shoppers across India as it steps into the competitive lifestyle accessories space.
