MAM
Timex ramps up retail strategy in India
BANGALORE: Timex Group India (Timex) has ramped up its retail strategy in India, and more specifically in the southern region.
Timex announced the opening of the 12th Timex Factory store in Bangalore. The new Time Factory store was inaugurated by Timex Head- Retail and New Brands Angelique O’Brien. The south has been a major market for all the brands sold by Timex, revealed O’Brien.
Timex currently has 75 Timex Factory stores in 33 cities in India. The company plans to up the number of these stores in India to 100 in the next 12 months. Its products are available across 3000 points of sale including at organized retailers such as Shoppers Stop and Lifestyle. Timex plans to strengthen its retail footprint in tier II and tier III markets also.
In a bid to grow revenues by 20 per cent this fiscal to Rs 3 billion from last year’s Rs 2.5 billion, the company has plans to complete ad spends of Rs 220 million by the end of the fiscal on 31 March 2011.
In the past, the brand had been using print and outdoor media for advertising. Since the middle of last month, Timex has started advertising on television with a TVC by its creative agency JWT. It’s TVCs’ have been aired on television across genres as well as the on regional television. It also plans to launch email and SMS campaigns shortly.
It has had Australian cricket fast bowler Brett Lee as a brand ambassador in the past. During the last quarter of 2010, it had Indian cricket ace batsman Virendra Sehawag to launch its ICC Watch series (International Cricket Council).
Timex is the official timekeeper for the ICC World Cricket Championship 2011 that begins in the Indian sub-continent from 19 February.
The company has ambitious plans to launch over 400 models of watches across categories by the end of this financial year targeting the discerning Indian consumer. Last month, the brand launched 14 styles of the Tarun Tahiliani collection of ladies watches, 9 of which are a part of the bridal collection. The collection has watches in the price range of Rs.10,995 and Rs.23,995.
Timex Group has a portfolio of 11 brands spread across various segments from mid premium to luxury segment with Brands like, Timex, Opex, Guess, Gc, Marc Ecko, Nautica, TX, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Versus and Valentino with selling channels in more than 100 countries. The Group has a design centre based out of Milano and a manufacturing base spread across various countries.
Mindshare handles the media buying duties for Timex.
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
