Brands
HomeLane appoints Aveek Nandi as senior vice president – product
Mumbai: Home interiors brand HomeLane has announced another addition to their CXO suite, with the appointment of Aveek Nandi as senior vice president – product and head of customer experience. Nandi previously worked for Vedantu, Yulu Mobility, and Delhivery, and has over 12 years of experience in product, P&L, and operations.
In his role at HomeLane as the senior vice president-product, he will be working towards building a more competitive product and technology-led organisation. Additionally, as the head of customer experience, Nandi has been entrusted with the goal of ensuring that HomeLane consistently delivers a seven-star experience to its customers.
Commenting on the appointment, HomeLane co-founders Srikanth Iyer and Tanuj Choudhry said, “We are delighted to welcome Aveek to the HomeLane team. He has successfully led the product strategy for many marquee brands, and we are confident that with his varied experience and innovation-led approach, he will play an instrumental role in optimising our product portfolio and enhancing our overall customer experience.”
Prior to joining HomeLane, Aveek worked for Vedantu as AVP – product and Yulu as head of product, where he was in charge of the brands’ product and design charters. He has also led product design and strategy for e-commerce logistics at Delhivery. At Delhivery, he was part of the CEO’s core team that focussed on building product solutions for key business challenges which included leading Delhivery’s business for MSMEs. Prior to Delhivery, Aveek worked on product and process challenges across functions and geographies at Tesco.
Aveek Nandi said of the new role, “I am delighted to join HomeLane. It is really impressive how we are using products and technology to deliver a great customer experience in the complex journey of building one’s home and doing so in an optimised manner. I look forward to joining this highly energetic and dynamic team and contributing to HomeLane’s journey.”
In addition to being an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, Nandi has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Brands
Funskool India crosses US$40 million turnover in FY 2025-26
Toy manufacturer posts steady growth despite global headwinds.
MUMBAI: Funskool India has played its cards well turning challenges into steady growth while keeping the fun alive in the toy business. The country’s leading toy manufacturer has reported a turnover of $40 million in FY 2025-26, demonstrating resilience in a difficult global environment. The company recorded an average growth of 14 per cent over the past two years, with exports growing at a healthy 19% year-on-year.
While domestic business grew at a modest single-digit pace, Funskool saw encouraging traction in key categories such as Fundough (dough) and Handycrafts (arts & crafts).
Funskool India Ltd. CEO K.A. Shabir said, “We successfully navigated the challenges posed by US tariffs last year and continued to grow both our export and domestic businesses. Given the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia, we are currently working with a moderate growth outlook of 12–15 per cent, with plans to revisit our targets after Q1 once the situation stabilises.”
He highlighted strengthened partnerships with global companies including Spin Master (Canada), Moose Toys (Australia), Melissa & Doug (USA), Asmodee (France), Learning Resources (USA), and Buffalo Games (USA). The expansion of the company’s Goa plant is progressing and is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
Looking ahead, Funskool expects a significant shift in domestic growth momentum for FY 2026-27, driven by new categories such as friction vehicles under the brand “BlazeTrix”, remote-control cars under “VoltRush”, and the addition of popular licences like Paw Patrol.
In an industry where playtime never stops, Funskool has shown that even in turbulent times, a smart strategy and strong partnerships can keep the business ticking along nicely. As it gears up for the next financial year, the company appears well-positioned to build on its solid foundation and bring even more joy to children worldwide.
