Brands
Flipkart turns Big Billion Days into cultural festival
MUMBAI: Flipkart has flipped the script on The Big Billion Days 2025, transforming India’s biggest shopping festival into a nationwide celebration of culture, fashion, and everyday joy. Moving beyond transactions, the event became a tapestry of storytelling, entertainment, and shared experiences.
With WPP Media’s integration-first strategy, Flipkart became part of India’s most-loved shows, turning screen time into brand milestones. On Bigg Boss 19, the in-house fashion icon contest had contestants taking on bold style challenges, with audiences voting in real time, a dramatic runway powered by Salman Khan’s signature flair.
In Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Flipkart threaded itself seamlessly into Gokuldham society over a three-day storyline. From Jethalal experimenting with denim to the Mahila Mandali debating offers, Flipkart became part of everyday life, blending humour, tradition, and relatability for millions of households.
The South region saw emotions soar on Indian Idol Telugu, where the theme “Kuch bhi ho sakta hai” came alive over two episodes. Contestants surprised audiences with wishlists and magical product reveals, transforming The Big Billion Days into a heartfelt celebration that fused music, storytelling, and aspiration.
Flipkart vice president growth and marketing Pratik Shetty said, “The Big Billion Days is more than a sale, it’s a tradition. With WPP Media, we brought that emotion to life across platforms and languages. From Bigg Boss to Taarak Mehta to Indian Idol Telugu, Flipkart became part of the cultural conversation, turning TBBD into a shared celebration of dreams, community, and everyday India.”
WPP Media South Asia president-client solutions Navin Khemka added, “Cultural relevance is the new currency of commerce. By weaving the brand into narratives audiences already adore, we elevated a commercial event into a meaningful cultural moment, making every purchase journey an act of participation in India’s cultural fabric.”
TBBD 2025 proves that Flipkart isn’t just about deals, it’s about delight, drama, and a dash of everyday magic.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
