Brands
The Body Shop sparks joy with marigold glow and changemaking Diwali gifts
MUMBAI: Diwali just got a fresh coat of glow and this time it’s painted marigold. The Body Shop has rolled out the third edition of its award-winning initiative, Spark A Change 3.0, with a stirring festive film starring Saachi Bindra and Saiee M Manjrekar and the launch of a limited-edition Marigold Bodycare range. The campaign puts kindness at the heart of celebration, showing how the smallest acts can light up not just homes, but lives.
At the centre of this season’s sparkle is the Marigold Bodycare collection, part of The India Edit. Inspired by the flower synonymous with prosperity and new beginnings, the line includes a Shower Gel, Body Lotion and Body Mist with a warm, earthy fragrance. Priced from Rs 495 onwards, the collection sits alongside the brand’s colourful Changemaking Gifts, wrapped in festive hues of marigold, pink, green and red.
The campaign film carries an intergenerational narrative, weaving belonging and empathy into a traditional Diwali moment. “With Spark A Change 3.0, we are building on our legacy of beauty with purpose,” said The Body Shop India chief brand officer Harmeet Singh. “Our collaboration with Plastics for Change shows how conscious business can transform lives and protect the planet.”
The partnership with Plastics for Change (PFC), based in Bengaluru now the world’s largest source of fair trade-verified recycled plastic continues to power the social impact of Spark A Change. Last year’s edition funded donations equivalent to 19 E-tricycles for waste collectors. This year, the brand aims to expand that drive, giving collectors safer and more sustainable ways to earn a living.
For the actors, the campaign’s message resonates beyond the screen. “It reminds us that even the smallest acts of inclusion can light up someone’s life,” said Saiee M Manjrekar. Saachi Bindra added: “Spark A Change 3.0 goes beyond gifting, it creates real impact. The Marigold range feels pure and rejoicing, a perfect festive gift.”
From customisable gift sets to pre-packed hampers and gift cards, The Body Shop is offering treats that combine indulgence with intent. Beyond festive shimmer, the initiative stands as a reminder that beauty, when matched with purpose, can truly spark change, one marigold-tinted act at a time.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
