Brands
All Things Baby gets a star mum: Athiya Shetty joins as brand ambassador
MUMBAI: The actor and new mum has just been announced as the latest brand ambassador for All Things Baby (ATB), India’s premium parenting platform. Known for its curated range of top-tier products, ATB aims to redefine the parenting experience with a blend of style, safety, and simplicity.
Since its launch in 2019 by Tejal Bajla and Akshay Jalan, All Things Baby has quickly become a go-to destination for modern parents. With over 120 brands in categories ranging from cots and strollers to feeding essentials, ATB offers everything you could possibly need for your little one, without the stress of navigating a crowded market. And now, with Shetty joining the team, they’re setting their sights even higher.
“Athiya truly embodies the modern, discerning parent who’s intentional in their choices,” said ATB, founder, Tejal Bajla. “Her authenticity, her approach to motherhood, and her commitment to quality align perfectly with our brand ethos.”
Shetty’s own journey into motherhood has been closely followed by fans, and she’s now using her platform to share what’s working for her. In a recent statement, she shared, “Motherhood is one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, and All Things Baby has been a trusted companion with its curated selection of world-class baby products. Their approach makes it simpler for today’s parents to make informed decisions.”
As part of the collaboration, Athiya will feature across ATB’s social media, digital channels, and performance marketing campaigns, connecting with new-age parents across Meta, Youtube, and other online platforms.
The partnership also signals a key moment in India’s burgeoning baby care market, valued at over 4.4 billion dollars and growing at a projected nine per cent CAGR. By focusing on premium, curated offerings, ATB is positioning itself as a premium parenting ecosystem: a trusted resource for families looking to make the best choices for their children.
The brand’s portfolio includes international heavyweights such as Strokke, Leander and Ergo baby known for their focus on safety, design, and functionality. And as ATB continues to expand into cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the future is looking bright and very baby-friendly.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
