MAM
Paint it posh Birla Opus adds luxury strokes to Indian wall finishes
MUMBAI: Why just colour your walls when you can couture them? Birla Opus Paints is bringing the runway to the living room with its new Designer Finish range, two luxe collections that aim to give Indian interiors a high-fashion upgrade, one wall at a time.
Unveiled by Aditya Birla Group’s Grasim Industries, the Dream and Timeless collections are part of a bold push to make walls more than just backdrops. Think high-definition 3D textures, metallic shimmers, and artisanal finishes inspired by nature and Italian craftsmanship, all underpinned by eco-friendly innovation.
The Dream Collection leans into drama, offering 14 nature-themed designs across 140 permutations. Whether you fancy a wall that evokes the sea or the shimmer of clouds at dusk, the collection comes with water-resistant, long-lasting shades made to impress. Bonus: it’s not just beautiful, it’s built to last.
Meanwhile, the Timeless Collection keeps things earthy and elegant. With lime-based finishes that mimic the raw textures of stone, clay and marble, it’s made for those who like their luxury with a little rustic soul. And both ranges walk the green talk, with low-VOC formulations that keep indoor air quality breathable and healthy.
But the real flex? Experience-led retail. Birla Opus is not just selling paint; it’s selling inspiration. The brand is rolling out Paint Studios in cities like Mumbai, Gurugram and Lucknow immersive spaces where customers can see and touch the new finishes before committing to a makeover. These studios, along with a growing network of franchise stores, are part of the brand’s ambitious plan to make upscale design feel personal and accessible.
Commenting on the launch Birla Opus Paints CEO Rakshit Hargave said, “At Birla Opus Paints, we understand that today’s consumers are seeking more than just products; they desire experiences and products that reflect purpose and value.Our aim is not only to redefine creativity with advanced design technology and sustainable solutions, but to also set new standards in interior luxury.At the back of our Paint Studio and franchisee stores launches across India, we’re now presenting consumers with these exquisite finishes inspired from nature’s beauty and Italian artistrythat will definitely adda taste of luxury to your home.”
With plans to expand into more metros including Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata, Birla Opus is aiming for national saturation and wall domination.
Because in 2025, walls don’t just wear paint. They wear personality.
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.
