MAM
Yardley’s new TVC campaign encourages to celebrate a safe yet joyous Onam
NEW DELHI – The year 2020 has witnessed its fair share of upheavals. As India continues to battle with the impact of a pandemic, a sense of fear continues to prevail. While most states continue to struggle with the effects of the pandemic, Kerala has managed to come out fairly well, however, the fear of resurgence persists. This year, as Onam begins, Yardley has released its TV campaign that encourages consumers to celebrate this harvest festival with family and friends while taking all safety precautions.
The latest TVC by the brand revolves around a Malayali family of three, who are skeptical about celebrating Onam because of the on-going pandemic, however, the mother assures the child and talks about the precautions to take before celebrating the festival. The film showcases the latest additions of hygiene essentials to the Yardley portfolio of Handwash and Sanitizer, the goodness of Lavender oil, and its credibility being a 250-year-old brand that is now offering anti-germ properties in its products keeping in mind the current times. The campaign has been released across television and digital media platforms.
Commenting on the new campaign Yardley India VP and business head Manish Vyas said, “As the impact of Covid2019 continues to leave our lives in a state of unrest, consumers do still hold a sense of fear when stepping out to get together with friends or even to celebrate festivals. Onam being the biggest festival in Kerala, our objective with this campaign was to encourage our consumers to bring on the celebrations, with the apt precautions. And as they prepare to celebrate in full fervor, Yardley’s Essentials range – infused with anti-germ properties and lavender oil – is here to protect them every step of the way. We at Yardley have always kept in line with the evolving times and keeping our consumers’ sentiments in mind we continue to offer them the best products to address their every need. Our latest TV campaign is a clear depiction of this promise to our consumers.”
“The antidote to uncertainty is the reassurance that all we hold dear in our hearts…our relationships, our festivals, our celebrations…will continue to be protected. Yardley tells a story of this reassurance and resilience through a product offering that is the perfect coming together of those age-old Yardley values and the need of the hour: protection. It’s a cute little story of the little things we need to do to protect the big things. Onam is an important cultural moment in one of our key markets and this communication is a timely squeeze of reassurance that says that there’s still hope.” said Contract Advertising executive creative director & creative head Mumbai Rahul Ghosh.
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.
