Brands
91% Indians to spend more on e-com sites in 2019
MUMBAI: Factors like growing traffic congestion across the cities are prompting more and more people to shop online reveals the business and brands predictions report 2019.
Created by Kantar Media based on consumer insights, the report uses data and reference from various business units within Kantar and a host of syndicated studies such as- Target Group Index –Kantar IMRB, Global MONITOR 2018- Kantar Consulting, Kantar Worldpanel, eMarketPulse- Kantar IMRB. It outlines provide sharp insights to brands on what to expect from the market and solutions to reach out to the consumers in the most effective manner.
The report further reads, “91 per cent of the people surveyed by Cashkaro.com said that they will spend more money on e-commerce sites in 2019. A massive part of that growth is expected to come from services, with specialized platforms gaining popularity over marketplaces. At-home service platforms like HouseJoy and UrbanClap have witnessed exponential growth in customers and service providers alike.”
“There’s a massive B2B opportunity for food, beverage and grooming brands to fulfil the unique needs of the service providers – in the form of new products and new ideas,” it adds.
Another key prediction made by the report reveals that 68 per cent of Indians agree that they are free to shape their identities and transform themselves in whatever way they want. Thus, brands and categories which recognise the consumer, for who they are and where they are, will flourish and user-generated content will grow by leaps and bounds.
It also shared that brands will have to create a stable, positive environment, and enable support groups to change the discourse of negativity on media platforms as 47 per cent of Indians agreed to being feeling stressed these days. The percentage has increased from 39 per cent in 2017.
Another interesting insight noted by the report is that 76 per cent of Indians are looking for new experiences and sensations that will liven up their everyday activities, reveals the business and brands predictions report 2019. The report further predicted that many brands will be leveraging the power of ‘senses’ to attract the consumers. “With gaming no more (being) a niche experience, it presents a fantastic opportunity for brands to both be involved in the game ecosystem and to gamify their user experience,” it read.
Also, ‘digital detox’ is emerging as big business as 53 per cent of Indians (amongst those who use the internet) say that they wish social media had less of an influence in their lives.
The report mentions, “The travel and leisure industry has much to feel optimistic about as more Indians seek physical and social in-person experiences. In the face of uncertainty and pessimism, this kind of reconnection and exploration provides platforms for stability. In 2019, we expect even more brands and industries to find opportunity in addressing the growing realization of the perils of technology engagement, particularly at a young age. Others will rekindle the nostalgia of relationships, memories, and places that allow us to rediscover ourselves.”
Kantar Insights Division CEO—South Asia Preeti Reddy said, “At Kantar, we recognise that it is imperative to achieve a balance of human insight and data-enabled decisions in both the business world and our personal worlds. While data might give us the confidence to believe, our personal experience and foresight give us the guidance to act differently and courageously. In identifying the key trends and how they may manifest over the coming year, we have attempted to exhibit that spirit of digging deep and finding stability.”
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
