MAM
Aliagroup ropes in Tony Kent as strategic retail advisor
MUMBAI: The Aliagroup has roped in The Marketing School of the London College of Communications director of postgraduate studies Tony Kent as a strategic retail advisor. Kent will be involved with Maximus, a recently launched independent retail branding division of Aliagroup.
In India, Kent is also associated with Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA), as well as the POP Asia event. He has published a paper on Brand Strategies for a Youth Market in India and also spoke recently on Design for Retailing, Design Management – the under-leveraged power for your balance sheet, at a seminar organised by the British Council in Mumbai.
Kent, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM), has extensive experience in the UK’s retail industry starting with over 15 years in the industry and over 12 years in academics.
“Tony brings with him years of invaluable retail branding experience and global expertise for Maximus clients. With the retail sector witnessing an unprecedented boom in India, the urgent need is to look at the retail sector from branding perspective and not just from interior designing perspective,” said Aliagroup director Sanjeev Malhotra.
Kent said, “I’m delighted to be part Aliagroup, India’s largest brand consulting firm. The need of the hour for the rapidly growing retail industry is to focus on building brands to move up the value chain.”
Brands
Raj Cooling Systems launches Agreyas appliances brand
Emraan Hashmi named brand ambassador for consumer appliance push.
MUMBAI: A company known for cooling solutions is now heating up its ambitions in the home appliances market. Raj Cooling Systems Pvt. Ltd. has launched a new consumer appliances brand, Agreyas, marking its entry into India’s rapidly expanding home appliances sector valued at more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The move represents a strategic diversification for the company, which has traditionally focused on cooling solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Through Agreyas, the firm plans to tap into growing consumer demand for energy efficient and technology driven household appliances.
To build brand visibility, Agreyas has appointed Emraan Hashmi as its brand ambassador. The campaign has been developed under the banner of Zoommantra Productions, with actor and filmmaker Rohit Roy contributing to the creative direction.
The brand’s initial portfolio will include mid premium air conditioners, washing machines, geysers and other white goods designed to cater to modern Indian households seeking efficient and reliable appliances.
Raj Cooling Systems, founder and chairman Kalpesh Ramoliya said the launch aligns with the company’s broader expansion plans.
“The launch of Agreyas is in line with our vision to build a strong presence in India’s consumer electronics and home appliances market. The brand has been developed as a standalone identity to meet the evolving needs of Indian consumers,” he said.
Hashmi said the collaboration comes at a time when Indian buyers are increasingly looking for innovative and functional home solutions.
“I’m looking forward to working with Agreyas at a time when consumers are seeking more innovative and efficient home products. The brand reflects changing consumer behaviour around functionality, innovation and ease of use,” he said.
Raj Cooling Systems plans to invest around 10 million dollars in developing the brand, with an additional 5 million dollars earmarked over the next three to five years for product development and distribution expansion.
Agreyas will follow a multi channel distribution approach, selling through online platforms, retail outlets and dealer networks aimed at both urban and semi urban markets across India.
With the launch, the company is positioning Agreyas as a standalone consumer facing brand while continuing to leverage its existing manufacturing, engineering and research capabilities built through its core cooling solutions business.
