MAM
Beardo’s #BeardsAtWork challenges campus shaving norms on World Beard Day
Mumbai: On World Beard Day (2 September), Beardo, a men’s grooming brand from the house of Marico Ltd takes a stand for inclusivity and freedom of individual expression with their new digital campaign #BeardsAtWork. This campaign, primarily driven through a digital film featuring Hardik Banga, challenges the conventional norms of grooming and places the spotlight on the contentious issue of enforced shaving during placements.
Today, while the modern corporate world has increasingly embraced the concept of individuality, there are still instances where, during campus placements, many bearded young individuals are asked to shave in order to be placed. While a well-groomed beard is considered corporate-appropriate today, the acceptance hasn’t quite extended to campus recruitment yet. Therefore, as a leading men’s grooming brand and a partner many rely on for their grooming needs, Beardo has taken on this campaign to celebrate #BeardsAtWork this World Beard Day! Taking a light-hearted approach, the #BeardsAtWork campaign aims to spark a conversation about beard inclusivity by shattering stereotypes and championing authentic self-expression in the corporate world through a digital film.
This impactful yet fun film opens with a classroom filled with young students with a backdrop showcasing campus placements, setting the stage for a powerful narrative. The film goes on to show a professor who gives an ultimatum to the students that they need to shave in order to even appear for an interview or miss placements, thereby hampering their careers. BASED ON TRUE EVENTS, the film then captures the response of bearded students who invent different excuses ranging from superstitions about shaving on certain days to humorous claims of allergic reactions to razors. The film culminates with a thought-provoking message and a call to action, advocating for change in workplace perceptions. Hardik Banga’s words resonate deeply as he asserts that donning & maintaining a beard is a matter of personal identity. The film further invites viewers to re-consider the correlation between appearance and professional competence, highlighting that in fact “shaping” a beard involves more commitment & effort than “Shaving” one, and hence well-groomed beards should be celebrated at work.
To further elaborate the message for World Beard Day, Beardo has also partnered with influencers like BeYouNick and many more. Even Celebrity Hrithik Roshan has shared this on his IG handle.
Speaking about this campaign, Beardo chief executive officer Sujot Malhotra said “Beardo has always been firmly committed to championing the cause of true masculinity and the timeless statement made by any well-groomed beard. We have always celebrated all kinds of Beards and what they stand for by challenging the arbitrary conformity of enforced shaving in the corporate world. We stand by the feeling that a beard should never stand as a barrier to professionalism, and with our #BeardsAtWork campaign, we aim to break down stereotypes and celebrate the power of individual expression. Celebrating World Beard Day with this campaign, we hope to reflect the evolving norms of inclusivity and expression, paving the way for a more diverse culture.”
Brands
Flipkart completes reverse flip to India ahead of IPO
Walmart-owned e-commerce giant shifts domicile from Singapore to Bengaluru
MUMBAI: Flipkart has completed its restructuring to move its parent company from Singapore back to India, marking a key milestone as the Walmart-owned marketplace prepares for a potential initial public offering on Indian stock exchanges, ET reported, citing people aware of the matter.
The move, often referred to as a “reverse flip”, relocates the company’s legal home to India and aligns its corporate structure more closely with its largest market. It also clears an important regulatory step for Flipkart as it explores listing plans.
As part of the restructuring, several Singapore-based entities have been merged into Flipkart Internet Private Limited, which will now serve as the main holding company for the entire group.
The consolidation brings a number of major businesses directly under the Indian parent company. These include fashion platform Myntra, logistics arm Ekart, travel booking platform Cleartrip, healthcare marketplace Flipkart Health, and fintech venture Super.money.
Under the new structure, global investors including Walmart, Microsoft, SoftBank, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board will hold their stakes directly in the Indian entity rather than through an overseas holding company.
The redomiciliation required approval from the Indian government because Chinese technology company Tencent owns around a 5 to 6 per cent stake in Flipkart. Under Press Note 3, investments from countries sharing a land border with India require prior government clearance.
Flipkart had already secured approval from the National Company Law Tribunal in December. With the latest clearance from the central government, the company has now obtained all the regulatory approvals needed to complete the relocation, ET reported earlier.
Flipkart had originally shifted its holding structure to Singapore in 2011 to tap global capital more easily. However, as India’s capital markets have matured, several start-ups have begun returning their domiciles to the country ahead of public listings. Companies such as Razorpay, Groww, and Meesho have taken similar steps.
The company is now expected to move ahead with its IPO preparations and has begun early discussions with merchant bankers. According to people familiar with the matter, Flipkart could file its draft prospectus later this year, setting the stage for what may become one of the most closely watched listings in India’s e-commerce sector.
Flipkart has been majority-owned by Walmart since 2018, when the US retail giant acquired a 77 per cent stake in the company for $16 billion in one of the largest e-commerce deals globally.
