MAM
Brands engage with consumers with WFH creatives
MUMBAI: The world around us has undergone a paradigm shift in the last year. The little joys that we took for granted – be it eating out at our favorite restaurant with family or catching a movie in the theatre over the weekend, or simply hanging out with friends after work – all activities have become wishful nostalgia. Keeping in mind these inescapable realities of the new normal, brands have come up with creatives to cheer flagging spirits with a dash of humor and empathy. But, at the same time, encouraging people to stay at home and stay safe. Here are a few ideations that we felt measured up to the task at hand.
Pepsico’s Wafer Brand Lays released a new commercial with a short, crispy humorous take on WFH, while pushing itself as the best snack for a quick five-minute break from work.
Fevicol : The Pidilite Industries-owned adhesives brand shared a picture of a crowded market with people, both with and without masks swarming the street on Instagram. Fevicol took a tongue-in-cheek swipe on the picture using its own campaign of ‘FEVICOL KA JOD, MAJBOOT JOD’ with the words: “This Is Not A Fevicol Ad, Now Is Not A Good Time To Stick Together” adding “Kyunki chehre par mask aur do gaz ki doori, abhi bhi hai bohot zaroori.” (Because a mask on the face and six feet distancing is still very important)
Dominos : The Pizza brand came up with the perfect #StayAtHome menu to make WFH a breeze and beat the blues!
Swiggy : For all those of us who still find it difficult to accept that it has been a whole year and more of staying indoors with WFH and social distancing, this Swiggy India creative rubs it in. It covers all those ‘Masterchef’s who mastered cooking during the extended lockdown- from a shapeless, burnt roti in March 2020 right through to a perfect gol one in 2021!
‘Still can’t accept the fact that it’s already March 2021’
Durex India : The Condom brand came up with a cheeky play on words, reminding people that while indoors their product offers protection, outside it is the humble mask. It shared a post saying ‘Wear two masks for better protection outdoors and one as usual for indoors.’ It further added: “According to the CDC report, wearing a cloth mask over a medical mask can provide “substantially improved source control” as well as reduce exposure of the wearer.”
grofers : The online grocery delivery service made a point of emphasizing staying indoors, with an attention-grabbing caption of ‘Places to Explore’. The post creatively showcases how within the four walls of our home, one can have a fulfilling day. Let’s continue to be the second line of our frontline by staying at home.
Nykaa Man : The e-commerce platform for men’s grooming came up with a detailed list of To-Dos and helpful suggestions of ‘Lockdown therapeutic exercises’ to help chase WFH blues away:
OYO : Online Hotel booking site took a brilliant dig on people who wear a mask, albeit on the chin or hanging from an ear- anywhere but on their face! “No mask. No check-in. Take a pledge to abolish the chin diaper, the neck warmer, the nose flasher. #WearAMask, properly.”
McDonald’s Happy Meal : The junk food brand highlighted the brand’s Happy Meal with caution. “Right now, a Happy Meal is the one you have at home!” Let our Happy Meal make you happy at home! Stay safe and order in.
Starbucks India : The Coffee brand creative talks about how Life has changed- with WFH, Zoom meets, video calls, and discovering new ways to stay connected with our loved ones. Because some things don’t change whether you work from the office or work from home.
“Because even though we’re apart, Coffee has always brought us together.”
Zomato : The Food delivery service harked back to the good old days when the world looked a bit different from today with a wonderful video reminding everyone that the only way to get back to that time was- by staying home and getting vaccinated ASAP. ‘Let’s bring back the good ol’ days!’
Till that happens and till the world returns to some modicum of normalcy, all we can do is grin and bear it- behind our masks, of course! Meantime, brands can keep churning out more such imaginative communication to remain connected with their audience
Brands
From mega bills to spontaneous dates: Swiggy Dineout Valentine’s report
From mega bills to last-minute plans, India celebrated love with flair
MUMBAI: Valentine’s Day 2026 was a feast for the senses and wallets alike, according to Swiggy Dineout. India’s on-demand dining platform revealed how the nation celebrated romance with big gestures, lively nights out, and plenty of spontaneous bookings.
Metropolitan hubs continued to rule the roost with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad seeing the most reservations. Emerging cities aren’t far behind, with Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chandigarh joining the party. Growth was particularly striking in Surat (up 180 per cent), Vadodara (155 per cent) and Bhubaneswar (145.5 per cent) compared with the previous Saturday.
Mumbai stole the headlines with a single customer splashing out Rs 130,155 – the highest bill in the country. The city also hosted the largest single group booking, with 30 diners coming together to celebrate in style. Most Valentine’s transactions took place between 10pm and 11pm, proving love, and hunger, strike late.
Mumbai stole the spotlight with a mega-spender whose bill made everyone else blush, while savvy diners were cashing in on discounts, including a Pune customer saving 60% and another in Bengaluru saving 50 per cent. Fine dining was on fire, with bookings up 121 per cent year-on-year, though pubs, bars, and lounges remained the crowd favourites, accounting for 30.6 per cent of all reservations. Last-minute romance was the order of the day, with 66 per cent of diners booking within two hours of heading out. Together, India saved over Rs 6 crore, proving that love can be grand, yet thrifty.
Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi led the premium dining rush, showing a growing appetite for curated, high-end experiences. Meanwhile, spontaneous bookings reinforced modern lifestyles, where convenience and instant gratification rule the day.
Whether it was big spends, huge groups, or a last-minute romantic dash, Valentine’s Day 2026 proved love and dining go hand in hand – and sometimes, they go all out.
