Brands
Fastrack launches actor Vijay Devarakonda as brand ambassador for its new brand campaign
Mumbai: India’s iconic watch and accessories brand Fastrack has yet again tapped the pulse of the youth with its new brand campaign ‘Be Both’. The campaign celebrates the youth’s effortless straddling of contradictory ideas, beliefs and attitudes. Through #BeBoth, Fastrack welcomes this new era in all of youth’s expressions specially fashion. The campaign stars the nation’s favorite young superstar, Vijay Deverakonda, who will now be the brand ambassador for Fastrack.
The campaign film uses a split-screen effect to highlight the juxtaposition of contrasting realities in the lives of the youth. The interplay of real and graphic design elements reflects the philosophy of the campaign, while also making it digital-consumption friendly. Descriptions such as “Subtly Dramatic” and “Seriously Playful” encapsulate both the product look and the brand’s philosophy of “BeBoth”
The campaign highlights a collection of 15 unique watches with design features that combine seemingly opposing elements. These watches consist of skeletal automatic, chronographs and multifunction designs for young men and bling rose gold, unique bracelet designs for young women. The price range of Fastrack #BeBoth collection is Rs 2995 to Rs 9995/-
Fastrack head of marketing and product Ajay Maurya said, “With this brand campaign, Fastrack has thrown a spotlight on the contradictions that define the lives of the youth and are integral to the way they express themselves. ‘BeBoth’ hails this aspect of the youth’s lifestyle, making the brand a part of their fashion expression. We are thrilled to partner with the talented trendsetter, Vijay Devarakonda who brings authenticity, versatility, and a lot of style to the campaign, making him the perfect ambassador to represent Fastrack’s new brand ethos.”
Devarakonda shared, “I am really kicked about this collaboration with Fastrack. The brand has always picked up the most interesting insights about the youth and continues to do so with this campaign. ‘Be Both’ with its message of celebrating the contradictions in one’s personality and choices resonates very strongly with me. I am particularly excited about the fashionable creative expression that has been given to this unique observation.”
Mullen Lintas CCO Ram Cobain said, “Much before ‘social’ was a buzzword, Fastrack has been a brand that’s lived among people. Our digital-first campaign is the voice of the youth of today. For the Zillennials, an oxymoron is a muse. And contradictions are to be embraced as a reflection of who they are. They can be attention-seeking introverts, spiritual atheists…it’s like they’re living two lives at once. #BeBoth is Fastrack wearing pop culture on its swanky sleeves, signaling a pivot into fashion-first conversations with its trademark swagger intact.”
The 360-degree campaign is going to be live on Digital, OTT platforms, Social, OOH, Cinema and will have a strong Influencer marketing leg. The Fastrack ‘BeBoth’ Collection watches are available at Fastrack & Titan World Stores, Multi-Brand Outlets, Lifestyle & Shoppers Stop, and online on www.fastrack.in, Flipkart, Amazon & Myntra.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
