MAM
Havas wins creative mandate for Dabur Honey
NEW DELHI: Dabur Honey has awarded its creative communication mandate to Havas Creative. Dabur Honey is India's largest branded honey maker and has contributed to the lives of many Indians for over three decades.
As part of the mandate, Havas will be handling the creative duties for Dabur Honey and all its extensions. The account was won following a rigorous multi-agency pitch. The business will be managed out of the agency's Delhi office.
The agency kickstarts the brand’s journey with a TVC that sends out a clear message – ‘Not every honey brand has the right to be called honey.’
The film aims to inculcate a habit of checking the authenticity and credibility of a product in the minds of the consumers before purchasing and stay watchful of fake products/imitations in the market. The film calls out to its loyal consumer and all those who have truly made Dabur Honey the No. 1 honey brand in the world, advising them to look carefully before they buy. The campaign has been conceptualized and executed by Havas Creative.
The film features an interesting exchange between two shoppers that ends with “Kissi ko bhi apna honey nahi bol sakte na (not every honey brand can be called honey)!”, thereby subtly highlighting that consumers can be rest assured they have bought real honey when they spot the Dabur honey logo on the bottle.
As the largest player in the branded honey market, Dabur is powered by an extensive sourcing network and practices stringent quality control measures, in line with this the campaign communicates the quality checks that the product undergoes and which make it the world’s No. 1 honey brand.
Dabur India category head Kunal Sharma said “We are excited to have Havas on board as our creative partner. Their understanding of our market and our consumers was impressive, and we found their work creatively very exciting. As we roll out our first communication with them, it further cements our decision. Dabur Honey is the world’s number one honey brand because our consumers are loyalists and have trusted us for many generations.”
Havas Group India CEO Rana Barua said “We are proud to have won the mandate for an iconic brand like Dabur Honey and all its extensions. This has been one of the biggest and most prestigious wins for the agency this year. Winning the mandate makes this piece of communication even more special. With our Havas integrated Village model, we will continue to create path-breaking work that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of its consumers. We look forward to further strengthening the brand’s legacy in the market”
Talking about the new mandate being awarded to Havas Creative and the campaign, Havas Creative national creative director Ravinder Siwach added “Dabur Honey is poised to break new grounds in its product offerings and we couldn’t be happier having been entrusted the journey ahead for one of Dabur India’s marque brands. In current times, consumers have become more health-conscious than before, which has led to an increase in many ‘me too’ imitations. The idea behind the film was to build awareness around the topic of purity and to advise consumers to be more vigilant before they make a purchase.”
MAM
India’s experience economy grows as live events market hits Rs 17,000 crore
EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow report finds 78 per cent Indians prefer experiences over products
MUMBAI: India’s live entertainment scene is no longer just about music, comedy or festivals. It is increasingly becoming a powerful stage for brands seeking deeper connections with consumers.
A new report titled Beyond Attention, Into Immersion by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow suggests that India’s experience economy is entering a strong growth phase, driven by consumers who are choosing memorable moments over material purchases.
According to the study, the country’s live events ecosystem, which includes concerts, comedy tours, festivals and immersive exhibitions, is estimated to reach around Rs 17,000 crore in 2025. The growth reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indians spend their time and money.
The report finds that 78 per cent of Indian consumers now prefer spending on experiences rather than physical products. From attending concerts and festivals to participating in interactive brand installations, audiences are increasingly seeking engagement, community and shareable moments.
This change in consumer behaviour is particularly evident among younger audiences who want to participate rather than simply watch. Instead of passively consuming entertainment, many now look for experiences that allow them to interact, express themselves and connect with like minded communities.
For marketers, this shift has turned experiential marketing into a strategic priority rather than a promotional add on. Brands are moving away from interruption driven advertising and towards immersive formats that allow consumers to discover, test and emotionally connect with products.
The report suggests that experiential marketing now plays a role across the entire consumer journey. It can spark brand discovery, strengthen storytelling, encourage product trials and ultimately influence purchase decisions and loyalty.
The impact is already visible. Post event surveys conducted among 7,450 attendees at major events including Lollapalooza India and concerts by Ed Sheeran and Guns N’ Roses highlight the effectiveness of these experiences.
Around 59 per cent of attendees recalled brands they interacted with during the events, while 55 per cent said those interactions increased their likelihood of purchasing from the brand. A further 63 per cent reported that brand activations actually enhanced their event experience rather than distracting from it. Nearly 29 per cent also said the interaction improved their perception of the brand.
Brands are also changing the way they approach events. Instead of simply putting logos on stages or banners, companies are building experiences into the fabric of the event itself.
Financial services brands, for example, are offering early ticket access, exclusive lounges and curated event experiences for cardholders. Fashion and beauty companies are using festivals to showcase products through pop ups, interactive installations and social media friendly spaces that encourage visitors to share their experiences online.
The scope of experiential marketing now stretches far beyond live entertainment. Retailers are designing experiential stores where customers can explore products in lifelike environments. Entertainment platforms are extending popular intellectual properties into immersive exhibitions and fan events. Technology is also playing a growing role through augmented reality and virtual try on tools that blend digital discovery with physical interaction.
Cultural festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for such engagement in India. Celebrations such as Navratri and Holi bring together large communities, emotional participation and heightened consumer spending. For brands, these moments offer an opportunity to become part of the celebration rather than simply advertise around it.
Despite the momentum, the report notes that some companies still hesitate to adopt experiential marketing at scale. Budget constraints, limited expertise and uncertainty around measuring return on investment remain common concerns.
However, the growing body of data around consumer engagement and brand impact is gradually addressing these challenges. More marketers are expected to allocate a larger share of their budgets to experiential formats over the coming years.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear trend. As consumers seek meaning, memories and moments worth sharing, live experiences are emerging as one of the most powerful ways for brands to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape.
