Brands
Heat Check as TechnoSport Outsmarts Hyderabad Sun with UPF50+ Push
MUMBAI: Hyderabad may swear by sunscreen, but TechnoSport just gave the sun a run for its money. To mark the opening of its biggest exclusive brand outlet at Sarath City Capital Mall, the athleisure brand rolled out a cheeky, heat-beating activation titled Stronger than Your Sunscreen, built squarely on the reality that in the city’s scorching 40–45°C weather, performance wear often needs superhero powers.
What followed was part marketing, part social experiment, and fully sun-proofed theatre.
As the centrepiece of the launch, TechnoSport installed a vending machine that dispensed free UPF50+ T-shirts, a playful yet pointed showcase of its sun-protection tech. What could have been a simple giveaway turned into a bona fide spectacle, with the installation drawing curious shoppers, gym-goers, and passers-by who wanted to test whether a T-shirt could really go toe-to-toe with Hyderabad’s brutal UV blaze.
The stunt sparked instant buzz, drove sizeable opening-day footfall and gave the new store the kind of opening-day headlines brands dream about.
TechnoSport head of marketing Patralika Agrawal said the city was the ideal setting for such a sun-savvy idea. “Hyderabad’s climate and lifestyle made this the perfect market for an activation centred on sun protection and performance wear,” she said. “The response reinforced the value of purpose-led marketing delivered with the right blend of creativity and cultural relevance.”
Her point was more than proven. The UPF50+ T-shirts which block 98 per cent of harmful UV rays didn’t just protect customers; they reframed TechnoSport’s technical innovation as something delightfully tangible.
True to its digital-first ethos, TechnoSport fused physical activation with online momentum. The vending machine became highly shareable social content, helping the brand extend conversations beyond the mall floor and straight into Hyderabad’s fitness and youth communities. The chatter fed into steady post-launch walk-ins, deepening awareness of the brand’s sun-ready gear.
By blending cultural insight, climate relevance and a wink at everyday consumer struggles, TechnoSport turned a store launch into a climate-conscious moment. The brand not only introduced Hyderabad to its largest outlet yet, but also cemented itself as a player that understands what performance really means in a city where the sun often steals the spotlight.
With creativity this sharp and T-shirts this sun-proof TechnoSport may have set a new standard for store launches that leave both shoppers and sceptics a little more protected.
Brands
Domino’s Q1 profit falls 6.6 per cent, announces $1 billion buyback
Sales rise 3.4 per cent as pizza giant balances growth and shareholder returns
NEW YORK: Domino’s reported a mixed start to 2026, with first-quarter net income slipping even as global sales and store expansion held steady. The company also announced a fresh $1 billion share buyback, underlining its continued focus on shareholder returns.
Global retail sales rose 3.4 per cent on a constant-currency basis to $4.74 billion. The US remained a key growth engine, with same-store sales inching up 0.9 per cent, supported by a 1.5 per cent rise at company-owned outlets.
International markets, however, painted a more uneven picture. While Domino’s added 161 net new stores overseas during the quarter, international same-store sales declined 0.4 per cent. Overall revenues still climbed 3.5 per cent to $1.15 billion, driven by higher supply chain revenues and a 2.6 per cent increase in food basket pricing for franchisees.
On the profitability front, net income fell 6.6 per cent to $139.8 million, compared to $149.7 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share dropped to $4.13 from $4.33. The decline was largely attributed to a $30 million unfavourable swing in unrealised gains linked to its investment in DPC Dash Ltd.
Despite this, operational performance showed resilience. Income from operations rose 9.6 per cent to $230.4 million, supported in part by a $7.8 million pre-tax gain from the sale of a corporate aircraft.
Domino’s footprint continued to expand, with the company ending the quarter at 22,322 stores across more than 90 markets. In the US, digital orders remained dominant, accounting for over 85 per cent of retail sales in 2025.
The company also maintained its dividend payout, declaring $1.99 per share, payable on 30 June 2026. After repurchasing $75.1 million worth of stock during the quarter, the new authorisation lifts the total available for buybacks to $1.29 billion.
Domino’s chief executive officer Russell Weiner said the company’s scale and store-level economics position it well to capture further market share in 2026, even as competition intensifies.
As Domino’s leans into expansion and capital returns, the latest results show a business managing short-term pressures while keeping its long-term growth strategy firmly in play.
