Brands
Hindustan Pencils’ Durga Pujo extravaganza revealed
Mumbai: Hindustan Pencils, a pioneer and leader in the stationery industry and is also the proud home of renowned brands like Nataraj and Apsara. The brand is all set to infuse the festive spirits of Durga Pujo with an array of engaging activities and enticing product displays. The grand event is taking place from October 18th to 24th, 2023, at Singhi Park Sarbojonin, Kolkata, along with other prominent locations in Chennai and Bangalore.
In Kolkata, the celebrations will unfold at the Singhi Park Sarbojonin, Garihahat. Last year’s festivities witnessed a remarkable footfall of approximately 60 lakhs during the final four days, as reported by local law enforcement.
Hindustan Pencils has thoughtfully curated a thrilling lineup of activities to captivate visitors during the Durga Pujo festival.
Marvel Avengers selfie stand: Express your admiration for the most powerful superheroes on Earth by taking a selfie with the Marvel Avengers cut-out at the booth, posting it on your Facebook or Instagram profile, and tagging Apsara.
Product display: Hindustan Pencils will proudly showcase their diverse range of products, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore and acquire their favorite stationery items.
Brand love wall with Apsara Notebook: A creative display featuring an Apsara notebook page print wall will serve as a backdrop to the stall. Visitors can share their stationery-related memories or express their fondness for the brand on sticky notes, fostering a sense of community and nostalgia.
Free sampling: Each visitor will receive a complimentary Apsara Wondertip ball pen, allowing them to experience the superior quality of Hindustan Pencils’ products firsthand.
Matt-magic pencils shaving activities: A fun and exciting contest to engage children and introduce them with the magic of innovative product Matt Magic pencils. Participants will be provided with a Long Point Sharpener and a Matt Magic pencil for a fun-filled shaving contest, promoting skill and creativity. Winners will be provided with exciting prizes like Apsara Marvel Avengers power pack.
In addition to Kolkata, Hindustan Pencils is actively embracing the festivities in Chennai and Bangalore:
1. Chennai Event (October 20th to 24th): In Chennai, the organizers have arranged a drawing competition for four age groups – up to 6 years, 7-12 years, 13-18 years, and 19 years & above. Three winners from each group will be awarded Apsara Hampers. Hindustan Pencils’ product display stall will also be a highlight of this event.
Venue: South Madras Culture Association
Old No.11A / New. 43, CGE HOUSING COLONY, Beach Rd, T. K, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600041
2. Bangalore Event: Hindustan Pencils will be showcasing their extensive product range throughout the event.
Venue: Sorrba Durgotsob, Swarnamukhi Hospital Ground, Beside St. Peter School, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru 560102
The Hindustan Pencils is aiming to create a delightful and memorable experience for all visitors.
Brands
Pre-seed funding fuels nailinit, India’s new-age nail care brand
Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund backs Gen Z-focused beauty startup
MUMBAI: nailinit, a community-first nail care startup targeting Gen Z and millennials, has raised Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 crore in a pre-seed round led by Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund and Marsshot VC, alongside a clutch of consumer, technology and operator angels.
Backed by entrepreneur and investor Nikhil Kamath, Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund is betting on nailinit’s attempt to give India’s nail care aisle a long overdue makeover. The fresh capital will be used to deepen distribution across quick commerce and D2C channels, build its community engine, and accelerate product innovation in a category that is high frequency but still light on strong brands.
Founded by Tanishq Ambegaokar and Shubham Singhal, nailinit is positioning itself at the crossroads of beauty, self-expression and culture. The brand wants nails to be more than a finishing touch. It sees them as a canvas for identity, content and commerce.
“At nailinit, we are building for a generation that sees beauty as self-expression, not just routine,” said Ambegaokar. “The nail category in India has largely been underserved by strong brands. This capital allows us to invest in product depth, community and distribution in a thoughtful and long-term way.”
Singhal added that while the brand’s tone may be playful, its operating focus is sharp. “This round strengthens our supply chain, expands our digital footprint and enables disciplined execution as we scale.”
The funding round drew notable angels including Shashank Kumar of Razorpay, Arjit Johri of Marsshot VC, Yash Jain, formerly of NimbusPost, Karan Jindal of Meta, Jivraj Singh Sachar of ISV Capital, Nishank Jain of Accel, Yashvardhan Kanoi, Ashwarya Garg of HYPD, Venus Dhuria of Phot.AI and Amishi Parasrampuria of The Whole Truth.
Gruhas Collective Consumer Fund fund manager Gauri Kuchhal, believes the opportunity lies in shifting habits. “Nail care remains underpenetrated in India, with consumers relying on time-intensive salon visits. As convenience and self-expression gain ground, press-on nails can unlock more frequent and experimental usage. Nailinit is well-placed to expand beyond press-ons into adjacent categories.”
The brand is currently the only nail care player in India blending product-led retail with a dedicated kiosk at Jio World Drive in Bandra, where customers can walk in for services while discovering the range. It has also built early traction across quick commerce platforms such as Zepto and Blinkit, with a launch on Instamart in the pipeline, and is available on Amazon, strengthening its omnichannel presence.
In a space long dominated by salon chairs and scattered labels, nailinit is attempting to file, shape and polish the category into something sharper. With fresh funding in hand, the startup is setting out to prove that in beauty, small details can make a bold statement.
