MAM
KKR in licensing deal with e-com venture Freecultr
MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan co-owned IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders has inked a licensing deal with apparel e-com venture, Freecultr, which will see the latter developing co-branded apparel lines ranging from polos, tees, denims, shoes, and accessories.
The partnership was brokered by The Wild East Group.
Besides launching branded apparels, the company will also develop KKR‘s travel polos and create the range of apparel that will be available globally from the beginning of the 2012 IPL season.
“We are excited to announce our casual wear license agreement with Freecultr. The Kolkata Knight Riders prides itself in innovation and differentiation, and has decided to partner with Freecultr, an exciting and upcoming fashion brand that is making waves across the country, as opposed to working with a supplier,” said KKR MD & CEO Venky Mysore.
“Our main objective has always been to continually keep our fans engaged, excited, and delighted and we believe this partnership will give our fans an added sense of pride as they become the brand ambassadors of the Kolkata Knight Riders.”
The initial product assortment will be introduced simultaneously among eCommerce (freecultr.com, kkr.in), traditional retail, and Eden Garden concession formats, as well as away games.
“We look forward to expanding our lifestyle brand presence within the exciting category of cricket and sports, with such a forward thinking and dominant brand as the Kolkata Knight Riders. We are confident our unrelenting focus on design, quality, and style will be a huge hit in the space and believe that the association between Kolkata Knight Riders and Freecultr is a winning partnership,” said Freecultr CEO Sujal Shah.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
