MAM
Marquees 2018 sees Hotstar, Jio among winners
MUMBAI: The Advertising Club yesterday announced the winners of Marquees 2018 at an award ceremony in Mumbai. The second edition of Marquees brought together thought leaders and industry stalwarts of the marketing world to announce the names of brands that either created a space for themselves in a cluttered market or managed to positively shift the perception that led to behavioural changes. Marquees celebrates excellence in marketing and this edition was presented by Zee and powered by Colors and Republic TV in partnership with One India.
The winners of the Sector Awards at Marquees 2018 were:
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Auto:4-Wheeler  |
Maruti Suzuki |
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Auto: 2-Wheeler |
Honda Motorcycles and Scooters |
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Telecom Service Provider |
Reliance Jio |
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Durables |
LG |
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Life Insurance |
HDFC Life |
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Banking |
State Bank of India |
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E-commerce |
Paytm mall |
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Handsets |
Xiaomi |
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FMCG: Foods |
Parle |
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FMCG: Beverages |
Brooke Bond |
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FMCG: Household Care |
Surf Excel |
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FMCG: Personal Care |
Colgate |
The entries at this year’s Marquees were judged by a high power jury headed by HUL chairman and MD and EVP Unilever South Asia Sanjiv Mehta and WPP India country manager CVL Srinivas; RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka; Taproot Dentsu founder and CCO Agnello Dias; TPG Capital senior advisor Naveen Chopra and Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak.
BARC India chairman and CEO Partho Dasgupta said, “At the outset, I would like to congratulate the winners of Marquees 2018. The awards are a recognition of your efforts and contribution to the world of marketing. I hope these awards are a stepping stone for creating transparent and credible marketing initiatives that will reinforce the brand values of your company and connect deeper with your stakeholders.”
Taking the conventional route is usually the easiest and safest route for brands. However, some brands opted for the road less travelled and succeeded against the odds. Marquees 2018 paid a special tribute to the marketing efforts of these brands who turned the tide in the face of an adversity through the special awards category.
The five winners of the special category were:
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Breathing New Life into a Category |
AMFI |
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Creating a Global Impact |
IPL |
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Reimagining for the Better |
Carvaan by Saregama |
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Carving out a Niche |
Nykaa.com |
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Digital Media Property |
Hotstar |
The awards evaluated brand performance objectively, with data from Kantar IMRB thus making the winners a truly “Marquee” property. The award recognised the brand custodians and all aspects of marketing – price, product, presence and promotion that resulted in a game-changer moment for the brand.
Madison Communications group CEO, media and OOH Vikram Sakhuja and The Advertising Club president said, “I would like to congratulate each Marquee winner and thank them for setting standards that inspire us.”
Brands
Funskool India crosses US$40 million turnover in FY 2025-26
Toy manufacturer posts steady growth despite global headwinds.
MUMBAI: Funskool India has played its cards well turning challenges into steady growth while keeping the fun alive in the toy business. The country’s leading toy manufacturer has reported a turnover of $40 million in FY 2025-26, demonstrating resilience in a difficult global environment. The company recorded an average growth of 14 per cent over the past two years, with exports growing at a healthy 19% year-on-year.
While domestic business grew at a modest single-digit pace, Funskool saw encouraging traction in key categories such as Fundough (dough) and Handycrafts (arts & crafts).
Funskool India Ltd. CEO K.A. Shabir said, “We successfully navigated the challenges posed by US tariffs last year and continued to grow both our export and domestic businesses. Given the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia, we are currently working with a moderate growth outlook of 12–15 per cent, with plans to revisit our targets after Q1 once the situation stabilises.”
He highlighted strengthened partnerships with global companies including Spin Master (Canada), Moose Toys (Australia), Melissa & Doug (USA), Asmodee (France), Learning Resources (USA), and Buffalo Games (USA). The expansion of the company’s Goa plant is progressing and is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
Looking ahead, Funskool expects a significant shift in domestic growth momentum for FY 2026-27, driven by new categories such as friction vehicles under the brand “BlazeTrix”, remote-control cars under “VoltRush”, and the addition of popular licences like Paw Patrol.
In an industry where playtime never stops, Funskool has shown that even in turbulent times, a smart strategy and strong partnerships can keep the business ticking along nicely. As it gears up for the next financial year, the company appears well-positioned to build on its solid foundation and bring even more joy to children worldwide.
