MAM
OOH industry needs a common research currency: Haresh Nayak
MUMBAI: Remember posters all across the city walls, telling us which film to watch, where to shop or even which party to vote for? Times have changed since then. Today, from just being a reminder medium, the out-of-home business has grown manifold.
Over the last decade, the sector has seen an accelerated evolution of the outdoor business in India. OOH has truly evolved from posters buying to outdoor planning and buying where it is about OOH communications i.e. consumer centric holistic thinking.
Keeping in mind that the medium can be used effectively, both strategically and tactically, to achieve brand communication objectives, Posterscope, has changed and quickly evolved to the changing needs of the market.
The OOH communication group, which is growing over 60 per cent y-o-y, has launched its new tool Prism Creative across Asia Pacific. The tool, which helps clients gauge how their creative will look on the OOH medium, will reduce the amount of errors, thus helping clients to visualise their campaign better.
The tool, now available to Posterscope clients across the region, will visually show if an advert isn’t suitable for OOH media – with too much text, unsuitable colours or layout errors, and campaigns can be changed before they run. Prism Creative has the facility to switch from day to night visuals, play digital videos and do a distance check of creative.
A team of five people worked for almost six months talking to clients, vendors and agencies in 10 countries, taking their feedback and then worked with the development team to get the tool rolling. “Simple, useful tools such as these are instrumental in growing our clients businesses as we grow our own and differentiating ourselves in market place so we have a stronger offering,” says Posterscope Asia Pacific regional director Haresh Nayak.
As per FICCI-KPMG 2014 report, the OOH industry has grown by 5.5 per cent CAGR from 2007 to 2013. “Tier II and III markets have been the focus for the last year. And this continues to grow this year as well showing deep penetration to the audiences in rural to create brand awareness supported with innovations and new media,” highlights Nayak while adding that last year OOH was ruled by real estate and BFSI.
This year post elections, it will continue to be real estate with development in regulation of property. “Besides, FMCG has grown with the sector and will further get reactivated with the launch of products and variants,” he adds.
When asked how important is OOH today in a brand’s communication plan? Nayak answers, “Customer engagement is the new mantra for advertisers and the OOH space is no different resulting into high impact, high reach and high recall. Brands want a way to create differentiation and outdoor agencies are working towards creating innovative and creative outdoor solution further competing with new advertising mediums such as digital, mobile and social media through media integration which will only increase in the future.”
Even though, the OOH industry in India is growing at a stable rate, it can grow exponentially if the sector is able to get a few things right. For instance, the sector does lack good research and accountability mechanism in India. “Though a lot of agencies have their own research but the industry needs a common research currency. Also, good trade practices will go long way. Things like quality benchmarking, trade licensing etc if mandated and standardised will only help the industry to grow further,” Nayak believes.
Also, as cities grow, the clutter in outdoor media will only increase and this is a genuine concern for trade professionals. In India with the increase in clutter, the quality of media is not improving and hence, it will kill the medium in the long run. The two key elements needed to stand out in this medium are innovation and engagement sustaining the brand message. “With the changing scenario where consumers are spending a lot of time out of home, the crucial thing is to be consistent with the brand value, to ensure that the message is delivered effectively and to be as innovative as possible to reach out to the consumers in the cluttered environment,” concludes Nayak.
Brands
Lovetc appoints Tamannaah Bhatia as brand face
Ananya Birla’s premium colour cosmetics line gears up for strong second year with 30 per cent monthly growth and fresh face category launch.
MUMBAI: Lovetc is tinting its success story with a starry new shade Tamannaah Bhatia has just been named the face of Ananya Birla’s premium beauty brand. As the colour cosmetics label under Birla Cosmetics completes a vibrant first year in April 2026, it is entering its second chapter with impressive momentum. The brand has delivered 30 per cent month-on-month growth, expanded thoughtfully into offline and quick-commerce channels, and built a loyal following through a digital-first approach mixed with genuine consumer connections.
Priced between Rs 650 and Rs 1,850, Lovetc focused its debut portfolio on lips and eyes categories. Hero products such as Tint, Talk, Etc Radiant Glow Hydrating Tint (SPF 30 PA++), Pout, Perfect, Etc Matte Bullet Lipstick, and Melt, Miracle, Etc Treatment Oil-Infused Lip Balm quickly won hearts. Early shoppers showed strong purchase intent, with average order values ranging from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,800 and an average of two items per transaction, signalling healthy basket-building and repeat purchases.
The brand made its mark in key metros including Mumbai, NCR, Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, and Cochin, while Tier-2 cities surprised with robust demand and loyalty. On the distribution side, Lovetc entered 90 offline retail doors in year one and is on track to cross 150 doors by Q2 2026, choosing each outlet carefully to match its premium positioning.
To mark the milestone, Lovetc is stepping into the face category with the launch of Ace, Face, Etc 4K Blur Matte Foundation in eight shades tailored for diverse Indian skin tones. Additional innovations like the multi-purpose The Etc stick and longwear lip tint Love Bites are also in the pipeline.
Tamannaah Bhatia, known for her pan-India appeal across films and her authentic love for beauty, brings cultural relevance and credibility to the brand. Ananya Birla, founder of Birla Cosmetics, said, “Year Two is going to be big. The brief for every new launch remains the same: Does it perform? Is it playful? Is it kind to the person wearing it? Performance, playfulness, and kindness that is the promise we intend to keep. Bringing Tamannaah on board feels especially pertinent because she brings together an authentic love for beauty with a connection that cuts across audiences and geographies.”
Tamannaah Bhatia added, “I have always loved beauty as a form of self-expression, and what drew me to Lovetc is that it feels playful, thoughtful, and modern at the same time. I am excited to be the face of a brand that is creating products with both performance and personality.”
With deliberate growth, quality-focused retail expansion, and a celebrity partner who genuinely connects with beauty lovers nationwide, Lovetc is blending performance with personality in a market hungry for thoughtful premium options. As it steps into year two, the brand is proving that in beauty, the right tint can make everything glow a little brighter. Delhi, Mumbai, or a Tier-2 favourite Lovetc is colouring India’s beauty shelves with confidence and charm.
