MAM
Q1 2015: India continues strong growth for WPP; China weakens
MUMBAI: In the first quarter of 2015, India continued the strong growth seen for WPP in the Asia Pacific market, with China being a little weaker.
In the first four months, WPP’s revenue was up eight per cent to ?3.8 billion in sterling. However, in dollar, revenue was down 1.9 per cent at $5.698 billion and up 21.4 per cent at €5.129 billion in euros.
On the other hand, its advertising and media investment management revenue increased 13 per cent in constant currencies, and 9.9 per cent on a like-for-like basis, which excludes the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency fluctuations.
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe, softened slightly in April, but still at high levels of absolute growth, with year-to-date constant currency revenue up 10 per cent and like-for-like up 5.6 per cent. Net sales were up 8.3 per cent in constant currency and 3.1 per cent like-for-like in the first four months, compared with 9.1 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively in the first quarter.
“The faster growth markets of the BRICs and Next 11, located in Asia, Latin America, Africa & the Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe continue to grow faster than the slower markets of North America and Western Europe, although the growth gap has narrowed as Brazil, Russia and China have slowed and the United States and United Kingdom have quickened,” said WPP chairman Philip Lader at the company’s 43rd annual general meeting held in London.
Agency reviews due to digital media shift cost $20 billion
Furthermore, in light of the shift to digital media, many brands have been looking at reviewing their advertising agency accounts and marketing spends. These reviews represent about $20 billion in billings.
“There has been some commentary recently on the significant number of media investment management reviews, particularly, in the United States, which we believe has been driven primarily by clients’ desire to optimise their media spending, in an increasingly digital media environment. These reviews total approximately $20 billion in billings,” said Lader.
However, Lader added that WPP is particularly well positioned to compete in these pitches as it is an incumbent in less than a quarter of these reviews.
According to Lader, 2015 should follow a pattern similar to 2014 but sans maxi or mini-quadrennial events like the Olympics, FIFA World Cup or United States Presidential Election (as there will be in 2016) to boost marketing investments.
For the remainder of 2015, WPP’s focus will remain on growing revenue and net sales faster than the industry average, driven by its position in the new markets, in new media, in data investment management, including data analytics and the application of new technology, creativity, effectiveness and horizontality.
Providing a cautious economic outlook for 2015, Lader said, “All in all, 2015 looks to be another demanding year. Even in the best of times, successful companies are careful in their allocation of promotional funds. But when times get tougher, carefulness tends to be replaced by caution. A certain nervousness infects the entire enterprise. Costs are trimmed… and trimmed again. Investment is postponed. Much of this, of course, is prudent and necessary; but there’s a lurking danger. What were first adopted as temporary tactics almost imperceptibly become a permanent strategy. And when that happens, companies may fail to take early advantage of any up-turn. The long-term becomes no more than an indefinite extension of the short-term.”
MAM
Crocs and Lego launch new collaborative collection in India
Iconic brands bring playful creativity to footwear with first drop on 13 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Crocs and Lego have clicked together once again and this time, the bricks are heading straight for Indian feet. The global footwear brand Crocs has announced the India launch of its latest Crocs x Lego Group collection, following the excitement of their multi-year global partnership unveiled earlier this year. The collaboration celebrates creativity, play, and individuality, merging Crocs’ signature comfort with Lego’s iconic building-block spirit.
The collection will roll out in two phases. A digital-exclusive pre-launch begins on 13 April 2026 on crocs.in, featuring four styles: the Lego Masterbrand Creativity Clog, Lego Midnight Garden Creativity Clog, Lego Creativity Clog, and Kids’ Lego Creativity Clog. Each pair purchased during this phase will include an exclusive Lego minifigure as a collectible bonus.
From May 2026, the full collection will be available across select Crocs stores, VegNonVeg, and Foot Locker outlets nationwide.
The designs playfully blend Crocs’ classic clog silhouette with Lego brick-inspired details, complete with custom Jibbitz charms on the upper and sole. The collection encourages wearers to treat their footwear as a canvas for personal expression, without any set instructions just an open invitation to build, explore, and have fun.
Crocs chief marketing officer Carly Gomez said, “The Lego Group’s boundless imagination makes them the perfect match to Crocs’ wonderfully unordinary spirit. We are both brands that pride ourselves on being built different, celebrating self-expression and fuelling creativity.”
LEGO Group, head of licensing & extended line design & partnerships Satwik Saraswati added, “Our common mission to enable self-expression and wear it with pride only marks the beginning of a journey with endless possibilities.”
The campaign will extend beyond the product launch through creator-led seeding, elevated visual merchandising, and exclusive on-ground previews, supported by a deeper partnership with the Lego India team.
In a market that loves both comfort and fun, Crocs and Lego have built something special, a collection that lets every step feel like playtime. Get ready to click your heels (or rather, your clogs) because this collaboration is set to be a blockbuster hit with Indian fans.
