Brands
Raheja Corp unveils ‘Azaadi Ki Dhun’
Mumbai: In an interesting blend of creativity and patriotism, K Raheja Corp, India’s leading real estate conglomerate, unveils ‘Azaadi Ki Dhun’ – an acapella anthem from the group, especially penned and crafted to celebrate the spirit of India’s 77th Independence Day. This unique composition is more than just a song; it is a harmonious showcase of the incredible talent within K Raheja Corp, where every note, beat, and rhythm is brought to life purely through the power of the human voice. True to the acapella format, it makes no use of musical instruments.
Sung by a chorus of gifted voices from within the organization, ‘Azaadi Ki Dhun’ is a testament to the versatility of vocal expression – an anthem from our people to India. Those who didn’t lend their voices contributed with an array of innovative sounds, ranging from hums and finger snaps to lip rolls and chest thumps, creating a rich tapestry of auditory experiences. The anthem features a fascinating imitation of several musical instruments—drums, shakers, trumpets, and bass guitars, all skilfully replicated by the people of K Raheja Corp.
Speaking on the musical’s launch, Cheryl D’souza Waldiya, AVP – Corporate Communications, K Raheja Corp, “We are delighted with how ‘Azaadi Ki Dhun’ has come to life. This anthem is a celebration of K Raheja Corp’s commitment to building the nation, something we strive for each day, through our brands, that touch the lives of people across India. With no instruments and purely captivating voices, the lyrics resonate well, capturing the essence of what we stand for. What’s interesting is that we’ve involved on-site labourers, adding an authentic touch, making this anthem not just a piece of music, but a true representation of the spirit of real estate and the foundations upon which our country is built.”
Brands
E-commerce growth rises, but profits come under pressure
Shop Culture flags rising costs, weak systems and a $5.38 billion quick-commerce boom reshaping global retail
MUMBAI: E-commerce is booming, but profits are thinning. A new report by Shop Culture warns that brands clinging to outdated, growth-at-all-costs strategies are being outpaced in a costlier, more complex 2025 landscape.
Global online retail is expected to cross $6.86 trillion this year, with 2.77 billion shoppers making at least one purchase. Yet returns are under strain: average return on ad spend has slipped to 2.87:1, exposing cracks in how brands chase scale without building sustainable margins.
Three shifts are rewriting the rules. First, retail media is getting pricier, with Amazon’s average cost per click rising 15.5 per cent year-on-year to $1.12. Second, while 77 per cent of e-commerce professionals now use AI daily, many see limited gains as weak systems blunt its impact. Third, geography is no longer expansion, it is strategy. The share of Shop Culture clients operating across multiple markets has more than doubled, from 30 per cent in 2024 to 65 per cent in 2025.
Subarna Mukherjee, founder and ceo, Shop Culture, is blunt: “The e-commerce industry has a nostalgia problem. In 2022, the playbook was simple: list aggressively, spend on ads, and ride the wave of post-pandemic digital adoption. It worked. Revenue grew rapidly. But by 2025, the industry is seeing the consequences of those structural shortcuts. E-commerce itself is not slowing down, the challenge lies in how brands are operating within it.”
Nowhere is the shift sharper than in India’s quick-commerce boom. The segment is set to hit $5.38 billion in 2025, growing 17 per cent and emerging as the fastest-growing globally. What began as a convenience play is fast becoming a margin buffer. In one case, quick commerce drove 70 per cent of a packaged food brand’s online revenue, delivering 130 per cent year-on-year growth. A beauty brand, meanwhile, saw selling prices rise 25 per cent higher than on traditional marketplaces.
Expansion, too, is being rethought. The report argues that brands chasing the largest markets first often stumble. Better outcomes come from sequencing entries based on efficiency, regulatory readiness and competition, with markets such as the UK and Germany offering smarter entry points than the United States.
Compliance has turned from a checkbox into a revenue lever, especially in Europe. Brands with ready frameworks can go live in 8 to 12 weeks, while others risk delays of six months or more due to listing and documentation hurdles.
AI, for all the hype, is no silver bullet. Across more than 1,500 listings, it improved conversion rates by 10 to 15 per cent, cut TACOS by 7 to 10 per cent and reduced stockouts by 20 per cent, but only when layered on strong foundations. As Mukherjee puts it: “AI is not a growth strategy, it is an amplifier. It enhances strong systems and exposes weak ones.”
The message for 2026 is stark. Growth alone will not save brands. Margins, discipline and smarter strategy will. In a market still expanding at breakneck speed, the real race is no longer for scale, it is for survival.
