MAM
Shoppers Stop to up ad spends to Rs 500 mn next fiscal
BANGALORE: Fashion and lifestyle large format department store chain Shoppers Stop plans to spend around Rs 500 million towards marketing and communications.
This fiscal the chain has planned spends of Rs 450 million. The thrust will be mainly through online social media, newsprint and some outdoor, revealed Shoppers Stop Ltd customer care associate and marketing director Govid Shirkande to www.indiantelevision.com.
Shirkande was in Bangalore for the launch of the brand’s 50th store in India and its sixth store in Bangalore. Shoppers Stop is also looking at television for mass media communication.
Over the next two years Shoppers Stop plans to increase the store count to around 65 at the rate of about eight stores per year as well as enter tier-2 towns in India. It has planned spends of Rs 2.5 billion towards expansion. At present it is present in 22 cities and towns in the country.
Overall across the various retail formats such as HomeStop, Crossword Book Store, Mothercare & Early Learning Centre and Hpercity, the group has around four million square feet of retail space. Over the next two years this will go up to about five million square feet.
Shoppers Stop also is targeting the woman consumer since the business for women oriented products has been going up.
“Once we enter the smaller towns and cities over the next two years, we plan to use television for mass media communications. At present, we create the awareness across the newsprint in the cities and towns that we are present in for a better connect with our customers,” revealed Shirkande further.
Shoppers Stop has a huge fan following on facebook with the number of fans nearing two million. “Over the next few days, we should cross the two million fan mark on facebook,” said Shirkande. The brand is also present across 200 bill boards in the towns that it has outlets.
Contract Advertising looks after the creative work and Maxus the media buying for Shoppers Stop.
MAM
Worldwide Travel Insurance for Indian Travellers: How to Find a Plan Without Geographic Gaps in Your Protection
Travelling to more than one country can make insurance selection more complex, because a policy that looks broad at first may still leave certain destinations, transit points, or regions outside its scope. For Indian travellers, this can lead to gaps in cover during a medical emergency or travel disruption abroad.
Here’s a guide to understanding how worldwide coverage works, which plan types to review, and how to check for geographic exclusions before choosing a policy.
Why Geographic Coverage Matters in Travel Insurance
When travellers look for the best travel insurance, medical cover and premium often get early attention, but geographic scope matters just as much. A policy may appear broad while still limiting cover in certain countries, regions, or travel routes.
This can affect hospital access, emergency support, evacuation terms, and non-medical benefits. For Indian travellers visiting more than one destination, checking where the policy applies is an important way to avoid gaps in protection.
Types of Worldwide Travel Insurance Plans Available to Indians
Worldwide travel insurance may be available in different formats, and each one should be reviewed based on the route, trip pattern, and list of destinations.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
This type of policy is generally chosen for one overseas journey with fixed departure and return dates. It may suit travellers visiting one country or more than one destination during the same trip. The policy still needs to be checked carefully to confirm whether every destination on the itinerary is covered during the full travel period.
Multi-Trip Annual Insurance
This type of plan may be suitable for travellers who visit different countries several times a year. It can be useful only when the policy’s covered regions match the countries included across those trips. Before choosing it, travellers should check trip duration limits, region-wise exclusions, and whether all intended destinations are covered under the annual plan.
Region-Specific Plans
Some policies are built for selected regions rather than for the whole world. These plans may be arranged by destination groups such as Asia, Europe, or broader international zones. They may be suitable in some cases, but they should be reviewed carefully if the journey includes stopovers, connecting countries, or travel beyond the listed region.
Comprehensive Worldwide Plans
These plans are usually reviewed by travellers who want broader international cover across multiple destinations. However, a plan described as worldwide may still have country-wise limits, separate terms for certain regions, or limits on healthcare access and emergency services. The wording should therefore be checked in detail before relying on the description alone.
Key Coverage Areas That Ensure Global Protection
A worldwide policy should be reviewed for the coverage points that matter when travel includes more than one country or a wider international route. These areas help show whether the plan is suitable for broader overseas travel and not limited to only a few listed destinations.
● Cover that applies to all countries listed in the itinerary, not only the main destination.
● Cover for transit stops and connecting countries that are part of the planned journey.
● Clear mention of excluded countries, restricted regions, or destinations not covered under the policy.
● Emergency medical and assistance support that remains available while travelling across different countries.
● Evacuation and repatriation terms that continue to apply during multi-country travel.
How to Check for Geographic Exclusions Before Buying
Geographic exclusions are often found in the detailed wording rather than in the headline promise of the plan. A careful review before purchase can help travellers understand whether the policy matches their travel route.
● Check the destination list in the policy schedule.
● Read whether excluded countries, sanctioned regions, or restricted zones are mentioned in the wording.
● Review whether transit stops and connecting destinations are mentioned as covered travel locations.
● Check if medical network access differs across countries even when the policy appears globally valid.
● Read whether adventure activities, cruises, or remote locations have separate geographic conditions.
● Review assistance and claim support terms to see if they apply equally across all covered destinations.
Conclusion
A travel insurance plan cannot be judged only by premium, destination label, or the word worldwide term alone. For Indian travellers, geographic scope needs close attention because exclusions and regional limits may affect how the policy works during the journey. A careful review of plan type, covered locations, medical support, and destination-specific terms may help reduce avoidable gaps.
