MAM
Skoda’s Rapid fights the entry sedan segment with a new campaign
MUMBAI: Skoda Auto India has launched a new ad campaign for Skoda Rapid.
Titled ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’, the campaign encapsulated the proposition of ‘Being Thoughtful’.
Revolving around the Indian wedding, the campaign has been conceptualised by Saatchi & Saatchi. The media agency working on the account is Mediacom.
Skoda Auto India and member of the board – sales and marketing brand head Thomas Kuehl said, “At Skoda we believe that a car is much more than a mere product. It is an extension of an individual and this insight has helped us arrived at the positioning ‘Built to be Thoughtful’. We used the backdrop of Indian wedding in our campaign to demonstrate the emotional connect between a family and a car. The Skoda Rapid embodies that sentiment with its ‘Simply Clever solutions’ and product values at various occasions during the wedding. Since a wedding for an Indian family is valuable, emotional and a grand occasion, it is a perfect fit to partake in the celebrations with the Skoda Rapid – Family Car of the year 2011.”
Skoda Rapid is fighting in the entry level sedan segment. Director Sam Ahmad has created a film that underlines the fact that the Skoda Rapid is as “sensible” as it is “stylish”.
Saatchi & Saatchi chief creative officer Ramanuj Shastry said, “To dramatise the ‘thoughtfulness‘ of Skoda Rapid, we chose the big, fat Indian wedding, the torture test for any car. It‘s the only time where not just the badge value of the car, but its work horse like qualities also matter. A car for the Indian wedding has to be spacious, comfortable, dependable and economical.”
MAM
Shoppers Stop elevates Biju Kassim as GSS Beauty CEO
Move comes as GSS Beauty scales global brand partnerships in India.
MUMBAI: From store shelves to global shelves, the beauty game is getting a sharper makeover. Shoppers Stop has elevated Biju Kassim as managing director and chief executive officer of Global SS Beauty Brands Limited (GSSBB), signalling a stronger push into the premium beauty segment. The move builds on Kassim’s role in setting up GSSBB, a wholly owned subsidiary that has quickly positioned itself as a fast-growing distribution platform for global beauty brands in India. The unit has been central to Shoppers Stop’s ambition of expanding its footprint in the high-margin beauty and luxury categories.
Chairman Nirvik Singh noted that Kassim’s experience across the beauty ecosystem and his understanding of premium and luxury consumers would help steer the next phase of growth. The focus, he indicated, will be on sharpening the company’s beauty portfolio and scaling partnerships with international brands.
Kassim, for his part, steps into the role at a time when India’s premium beauty market is undergoing rapid evolution, driven by rising consumer aspirations and increased access to global labels. He highlighted that GSSBB will remain a key strategic pillar, with an emphasis on expanding brand partnerships, enhancing consumer experiences and driving growth across markets.
As global beauty brands continue to eye India as a high-growth destination, Shoppers Stop’s bet is clear: owning not just the shelf, but the entire beauty ecosystem behind it.
