Brands
Ultra Soft Toys ensures its toys enrich kids, blending education and entertainment: Sushilkumar Agrawal
Mumbai: With the advent of technology, kids nowadays are surrounded by a myriad of digital distractions. Despite this, the enduring appeal of toys that seamlessly blend fun and education remains stronger than ever. Ultra Soft Toys, a prominent player in the Indian toy industry, stands at the forefront of this intersection with its diverse array of plush animals and educational toys. It is a distinguished venture of the 40-year-old Ultra Media & Entertainment Pvt Ltd with a strong emphasis on quality and innovation.
Recently unveiling ambitious plans at Toy Biz 2024 in Delhi, Ultra Soft Toys showcased their commitment to innovation and quality from their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Noida. This strategic move not only bolsters their capacity to meet growing global demand but also underscores their dedication to bringing joy and learning to families worldwide.
Indiantelevision.com caught up with Ultra Media & Entertainment MD & CEO Sushilkumar Agrawal to delve deeper into their toy business, their unique strategies to stay at the forefront and much more…
Edited Excerpts:
On Ultra Group’s inspiration behind venturing into the toy industry and its differentiating aspect from other giant toy brands
Ultra Group, with its rich entertainment legacy, has ventured into the toy industry to extend its storytelling prowess and connect with younger audiences. Their unique approach integrates beloved characters and narratives from their entertainment portfolio, fostering deep emotional connections with consumers. Unlike other toy brands, Ultra Group leverages cutting-edge technology and innovative designs, ensuring their toys are not only entertaining but also educational, enhancing creativity and learning in children through interactive experiences.
On the new manufacturing facility in Noida and its ability to enhance your production capacity
Our new manufacturing facility in Noida significantly boosts production capacity with advanced machinery. This expansion allows for increased output, improved quality control, and greater efficiency. The facility’s strategic location facilitates better logistics and faster distribution. This investment enables us to meet growing demand, maintain high-quality standards, and innovate rapidly to keep pace with market trends and customer expectations.
On Ultra Soft Toys maintaining its commitment to quality and innovation in the highly competitive toy industry
Ultra Soft Toys maintains its commitment to quality and innovation by rigorously selecting premium materials and employing advanced manufacturing techniques. Continuous research and development ensure our products are safe, durable, and engaging. We stay ahead of trends by integrating new technologies and listening to customer feedback. Our dedicated team of designers and engineers constantly innovate, creating unique and educational toys that stand out in the competitive market. The focus on educational toys segment marks a pivotal strategy moving ahead for Ultra Soft Toys to capture a larger market share. The company anticipates significant revenue growth in this segment as parents increasingly prioritise toys that promote foundational learning and development in children. The acquisition of an additional manufacturing facility in Noida, effectively doubling our production capacity, positions us strongly to meet the increasing global demand while upholding our standards of quality and innovation
On Ultra Soft Toys’ inspiration to focus on educational toys, and the impact you anticipate this segment will have on your growth
Ultra Soft Toys was inspired to focus on educational toys by recognising the increasing demand for products that combine fun and learning. Parents seek toys that support their children’s development, and we aim to meet this need with innovative, engaging designs. We anticipate this segment will significantly boost our growth by attracting a broader audience, enhancing brand loyalty, and positioning us as a leader in the educational toy market.
On products that garnered the most attention, showcased at Toy Biz 2024, and the reason for their popularity
Our stall shone brightly with our latest collection of educational toys, newly designed cushions, export-ready products, and impressive large-scale toys. These products combine our entertainment legacy and offer immersive play experiences. Ultra Soft Toys showcased a diverse range of products, including plush animals, educational toys like themed cube plushies, themed soft toy playbooks, and travel-friendly accessories.
On Ultra Soft Toys’ expansion targets for both retail and online channels by FY24-25, and the strategies that are in place to address the challenges anticipated in your global expansion
Ultra Soft Toys aims to expand its retail presence by increasing the number of physical stores by 20 per cent and entering new international markets in FY 24-25. Simultaneously, online sales targets include a 30 per cent growth through enhanced e-commerce platforms and strategic digital marketing. With a strong footprint in over 65 malls and retail stores nationwide, Currently Ultra Soft Toys has a product range of over 100 products with 225 SKUs. We are planning to expand to 200 products with 375 SKUs by end of FY24-25. The company has advanced its omnichannel strategy, with its offline presence which now spreads across 35 cities in 11 states of India. We have consistently achieved a 27 per cent growth YoY. Challenges such as regulatory compliance are addressed through localized marketing strategies, partnerships with local distributors, and rigorous market research to ensure alignment with regional preferences and regulations. Our expanded production capacity and focus on international markets underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional products that resonate with families worldwide. Currently, we export to European and South African countries, with plans to expand into the Middle East and the USA this fiscal year.
Brands
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step down after 18 years in role
Board begins CEO search as Narayen prepares to move to chair role
SAN JOSE: After nearly two decades at the helm, Adobe’s long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen is preparing to pass the baton.
The company announced that Narayen will transition from his role as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending an 18-year run that reshaped Adobe from a boxed software seller into a global cloud and AI powerhouse. He will remain chair of the board following the leadership transition.
Adobe’s board has formed a special committee to oversee the succession process, led by lead independent director Frank Calderoni. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates.
“Shantanu’s leadership has been instrumental in Adobe’s transformation and in positioning the company for the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement. “As we begin the next phase of succession planning, our focus is on identifying the right leader for the company’s next chapter while ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a note to employees, Narayen described the moment not as a farewell but as a pause for reflection after a long journey with the company.
“I love Adobe and the privilege of leading it has been the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to work closely with the board over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership change.
Tributes from the technology industry quickly followed the announcement. Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on what he described as a “legendary run” at Adobe.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote on LinkedIn.
“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry.”
Narayen’s career at Adobe spans nearly three decades. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming chief executive officer in December 2007.
During that time, he orchestrated one of the most significant reinventions in the software industry. In 2013, Adobe made the bold decision to abandon traditional boxed software sales and move its flagship creative tools such as Photoshop to a subscription-based Creative Cloud model. The shift initially rattled investors but ultimately transformed Adobe into a predictable recurring revenue business and a case study in digital reinvention.
Narayen also pushed Adobe beyond creative tools into the world of marketing technology and data-driven customer experience, spearheading acquisitions such as Omniture and Marketo. Those moves helped build Adobe’s digital experience division and broaden its reach far beyond designers and photographers.
The numbers tell the story of that transformation. When Narayen took over in 2007, Adobe generated roughly $3 billion in annual revenue. Today the company reports more than $25 billion. Over the same period, its workforce expanded from around 3,000 employees to more than 30,000.
In recent years, Narayen has steered Adobe into the generative AI era with the launch of Adobe Firefly, aiming to keep the company ahead in a rapidly evolving creative technology landscape.
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, Narayen studied electronics and communication engineering at Osmania University before moving to the United States for a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Widely regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s most steady and effective leaders, Narayen has earned multiple honours during his career, including India’s Padma Shri in 2019.
For Adobe, the upcoming leadership change marks the end of a defining chapter. For Narayen, however, the story is far from finished. As he told employees, the company’s next era of creativity, powered by AI and new digital workflows, is only just beginning.
