MAM
Vegan handbag brand Baggit to up marketing spends to 8% of overall budget
MUMBAI: Veganism has taken the world by storm. Surprisingly, the cruelty-free lifestyle has found a space not only in the kitchens but also in the wardrobes of its patrons. Much before the wave of vegan lifestyle rose to its crescendo, a home-grown brand had adopted this into its products exceptionally. Baggit, founded by Nina Lekhi in 1990, creates stylish vegan handbags for women. In fact, it pioneered and perfected the concept of using traditional handicraft skills to create modern designs with non-leather, eco-friendly materials.
Last year, as per reports, Baggit’s revenue touched around Rs 160 crore and this year the brand is looking at 25 per cent revenue growth. The brand has 52 exclusive Baggit stores and is present in more than 1,000 retail outlets through large format stores as well as multi-brand outlets across the country at present. It has also entered international markets like Sri Lanka, through a multi-brand outlet, and is planning to launch in Dubai soon.
Indiantelevision.com recently got in touch with Baggit MD and chief design curator, Nina Lekhi and talked to her about the amazing journey this brand has taken and how marketing it the right way without spending much helped in making one of the most preferred handbags brands.
Lekhi sees the vegan market in India only growing. She says, “When we talk about the vegan product market specific to India, it is classified based on the offerings – you get a variety of products, from vegan foods to vegan cosmetics, vegan bags and shoes etc. There are brands in the lifestyle space offering vegan cosmetics, shoes, and handbags, and in the coming years we will see more of vegan products in the market.”
Talking about incepting Baggit with a vegan approach, she shared, “I wanted to bring in the concept of cruelty-free in my handbags. At Baggit, our USP lies in being an eco-friendly brand with a wide range of vegan products which helps us create a special niche for Baggit in the hearts of our consumers.”
Not just with the brand concept, Lekhi has always been very particular about her marketing approach as well. The brand has never incorporated the vegan approach in its communications. Lekhi shared, “Marketing and promotion are what Baggit as a brand believes in to reach out to right target audience. Last year our marketing spends were around 5 per cent while this year we will increase it to 7-8 per cent of our overall budget. We have introduced an omnichannel approach in our marketing plans which is doing well. To meet high customer expectations, we’ve been doing a lot of digital activities. We seek to provide customers with a seamless shopping experience whether the customer is shopping online or in the stores. We do more of digital and OOH activities and limited print advertisements.”
She adds, “At Baggit, we are quite active on digital platforms, the influencer and blogger space – not only for promoting the product but also creating awareness about the brand, new offerings and developing and building on our relationships with fans and customers. We do contest-based activities with bloggers and influencers on Facebook and Instagram.”
On being asked what role does the e-commerce platforms play in promoting brands like hers, Lekhi quipped that it is not about sales but providing more opportunities to the consumers. She said, “Today e-commerce offers a lot of options to a variety of audience. Unlike in past years, the approach of buyers and sellers has changed. The audience has become smarter and the majority fall into the millennial category. We are available on e-commerce platforms like Myntra, Amazon, Paytm Mall etc. but having said that we are also expanding our reach through physical stores in tier II, tier III cities and the international market. It’s not about sales but about providing more opportunities to customers as per their convenience which will eventually help in increasing sales. Baggit receives 3-4 per cent sales through online platforms.”
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.
