Marketing review

VIP to have a new brand identity
VIP Industries has come out with a new identity after nearly three decades and introduced a new logo — the V Globe.

The Rs305-crore luggage company has also begun to expand its retail outlets plans to launch nearly 70 more stores for its new range of luggage.

The new stores will be company-owned and will cater to a premium audience. The company's existing franchise network will also exist side by side.

Part of its expansion plans include adding another 47,000sq-ft of retail space with an investment of
Rs4 crore.

According to the company, its new logo the V Globe, represents the world of travel, while the 'V' represents joy and freedom from the stress of travel. The full logo represents the VIP philosophy of joyful travel through thoughtful products.

Yashica to focus on low-priced digital cameras
Yashica is launching two new digital camera models priced under Rs10,000.

Lately, there has been a spurt in sales of low-priced digital cameras in India. With dynamic changes in technology and prices of digital cameras touching almost Rs15,000 in the last two months, Yashica is mulling the right price points for its latest products.

At present, Yashica has a nominal presence in the digital camera market. The market for conventional cameras in India is stable at 7.5 lakh, and sales of digital camera are increasing fast.

Yashica markets its products through Harmony, part of the Dubai-based Jashanmal Group, which had a turnover of Rs5 crore last year.

Sania to endorse Getz
Hyundai Motors India has signed up tennis player Sania Mirza as brand ambassador for its `Getz' model, and plans to hike the production capacity of the model to 3,400 units a month by next year.

The company is also preparing to introduce its new M-Series model, to be positioned between the mid-sized sedan Accent and top-end model Sonata, by August-September next year.

Earlier, the company had come out with a stripped-down version of the Getz that was Rs37,000 cheaper than the entry-level version of Getz. Mirza will endorse the Getz in all Hyundai promotions during the contract.

Titan to enter prescription eyewear segment
Watches and jewellery major Titan Industries is entering the prescription eyewear segment.

The company entered the eyewear market a year ago when it launched sunglasses under its Fastrack range.

The company currently has 270 exclusive outlets, split 185 to 85 between watches and jewellery. The company is planning to add 25 more World of Titan stores to the existing 185. The total number of exclusive Sonata stores would go up from 9 to 45 by the end of this financial year.

Along with the stand-alone stores, Titan has 10,000 'Timezones' which retail products at different outlets across the country.

GM launches Optra Elite
GM has launched Optra Elite, the luxury version of the Chevrolet Optra, which is powered by a variable geometry intake system engine. With beige interiors, the Elite comes with a price tag of Rs7.09 lakh as part of the introductory offer, valid until September 30.

Britannia introduces Anlene
Britannia New Zealand Foods (BNZF) has unveiled Anlene, a new calcium-rich drink that is claimed to prevent bone decay.

According to the company, the malt-based food drink, developed to prevent osteoporosis or bone decay, is specially meant for women above 35 years of age.

Anlene, an international brand of NewZealand based dairy producer Fonterra, will be endorsed by 'Arthritis Foundation of India', a non profit, private association run by experts in orthopaedics.

The drink is available in 35gm-sachets besides a 500gm-carton and a jar. The drink will not be marketed under the brand name of Britannia Milkman.

Tata Indicom launches the 0123 mobile phone plan
Tata Indicom has announced the 0123 plan for mobile phone customers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. According to a company press release, the `0123 plan' offers new tariffs on two recharge vouchers. The company offers talk time worth Rs163 for the voucher priced at Rs180 and for the voucher priced at
Rs350, the company offers talk time worth Rs318.

The plan also offers free local calls between Tata Indicom mobiles within a state, an offer which is available to existing Tata Indicom Truepaid customers as well, provided they have last recharged their card with either the Rs180- or the Rs350-recharge vouchers.

Local calls made to other mobile handsets and Tata Indicom Walkys will be charged at Re1 per minute, while local calls made to any other landline will be charged at Rs2 per minute. STD calls made to any number across the country will be charged at Rs3 per minute.

Haier chosen as the sponsor for Beijing Olympics
Home appliances firm Haier has been selected as the official home appliance sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic games by the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

Haier will provide funds, home appliances and related services to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, BOCOG, the Chinese Olympic Committee as well as the Chinese Olympic sports delegations to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The Haier group headquartered in Qingdao, is also co-hosting the sailing events of the Beijing 2008 Games.

— Compiled by Mohini Bhatnagar