1 day agoBoroline — The Symbol of IndependenceBoroline quickly became a unifying force in pre-independent India. In little time at all, the moss-green tube had become an iconic symbol. To treat their children’s cuts, cracked lips, and rough skin and infections, generations of Bengali families have relied on Boroline, a scented cream that has a long history…Boroline3 min read
2 days agoParachute — And the Success of the BrandKanchi Morarji, hailing from Kutch in Gujarat, started this business in 1862. Later, he included his nephew, Vallabhdas, as a partner. The commission agency of Morarji and Vallabhdas first hit Kerala, as it was then the paradise of spices. …Parachute4 min read
4 days agoThe History of Frequent Flyer ProgramsAs early as the 1950s and 1960s, numerous airlines began keeping track of customers and their travel habits. As a result of the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, airline marketing experts were forced to devise new strategies for rewarding loyal consumers and fostering customer loyalty to their brands. In 1979, Texas…Frequent Flyer7 min read
5 days agoNalli Silks — A Household Name for SilksDue to its commitment to upholding the key principles of trust and excellence, Nalli has amassed a loyal following spanning many generations. Nalli Chinnasami Chetty was born in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. His ancestors were from Nalli, Andhra Pradesh, and had relocated to Kanchipuram. …Nalli5 min read
6 days agoAre “Character” or “Gaming” Companies Becoming Entertainment Companies?Nintendo has just acquired the film production company Dynamo Pictures. Marvel retooled their business strategy to enter the film industry. Sega and Sony have both put a lot of money into making movies and TV shows based on their video game franchises. The intention of the purchase by Nintendo is…Gaming3 min read
Jul 31Old Monk — The Monk Who Sold A RumEdward Abraham Dyer, an entrepreneur from Scotland, established a brewery in 1843. (who also happened to be the father of Colonel Reginald Dyer, who oversaw the unfortunate massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar in 1919). Born in Bengal in 1830, Edward Dyer studied engineering in England but apparently had little…Old Monk6 min read
Jul 26Iconic Ads: Carlton Draught — Big Ad Point of ViewThe “Big Ad” is an Australian TVC for Carlton Draught pale lager. It used viral marketing techniques to promote the advertisement before it was broadcast on television In Australia, beer advertising was a funny niche. There was not much of a difference between various lagers in terms of flavour or…Carlton Draught4 min read
Jul 24Iconic Ads: Budweiser — FrogsAnheuser-Busch wanted a new campaign for Bud that would “contemporize” the brand and make it more appealing to the twenty-one to thirty-year-old segment, and so in late summer 1994, Budweiser brand director Mike Brooks sent a memo to two top executives at D’Arcy Advertising, Jim Palumbo and Mark Choate. He…Budweiser5 min read
Jul 23The Experience in a “Digital Experience Economy”In today’s digital landscape, businesses must use big data and AI technology to provide immersive, hyper-personalized user experiences. I am a big proponent of the Experience Economy, a concept suggested by Pine and Gilmour in a 1997 article in the Harvard Business Review. As enterprises progressed through several economic phases-agrarian…Digital Transformation4 min read
Jul 19How Doritos Was Created at DisneylandIn a Disneyland restaurant, unused tortilla chips were cut into triangles and fried to create a very popular snack. In Disneyland’s Frontierland, there was a Mexican restaurant called Casa de Fritos (later called Casa Mexicana and then renamed Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante). Several of the park’s attractions, shops, and restaurants…Doritos3 min read
