The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, May 15, 2003

Why do people innovate?
A desire to challenge the intellect with complex problems and gain recognition for solving them sparks innovation. Money is also motivation, but only to an extent. More

INTERVIEW

`Mirchi is the only brand in the radio space'
"Mirchi would eventually look at having a presence in every nook and corner of this country, which means going into the smaller towns." More

RETAILING

Clued in to Crossword
Crossword's secret of success is not to just offer a wide range of products, but to create an ambience that would get the customer to spend more time, and money, at the store. More

BRANDS

A lifeline for Lifebuoy?
Extending Lifebuoy to talcum powder and a herbal variant is expected to give the brand a new lease of life, but it's a move that meets with scepticism. Catalyst examines the issue. More

Cutting through celebrity clutter
Getting celebrities to endorse a brand does help in creating a sustained presence in the market, but the brands should have a long-term strategy in place. More

PRand-building
PR agencies of the future will have to redefine their role in building brands, which should occupy consumer mindspace and not be restricted to columns of print. More

TRENDS

A basket CAS
The viewer is the worst affected in the proposed CAS regulation: she will have to spend a great deal on set-top boxes, pay a higher monthly fee, and receive fewer channels, with absolutely no choice of channels or cable operators. More

CARTOON

Hardsell
More

NEW PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Cool 'n fragrant
MTV has tied up with Dubai-based beauty solutions company Scion International LLC to launch a line of deodorants and perfumes for men and women called MTV Plugged. The range includes deodorants in 75 ml and 150 ml bottles, while the perfumes are ... More

Scented shave
GODREJ CONSUMER PRODUCTS has introduced Godrej Shave Gel, which comes with a cologne fragrance and a moisturiser claimed to soothe the skin without making it dry. It is available in blue tube packaging and is priced at Rs 42 for a 60 gm ... More

Mobile fun
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS INDIA Information and Telecommunication has launched a colour screen CDMA IX mobile phone called Rainbow (SCH-A563). It is a Java-enabled phone with user interface optimised for multimedia applications and to allow the ... More

Fan club
USHA INTERNATIONAL has launched a new fan with wider tip blades. Called the Optima ZX, this new fan promises higher air delivery and wider air throw. Priced at Rs 1,395, Optima ZX will be available in two colours across the Usha dealer network in ... More

Smoke-free
SUNFLAME has launched a new model of electric chimney called chimneys or cooker hoods. It reportedly has a low noise even at maximum speed and is also equipped with thermo-protection that protects the motor from burning out due to over-heating. ... More

Summer looks
AVON INDIA has introduced `Arctic Flowers' under its Colour Trend brand of cosmetics. The range includes three new lipstick shades priced at Rs 85 and three new nail enamel shades priced at Rs 59 each. The colour palette is supposed to have ... More

Sun shade
LAWRENCE & MAYO has launched its own brand of sunglasses called L&M Shades. Targeted at the age group of 16-35, L&M Shades will be available in over 30 styles in blue, brown and green. The sunglasses have been priced at Rs 1,000 and are available ... More

Quiet cooling
FEDDERS CORPORATION has launched a range of premium window and split air-conditioners under the brand name Fedders. While the window air-conditioners are priced between Rs 18,250 and Rs 27,300, the split models are priced between Rs 30,900 and Rs ... More