Dentsu lacks creative reputation in India; TapRoot fills that void

While TapRoot has access to Dentsu’s scale & global expertise, Dentsu is a good fit for the agency also because TapRoot would be the brightest star of Dentsu’s overall creative offer

e4m by Noor Fathima Warsia
Published: Aug 29, 2012 1:28 AM  | 4 min read
Dentsu lacks creative reputation in India; TapRoot fills that void

Ever since TapRoot India commenced its operations in 2009, the agency has had a line of suitors eyeing a piece of the pie. Reason: the creative duo - Agnello Dias and Santosh Padhi – that came together to form TapRoot.

Dias had left JWT India to launch TapRoot. Known not only for a glowing creative track record that included the only Grand Prix India has won at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity till date but also for the ability to bring disruptive thinking in a cluttered communication environment, Dias is seen as a talent leading the creative future for India. This is also the reason that had won Dias the IMPACT Person of the Year in 2011. Added to that was another creative hotshot – Padhi – who had left his job at Leo Burnett, once again with numerous awards in tow.

For those who understand that the advertising business is about people, TapRoot was already an agency to watch out for. The early inkling of this was visible in the first year itself. Starting as a single-client agency handling The Times of India, in 2010, TapRoot was already ranked by Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity amongst World’s Top 20 Independent Agencies and was also the Best Performing Indian Agency at the festival that year.

In 2011, TapRoot entered into the rosters of multinationals such as PepsiCo and Bharti Airtel giving both companies, two of the most talked about campaigns of 2011. TapRoot was also recognised for the work done for Mumbai Mirror at Cannes Lions this year. On the back of its work, some of the other advertisers that have ensured TapRoot maintains an enviable growth graph are Nirma, Marico, Karbonn Mobiles and the recently won Polycab.

Dentsu’s creative focus
The relationship with Dentsu has two underlying points for TapRoot - the agency will have access to Dentsu’s scale and global expertise. And, for Dentsu, TapRoot would be the shining star in its offer. Dentsu India at present has at least three full service agencies to talk of but they are yet to make their mark on the industry. Shashi Sinha, Lodestar UM’s CEO, commented, “Dentsu lacks creative reputation in India. The operations have to yet make a mark of any kind. But TapRoot has already proved again and again that they understand the creative pulse of this country. TapRoot would be the star offer from Dentsu to its clients in India, and globally.”

From a TapRoot viewpoint, being a part of WPP (that owns Ogilvy India, JWT India, Bates India, Grey India, Contract Advertising, Young & Rubicam) or Omnicom (that owns DDB Mudra India, BBDO India, RK Swamy BBDO India) or Publicis Groupe (that owns Leo Burnett India, Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis Ambience and Publicis Capital) would have meant becoming the number fifth or the sixth creative agency offer. Nearly all holding companies have at least two or three creative agencies that are doing well in India. But TapRoot has earned more reputation than any of Dentsu's present creative agency offers, and hence it would be a stronger proposition to make for Dentsu clients.

Independence: A thought Dentsu understands
Creative independence is easier said than offered. But Dentsu comprehends this. An example in point would be US-based McGarryBowen that was the largest creative independent Dentsu until bought over the company in 2008. Launched in 2002, McGarryBowen, like TapRoot had earned a formidable creative reputation and was awarded Advertising Age’s Agency of the Year and listed in its A-List several times.

Dentsu’s buyout allowed McGarryBowen to operate independently and achieve growth at its own steam. Unlike other holding companies, where a dip in financial can easily to lead to mergers – case in point, Enterprise by WPP – Dentsu understands creative independence. This too would have played a crucial role in TapRoot's decision to tie the knot with Dentsu.
 

In line with Denstu’s India plan
The development is in line with Dentsu’s global expansion strategy. The Japanese ad giant is out to strengthen its footprints in various markets. The UK-based holding company. Aegis Media, deal was on these lines too. Dentsu has maintained that markets such as India are cornerstone for its global growth strategy. The move to acquire TapRoot is a big step in that direction.

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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur

The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:15 PM  | 1 min read
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With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.

The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.

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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out

The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:07 PM  | 1 min read
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Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."

The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."

COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.

Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.

He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 11:48 AM  | 1 min read
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e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.

According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.

As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.

A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.

Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.

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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall

The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 10:54 AM  | 1 min read
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Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.

“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.

“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."

"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."

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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias

Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 24, 2023 3:35 PM  | 1 min read
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KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.

Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy

Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.

Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."

Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."

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