New chapter in business books

PUBLISHING: Publishing companies in India are betting big on real life stories from the world of business to woo readers.

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Feb 21, 2008 6:55 AM  | 4 min read
New chapter in business books

PUBLISHING: Publishing companies in India are betting big on real life stories from the world of business to woo readers.

The trailblazing India Inc. has found an admirer in book publishing companies. Some of them think that stories on Ratan Tata and Nandan Nilekani, for example, will offer greater value to Indian readers than, say, a book on Jack Welch.

According to plans that are still nebulous, publishers such as Penguin and Wiley India are collaborating with well-known Indian companies for a series of books covering people profiles and company strategies.

Penguin Portfolio, Penguin’s sub-brand or imprint formed in 2006 to publish business books, has zeroed in on the Tata group and Godrej, to begin with.

Udayan Mitra, senior managing editor, Portfolio, Penguin Books, makes it clear that they are yet to sign on the dotted line, but adds, “We would look at biographies of past leaders in these organisations. Information, documents and photographs for the books would come from their archives; we would only provide them with a business writer”.

Wiley India, part of John Wiley & Sons, that boasts of imprints such as ‘Dummies’ and ‘Bibles’, is forging out on similar lines. It has already signed up two of the top five IT companies in the country to bring their in-house knowledge on both business and technology to the readers. Next on the anvil are deals with CxOs for their stories.

Paras Bansal, senior manager, acquisitions (at Wiley), explains, “The senior management will talk of the obstacles they have overcome, their strategies for the future, basically their winning formula”.

Such exemplary practitioners should find more takers as Bansal points out, “They actually practice what others only think of. It will make for a compelling read for a wide range of readers, while books by management thinkers usually appeal to professionals only.”

But it is the growing popularity of the ‘Made in India’ badge that has got the publishers excited. Mitra of Penguin explains, “Much of the stuff dwelt on by management gurus abroad is specific to the US and the UK markets. Authors who have worked in India will talk of strategies that have succeeded here”.

Mitra reveals the need to diversify with books that have a popular tint: “We have to compete with different reading sources such as the Internet. Trend-setters and varied content from different partners will help us win our readers’ attention”.

The interest in publishing popular business titles, rather than hard core trade books, has been spurred by the exponential growth in demand for such books in India. The popular business segment comprises books on management strategies and leadership mantras.

But they also include biographies, case studies and popular business subjects that make for an effortless but engrossing read. The segment straddles a spectrum where books on functional expertise are on one end and quick-reads such as ‘how-to’s on the other.

Declares Mitra: “It (business books) is one of the fastest growing divisions at Penguin”. Penguin Portfolio has already released around 20 titles in just two years and managed to produce books such as ‘The Case of the Bonsai Manager’ (by Tata Sons R Gopalakrishnan), that has sold over 10,000 copies within five months of its release. Among its other titles are Rama Bijapurkar’s “We are Like That Only” and V Raghunathan’s “Games Indians Play”.

Mitra sees business books sales doubling in the next three years and surpassing those clocked by fiction. “Business non-fiction today can sell 10,000 copies and more, while three years back a fiction bestseller could boast of selling only 5,000 copies”, Mitra observes.

For better sales, publishers are holding back on the austere, jargon-ridden business writing. Wiley’s Indian publishing programme not only encourages Indian authors but the editors to “work like auditors instead, asking for crisp, anecdote-filled matter”, says Bansal.

Organised retail is also fuelling growth in sales of business books, feels Mitra. “With the hypermarket format, the perception of books as specialty items is set to change”, he says. Reliance’s TimeOut and Deccan Chronicle’s Odyssey have now joined the ranks with Crosswords, Oxford and Landmark.

Oxford Bookstore sees its ‘Top 10’ section across the 20 stores it has populated by business titles. At Reliance’s TimeOut stores, business and marketing books clock the highest sales in the non-fiction category.


  • Penguin Portfolio and Wiley India have approached companies for publishing deals
  • The business books will cover people profiles and business strategies of companies
  • Some popular business titles have rivalled fiction bestsellers, selling as many as 10,000 copies



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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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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:39 PM  | 1 min read

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:38 PM  | 1 min read

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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