IMA 2018 Jury Meet: Experts on probable marketing trends of 2019

You thought it’s going to be yet another award ceremony? Well, you got it all wrong!

The Dainik Bhaskar Indian Marketing Awards is coming up with the country’s first ever recognition of talent in the marketing realm and spotlight initiatives taken on by brands, which have seen exceptional success in the marketplace. The core idea is to stimulate the spirit of excellence amongst marketers and the brands that they represent. The Awards would seek outstanding success stories as entries. An elaborate system of validation will verify the critical details of each story. A jury of eminent and credible peers will compare these on the basis of merit. The best performer in each category will be awarded a gold trophy.

Says Josy Paul, Head, rmg david, “The Indian Marketing Awards brings focus to the real world of marketing. I think it's a good idea to raise the bar for marketing, by institutionalising such awards. There are two categories that I personally think are unique and which I look forward to with great excitement. These are the new brand launch and brand re-launch. I am sure that the winners here will help us grow in knowledge and creativity.”

R Balakrishnan, National Creative Director, Lowe India, remarks, “Honestly, I think it’s a brilliant initiative from Dainik Bhaskar and exchange4media and one that holds many possibilities. Finally, you are giving the right guys their due. The client is the person who determines the success of any creative effort. It is the identification of his marketing problem, which leads to an apt advertising or communication solution. Are you trying to reverse a consumption habit? Are you trying to address a decline in sales? Are you trying to enter into competition territory? Are you attempting to change the perception associated with the product? If so, have you identified where your solution is going to emerge from? We require people who understand their business well. It’s only then that we can bring in some splendid creative solutions.”

He adds, “If done well, the Indian Marketing awards would be a significant first step. It is up to the organisers to ensure that the process is free and fair, and that it’s not just the big and well-known brands that make it to the podium and take a bow. The Indian Marketing Awards ought to address all brands universally and give equal opportunities to all.”

Ravi Deshpande, Head, Lemon Communications, asserts that any kind of an award ceremony is a positive step since it is aimed at giving talent its due, more so when it deals with the four P’s of marketing. Deshpande continues, “The initiation of a new award ceremony, especially one that addresses the marketing community and the achievements that have hitherto gone unnoticed, is indeed a positive step. I think that the Indian Marketing Awards comes as good news for the branding community; it has driven home the point that awards are not meant for advertising agencies alone. In a brand’s success, the biggest contribution obviously comes from those who are on the client’s side of the fence. Provided that the process of judging is free and fair, and there is some quality work that awaits judging, I would say that this initiative is destined to be a success.”

In our debut year 2004, Brand Communication is the chosen discipline for the additional awards. Each year, the Awards would focus on a specific marketing discipline, such as pricing, distribution, product innovation, customer care, promotion, etc. This focus would lend a thematic underpinning to the awards of that year.

So, the buzz is on, the ball is rolling, fasten your belts and get set for a journey that salutes talent of the best kind.

All roads in New Delhi will lead to Dainik Bhaskar Indian marketing Awards on September 29. The awards, instituted by exchange4media group, are already creating waves with senior advertising, media and marketing professionals showing keen interest in them. The awards, which would be telecast on NDTV 24×7, seek to present a gold trophy in every marketing category.

Dainik Bhaskar Indian Marketing Awards is all set to make its mark as the right forum to acknowledge the contributions of all the marketing elements. These include pricing, positioning, distribution, sales promotions, packaging, launches and re-launches, below-the-line activities and brand communication among others. The awards seek to felicitate initiatives in various disciplines, as well as organisations and individuals.

Ranjan Kapur, Country Head, WPP, states, “These awards are unique. It is for the first time that all the marketing disciplines are being rewarded, which is indeed a great thing.”

Kapur, who is heading the jury panel for the awards, adds, “I am proud to be part of the jury and would do my best to make the judging process smooth, unbiased and well organised.” The panel of juries comprises of well-known names from marketing, advertising and media fraternity from India and abroad.

The awards seek to cover each and every dimension of marketing and, brings along the first-ever opportunity in India for various marketing disciplines to make their presence felt. Complete details of the Awards, Rule Book and Entry Form can be downloaded from www.indianmarketingawards.com.

A physical copy of Award Rule Book and Entry Form is also available. SMS awards to 3636 or shoot an email to sakshi@indianmarketingawards.com to acquire further details on the felicitation or Rule Book and Entry Form. exchange4media outfits in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Calcutta are also armed with all the details, and can be contacted.

Last date for sending in the entries is September 7, 2004. May the best entries win!

If you thought that awards and accolades were only meant for those from the advertising domain or filmdom, think again. The Dainik Bhaskar Indian Marketing Awards is an initiative to institutionalise and recognise excellence in the sphere of marketing and it will examine the evolution of a brand in all its various dimensions. Parameters like sales promotion, below-the-line marketing campaigns and PR have been included, in addition to creative aspects mashed with media innovation. The awards are set to be truly a national effort, comprehensive both in the coverage of categories and in the profile of the jury. Needless to say that a noteworthy event such as this is being instituted by exchange4media.

A press meet was organised in Mumbai to announce the launch of the Indian Marketing Awards. At the occasion, Haresh Bijoor (Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dainik Bhaskar Indian Marketing Awards) stated, “I would call the Indian Marketing Awards, an innovation since an effort of this nature is being undertaken for the first time in the country. Marketing is a Mother science, a Mother art and a Mother philosophy – all rolled into one and we have moved to an active phase of marketing, where brands are not just being sold as mere props. I would like to think that we have moved out of a passive state of marketing. We have an independent jury to sift out the best of the best. The jury comprises of 20 odd people, who are CEOs and marketing heads of known companies, renowned faces from the sphere of advertising, PR and a Dean from the Indian School of Business to give the entire effort an academic bent of mind.”

Bijoor added, “We feel that the Indian Marketing awards are going to be the mother of all awards ceremonies and we certainly are working in full measure towards the same.”

Said Sushil Pandit, CEO, The Hive, and Executive Director, exchange4media, “Edmond Hillary was once asked, as to why he chose to climb the Mount Everest. He replied ‘Because it was there.’ From our perspective, a great deal of talent does exist within the sphere of marketing, which is why there was a need to felicitate it. This initiative may not be as phenomenal as climbing the Mount Everest but I wouldn’t’ label it as an easy task either. I would say that an initiative of this nature was long overdue.”

Pandit added, “The flavour of these awards is marketing communication. Every successive year, we would focus on a particular arena (related to brands) which would guide the proceedings of the Indian Marketing awards.”

Girish Aggarwal, Director, Dainik Bhaskar, asserted, “We have always believed in innovations within the field of marketing. The awards will be showcasing the best work, within the world of brands. These awards are truly an industry initiative and like all the other pioneering initiatives by exchange4media, it synergises our philosophy of rewarding excellence. We are glad to be a part of it.”

Anurag Batra, Managing Director, exchange4media, stated, “The role of exchange4media is to serve as a catalyst and a facilitator, in making these awards a reality. We see this as an event, which will touch everyone, who matters in this country’s marketing and communication universe. Not only have we covered the maximum number of categories but also developed a selection process that is robust and foolproof, involving third party evaluation and global auditing majors.”

Nawal Ahuja, Director, exchange4media, stated, “This would be the only awards ceremony that’s being done at a national level. Other awards that happen within the communication domain are city centric. The idea is to have marketers from the length and breadth of the country involved in these awards.”

The jury of the Indian Marketing Awards includes Harish Bijoor (CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults), Mike Khanna (Chief Executive, J Walter Thompson India), Nirvik Singh (Chairman, South Asia, Grey Global Group), Pranesh Mishra (President & COO, Lowe India), Prasoon Joshi (Regional Creative Director, South & South East Asia, McCann), Prema Sagar (Principal & Founder, Genesis), Ram Mohan Rao (Dean, ISB, Hyderabad), Ranjan Kapur (Country Head, WPP), Sam Balsara (Chairman & Managing Director, Madison Communications), Shekar Swamy (President, RK Swamy/BBDO), Shiv Reddy (CEO, Corporate Voice/ Weber Shandwick), Sunil Duggal (CEO, Dabur), Sushil Pandit (CEO, The Hive) and Vijay Singh (Managing Director, LG Healthcare.).

A first of its kind national-level marketing award has been instituted by a group of marketing professionals to recognize excellence in the marketing and its various dimensions.

For the first time, the Indian Marketing Awards will consider parameters like performance in activities like sales promotion, below the line marketing campaigns and PR as well as the creative aspect, media and innovation, said Mr Harish Bijoor, chairman of the organizing committee and member of the jury, Indian Marketing Awards.

"The awards have come at an apt moment when the Indian industry is going through a "marketing metamorphosis". Today, India is not only a hunting ground for marketing talent, but also emerging a testing hub for global product launches," pointed out Mr Sunil Duggal CEO Dabur and member of the jury.

The jury includes Mr Harish Bijoor, CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults, Mr Mike Khanna, chief executive, J Walter Thompson, India, Mr Nirvik Singh, chairman, South Asia, Grey Global Group, Mr Pranesh Misra, president & COO, Lowe India, Mr Prasoon Joshi, regional creative director, South & South East Asia, McCann Erickson, Ms Prema Sagar, principal & founder, Genesis, Dr Ram Mohan Rao, dean, ISB, Hyderabad, Mr Ranjan Kapur, country head, WPP, Mr Sam Balsara, chairman & managing director, Madison Communications, Mr Shekar Swamy, president RK Swamy/BBDO, Mr Shiv Reddy, CEO Corporate Voice/ Weber Shandwick, Mr Sunil Duggal, CEO, Dabur, Mr Sushil Pandit, CEO, The Hive & executive director, exchange4media, and Mr Vijay Singh, managing director, LG Care.

Nominations will begin from August 17, 2004 and the final award ceremony will take place in Delhi on September 29, 2004.

The Dainik Bhaskar group seems to be on an expansion spree. After Baroda edition, the group announced the launch of its Bhilwara edition from August 18. Added to this, New Era Publications – a Dainik Bhaskar Group venture, is also coming up with a Hindi family magazine, ‘Aha! Zindagi’. The first issue for September 2004 will be on stands by August end.

Speaking on the Bhillwara edition, Girish Agarwal, Director, Marketing, Dainik Bhaskar, shares, “This edition goes with our strategy on getting more focussed on the smaller towns. There are two reasons why this helps the group itself. First, these towns themselves have become very important and need that kind of detail in coverage. Secondly, they have become very important to advertisers too. With this, we give them a better medium to reach out to the targets.”

Agarwal explains that with this edition, the circulation in this part of Rajasthan is expected to increase from 18,000 to 30,000. “As per NRS, we grew by 1,52,000 readers in SEC A alone in Rajasthan. This is not just growth but growth in the right direction. With these initiatives, we can expect a quantum jump in the next report as well,” he expresses.

Till now Bhilwara is being catered by the Ajmer edition of Dainik Bhaskar. Agarwal shares that based on the needs and demands of the people in Bhilwara, Dainik Bhaskar decided to launch this edition. This new edition from Bhilwara will feature four pages of local news.

With this, Dainik Bhaskar now has 12 main editions and 27 district editions in Rajasthan, including editions from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Ganganager, Alwar, Siker, Pali, Bhilwara and Banswara. “Furthermore, we are in the process of launching few more district editions to give better news coverage to our readers and also provide more effective reach to our advertisers,” informs Agarwal.

Dwelling on ‘Aha! Zindagi’, he shares, “This is positioned as a lifestyle family magazine. Prior to this, no Hindi magazine was there with this proposal. Most of the magazines available in Hindi are either women-oriented or political or film-based.”

‘Aha! Zindagi’ targets readers between the age group of 19 to 45 years – belonging to upper and upper middle class of society. The product is priced at Rs 15 per copy.

Agarwal says, “A great detailing and depth has been gone into the designing of the magazine. It’s been designed in a unique Jumbo A4 size. This is, in fact, the general international magazine size. ‘Aha! Zindagi’ will have 80+4 pages with art paper cover and glazed newsprint pages. Due care has been taken to give it the new-age look keeping the target audience in mind.”