Jaguar Land Rover Inaugurates New 3S Retailer Facility in Bengaluru

 New 3S in the city

* Jaguar Land Rover unveils new state-of-the-art 3S (Sales, Service and Spare parts) Retailer Facility on New Airport Road

* Spread over a total area of over 4 160 m2, the facility offers a showroom display of a wide range of products from Jaguar and Land Rover’s portfolio, and a fully equipped service workshop with 19 service bays. 

* Jaguar Land Rover India distribution network is spread across 27 outlets in 24 major cities across India.

Jaguar Land Rover India today announced the opening of a new 3S Retailer facility in Bengaluru by Marqland in a fast developing area on New Airport Road.

This new 3S Retailer facility in the prominent location of New Airport Road complements the Boutique showroom in City Centre on Cunningham Road to offer exceptional Customer Experience and Convenience. Marqland previously operated its 3S facility on Hosur Road.

This Retailer facility is spread over 4 160 m2 and is designed to provide the highest quality of sales and after-sales service. It provides an enhanced premium customer experience, displaying a wide range of products from the Jaguar and Land Rover portfolio, and has an impressive handover bay for delivering vehicles to customers. 

This facility also has a Jaguar Land Rover approved pre-owned car section and showcases a wide range of Jaguar Land Rover branded accessories and merchandise for its discerning customers. It also has a fully equipped workshop, with state-of-the-art tools and equipment and highly trained technicians and staff to provide the highest quality after-sales experience. 

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said, “Post the opening of the Boutique Showroom in City Centre in  2019, this new, ultra-modern integrated 3S facility on New Airport Road will further strengthen JLR’s presence in the Bengaluru area. It will ensure that our customers are able to enjoy world-class sales, service, and spares under-one-roof from a location that is convenient and easily accessible.”

Customers can even book their cars by visiting the online booking platform at www.findmeacar.in for Jaguar and www.findmeasuv.in for Land Rover..

Brigade Group Announces Q1 FY21 Financial Results Operational Highlights (Q1FY21)

Residential

Achieved 0.4 mn sq ft. of new sales in Q1 FY21 valued at Rs. 250 Crore vs 1 mn sq ft. valued at Rs. 593 Crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year

Realization per sft has gone up by 14% compared to the same period in the previous year

Jasper Block at Brigade El Dorado of 0.62 mn sft launched during the quarter

Strong pipeline of 16.24 mn sq ft. and upcoming 2.06 mn sq ft. to be launched in FY21

Lease rental:

Leasing segment for offices remains stable with over 95% collections

Construction of the Brigade Twin Towers development has commenced

Hospitality:

All hotels are operational with Ministry of Home Affairs and State Government protocols in place

Average occupancy of 11% due to impact of COVID-19 & lockdown

All non-essential capital expenditure and renovation has been deferred to reduce cash outflows

Various cost saving measures taken including reduction of manpower costs of about 40% and reduction of about 70% in other overheads during the quarter

Financial Highlights:

Consolidated Performance Q1FY21 vs Q1FY20: 

Total Revenues at Rs.214 crores vis-à-vis Rs. 717 crores

EBITDA at Rs. 58 crores vis-à-vis Rs. 191 crores

EBITDA margin at 27%

PAT/(Loss) after Minority Interest at Rs. (53 crores) vis-à-vis profit of Rs. 41 crores

Commenting on the results, Chairman & MD Mr. M.R Jaishankar said, “While this quarter was  impacted by COVID-19, our continued focus on digital marketing,  online booking of apartments  and collections have yielded results even though most of the first quarter was under lockdown.    Despite the pandemic, our total collections for the quarter was Rs. 376 crores. The rental collections from Office in the Leasing Segment is stable. Although the biggest impact has been in the hospitality and retail segment, all efforts are being taken to improve their performance and we are positive that these segments will normalize soon.”

COVID-19 Impact & Outlook

Company outlook:

Construction has resumed at 30% labour strength post unlock 1.0 & has now crossed 50%. We expect to reach 100% by end of Q3 FY21

Green shoots are visible in residential business with a pickup in enquiries and sales

Office business remains stable with 95% collections, retaining a positive outlook

Business in malls and hotels will pick up gradually along with the improvement in economy

Brigade has a strong balance sheet and is in a good position to manage operations while maintaining liquidity to meet business obligations

Industry outlook:

Rate reduction by RBI and consequent low rate of interest for housing loans is a big positive

Adequate liquidity in the economy has helped restrict the damage

Recent announcement by RBI to allow banks to restructure loans in impacted sectors is a step in the right direction

Economy is expected to rebound in the later part of the calendar year; however, GDP contraction is expected for the financial year

Operational Impact:

Construction activity was impacted because of intermittent lockdowns

Lower revenue recognition in real estate segment was due to government office shutdowns

Malls and Hotels underperformed because of the lockdown, travel restrictions and weak consumer sentiment

Collections were impacted because of the reasons mentioned above though partially mitigated by prudent capital expenditure and reduction in overheads

Relief & Efforts:

John’s Health Centre at Brigade Meadows was inaugurated on June 24, 2020

Donation for purchase of an ambulance by St. John’s

Donation for purchase of prefabricated 5 bed ICU module to K C General Hospital

Donation for purchase of ventilator to Sri Vasavi Hospital

Dry ration to more than 3000 families in Bangalore

Sustenance allowance provided to migrant workers and supported them with ‘dry rations

80,000 Meals provided during lock down period

Workers engagement programmes viz. exercises, aerobics, yoga, as well as workers’ counselling

Awards and Recognitions:

Brigade Enterprises Ltd. has been recognised as one of India’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work For 2020, in one of India’s largest workplace study conducted by the Great Place to Work®️ Institute and The Economic Times.

This year, Brigade Enterprises Ltd has been "Ranked 43", in the coveted Top 50 category, across companies. Brigade Enterprises Ltd also has the distinction of being among India’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work For, 10 years in a row.

Brigade Hospitality Services Ltd. has been ranked 3rd amongst India’s Great Mid -Size Workplaces in 2020 by the Great Place to Work Institute and The Economic Times.

Godrej & Boyce Wins Trademark for Unique Retail Format – 1st Indian Company to Set Benchmark

 

Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej group announced that its brand - U&US - had become the first Indian company to have its specialised retail store format - U&Us Home Design Studio - registered as a trademark for its distinct character and concept with additional trademarks for its innovative layout, format as well as appearance and ambience.

Part of G&B’s business unit, Godrej Interio, U&Us delivers a world-class co-creation experience for with an end-to-end solution for designing and building home interiors. Present in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad, U&Us Home Design Studios are equipped with state-of-the-art digital technologies and dedicated Design Experts.  Using design thinking at the core of its customer-centric framework, U&Us Home Design Studios creates a seamless journey for consumers using collaborative design choices, high quality materials and project management tools, backed by innovative and patented technologies.

Anil S Mathur, Chief Operating Officer, Godrej Interio, a key business unit of Godrej & Boyce said, “Today’s top global retailers have seamlessly harmonised their physical and digital presence to render a distinctive personality to their retail operations through similar trade dress registrations. U&Us’ retail store design trademarks is a first in India and it not only sets the benchmark for specialised retail formats and puts us at par with leading global blue-chip peers but also is another milestone in our customer-centric journey.”

Manoj Rathi, Head, U&Us Home Design Studio added, “The U&Us trademark will help set new standards in collaborative and personalised retail in India. At our studios or through virtual consultations, consumers can work with Design Experts to convert their dream homes into a customised reality and remain engaged through virtual renditions of their final designs with detailed space layouts, décor and furnishings with help of technology.”

The U&US home design studio brings together a team of Design Exerts and local skills to collaborate with the consumer and co-create personalised spaces that are agile, contemporary and fit for the customer’s purpose.

About U&Us Design Studio

Godrej Interio brings to you a novel concept in furniture designing through its U&US Design Studio. Our product innovations, expertise and valuable customer insights have helped identify furniture ‘Co-creation’ as the need for the hour. At U&Us, we offer our customers an opportunity to create their own furniture designs by combining their ideas and our expertise at a state-of-the-art Design Studio. We employ an innovative and socially responsible business model to train and provide a perennial source of income for the carpenters, leading them towards a sustainable means of livelihood.

U&Us Design studio is aimed at using state-of-the art technology to create lasting customer experience in retail. Resultant was a retail space that uses augmented reality to its best, offering customers a real-life experience of spaces they configure and create.

Jaguar Land Rover Announces New Retailers in Lucknow City

 * Jaguar Land Rover India has appointed JSV Motors as its new Retailer Partner, operating from the 3S facility located in the prime area of Amar Shaheed Path

* The fully integrated state-of-the-art 3S (Sales, Service and Spare parts) facility is spread over a total area of over 3 500 m2 with 08 cars display and 10 service bays

* Jaguar Land Rover India distribution network is spread across 27 outlets in 24 major cities across India  

Jaguar Land Rover India today announced the appointment of JSV Motors as its new Retailer Partner in Lucknow, with Jatin Varma as its Director. JSV Motors has started operating from the fully integrated 3S facility at Amar Shaheed Path, near the airport area of Lucknow.

This Retailer facility is spread over 3 500 m2 and is designed to provide the highest quality of sales and after-sales experience for its customers. The premium 3S facility displays a wide range of products from the Jaguar and Land Rover portfolio. The facility also displays Approved Pre-owned cars, and showcases a whole range of Jaguar Land Rover branded accessories and merchandise. It has a fully equipped service workshop and state-of-the-art tools and equipment to handle all service needs. The service facility is manned by a team of highly trained staff, including technicians and other service personnel to offer unmatched customer delight.

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said: “We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with JSV Motors to service our customers in Lucknow and adjoining areas. With its convenient location and an ultra-modern facility with sales, service and spares under one roof, our customers can now enjoy a world class experience of owning a Jaguar Land Rover product in this region.”

Customers can even book their cars by visiting the online booking platform at www.findmeacar.in for Jaguar and www.findmeasuv.in for Land Rover.

For more information on Jaguar and Land Rover product range in India, please visit www.jaguar.in and www.landrover.in

Jaguar Product Portfolio in India

The Jaguar range in India includes XE (starting at ₹ 46.64 Lakh), XF (priced at ₹ 55.67 Lakh), F-PACE (priced at ₹ 66.07 Lakh) and F-TYPE (starting at ₹ 95.12 Lakh). All prices mentioned are ex-showroom prices in India.

Land Rover Product Portfolio in India

The Land Rover range in India includes the Range Rover Evoque (starting at ₹ 58.67 Lakh),  Discovery Sport (starting at ₹ 59.99 Lakh), the New Defender (starting at ₹ 69.99 Lakh) the Range Rover Velar (priced at ₹ 73.30 Lakh), Discovery (starting at ₹ 75.60 Lakh), Range Rover Sport (starting at ₹ 87.02 Lakh) and Range Rover (starting at ₹ 196.74 Lakh). All prices mentioned are ex-showroom prices in India.

Jaguar Land Rover Retailer Network in India

Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are available in India in 24 cities, through 27 authorized outlets in Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bengaluru (2), Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi (2), Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kochi, Karnal, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Mumbai (2), Noida, Pune, Raipur, Surat and Vijayawada.

Gurguram Based Used Car Retailing Platform Spinny Acquires its Mumbai Based Rival Truebil

With the onset of COVID-19, an unprecedented global crisis, a lot of industries are seeing a significant reduction in customer demand, whereas the used car market has gained momentum globally due to a change in personal transport preferences in a COVID impacted the world. The effect can also be seen in the context of the Indian used car market witnessing consolidation and rapid growth among players. In the most recent development, Spinny - Gurugram headquartered full stack used car platform - has acquired rival Truebil - Mumbai headquartered. Truebil operated a C2C managed used car marketplace along with a full-stack direct retail program as Truebil Direct. Truebil served in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi NCR, and was clocking INR 250 Cr+ in annual sales before the COVID outbreak. Truebil was founded in early 2015 by IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay alumni Suraj Kalwani, Ravi Chirania, Shubh Bansal, Rakesh Raman, and Ritesh Pandey. Through its journey, Truebil managed to raise a total of USD 24 Mn in funding, including USD 4 Mn in debt funding. Its major institutional investors include Kalaari Capital (India), Shunwei Capital (China & India), Kae Capital (India), Inventus Capital (US & India), and Spiral Ventures (Japan & Singapore) and in early 2019, Truebil had closed its Series B round of funding.

Gurugram headquartered Spinny currently offers its services across Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. Spinny, which operates through a full-stack online-to-offline retail platform model, has seen significant tailwind in its business post-COVID-19 outbreak. Spinny initially started in mid-2015 through the C2C managed marketplace model, in mid-2017, it pivoted entirely to its current full-stack platform model after realizing the need to control the entire value chain to provide the best quality and a premium experience to its customers. During March 2020, Spinny announced the completion of a USD 43 Mn+ series B round led by Nandan Nilekani's venture fund The Fundamentum Partnership: the round saw participation from existing investors Accel and SAIF Partners. Accel and SAIF Partners had co-led the company's USD 13 Mn+ Series A round in April 2019. The latest Series B round of Spinny also saw participation from other new investors which include US-based General Catalyst and South Korea based KB Group, other than the lead investor Fundamentum. Blume Ventures led Spinny’s seed round along with Russia's Simile Ventures. Many angel investors, along with the IAN group investors, were provided exit by the company during its Series A round of funding last year.

While both Spinny and Truebil have refrained from commenting on the commercials and exact details of the deal, Truebil's Co-founder and CEO Suraj Kalwani did share his experience of building Truebil and the reasons behind his decision of selling out the company to Spinny. "At Truebil, we have built a technology-driven retail platform enabling trust and seamless consumer experience for used car buyers. Truebil thrived in building consumer-centric products aided by technology and data science, helping consumers make objective decisions in their used car purchase. We were operating across three major cities in India and our endeavor to scale our services across the country; we were excited to share a similar vision as Niraj and team at Spinny. We realized that by augmenting each other's capabilities, we could accelerate towards building the country's largest and the most trusted used car brand". Spinny's Co-Founder and CEO Niraj Singh said, "We like and respect the capabilities Suraj and his team have built at Truebil and find certain merit in that for Spinny, so this deal was a natural move for us. But given Spinny is still in its early days, we will let the Truebil platform keep operating as an independent brand for now. We will reassess merging within the Spinny brand umbrella after some time."

With this acquisition, Spinny becomes the only used car startup in India that follows a full-stack retail platform model and operates on the organized side of the market. Other peers like Cars24, CarDekho, OLX, etc. provide their services mostly in the unorganized classifieds and dealer ecosystems side of the market. Commenting on Spinny’s plans, Niraj further added that building capabilities for best in class quality and customer experience has always been our top focus area. We will keep doubling down on our efforts there. Meanwhile, we will also keep going deeper into our existing markets and soon activate a few more markets.

Looking at how similar modeled players have performed across the globe, the used car market is poised to grow and emerge stronger than before from the COVID crisis. US-based online used car player - Carvana’s stock price has seen a 5x jump this quarter to an all-time high value. Not only existing listed players are reaping the benefits of these tailwinds, but also new stock market entrants are making the most of the situation. Another similarly modeled player, Vroom (US), entered the public markets in Jun’20 and saw a massive interest, so much so that it overshot its initial raise plans by ~4.5x. Its valuation almost doubled on the day of the IPO. Looking at the public market performance of such companies in the US, investors have taken an eye out for similar players across global markets. UK based Cazoo announced a new funding round that values the company at over a billion dollars, making it the latest startup to attain unicorn status in this segment and making Cazoo the fastest unicorn in the UK.

About Spinny

Spinny is a full-stack car-buying platform for the young Indian, enabling a car buying experience that is simple and delightful. Though in the early stages, Spinny has been appreciated by its customers with an above 4.5 out of 5 ratings from Spinny car owners – and a 78% NPS and 35% referral purchases. Headquartered in Gurgaon, Spinny employs over 500 people across 6 cities India.

https://www.spinny.com/home-test-drive/

An IIT-Delhi alumnus, Niraj Singh (Founder & CEO) is a serial entrepreneur and investor. Spinny was born out of his desire to deal with a core area that directly addresses the customer’s challenge; in this case a car. He noticed the absence of a platform that offers a completely trustworthy and premium experience to people purchasing second-hand cars, even though they are spending a significant amount and the purchase being a very aspirational one for them. He was determined to solve this problem by eradicating the distrust and making the process simple and straightforward for the customer.

Assure Bring Out Germ Protection Soap to the Indian Market

Hygiene was always important, but Covid-19 has made it integral to people’s lives more than ever. In the “new normal” scenario where in we require a heightened focus on cleanliness, the skin needs the right care. Hence, picking the right product is of prime importance. 

Vestige introduces Assure Germ Protection Soap, a perfect solution for the family’s everyday hygiene needs. It ensures two-fold care for you and your loved ones. Assure Germ Protection Soap not only removes germs to protect you from common communicable diseases, it also ensures that the repeated use of the soap does not have any adverse impact on your skin.

Net Content: 75 g

MRP   Description: Description: Image result for rupee sign small image 55.00 incl. of all taxes.

Home Credit India Offers Easy Smartphone Loan Options in Unlock 3.0

Smartphone Loans

* Own a smartphone sitting at home with customer-friendly schemes from Home Credit

* Customers can now process loans from their homes with the help of Home Credit’s robust online program

As the nation sees ease in lockdown, businesses have also started to open. Having been closed for business for over two months, retailers are still unsure about customer walk-ins and how to service their demand. Home Credit India, a local arm of the international consumer finance provider with operations spanning over Europe and Asia, is focused to strengthen its partnership with offline retailers. The company has been functioning business actively in Bangalore with 940 key retailers. Big retail chains like Sangeetha Mobiles, Pai International, Devi International and standalone retailers like Colors Mobiles, Hanuman Telecom, Uday Electronics etc. are now open with all the necessary precautions and adhering to govt guidelines.

The retailers have witnessed 75% footfall in comparison to pre-Covid era. Most of the customers are venturing out for key purchases only and are following social distancing guidelines

In the given times, Home Credit has also built a robust online program for customers who choose to not venture out fearing COVID-19. Customers can now own a smartphone and get their KYC/loan approval procedure executed from the ease of their home without being physically present at the retail shop. Post the formalities, the mobile phone is delivered to their doorstep. Online outreach is further supporting the retailers in their sales during these challenging times. 

On the occasion, Mr. Ankush Khosla, Chief Sales Officer, Home Credit India said; “These unprecedented times have brought in significant behavior change among customers. With the country easing lockdown with restrictions, it is time that the Corporates come forward and take innovative steps towards supporting economic revival in the country. Home Credit is extending full support to its retail partners across the country with the hope to support our customers in every possible way, to make their loan taking journey less stressful even during these anxious times.”  

Home Credit India has resumed its operations country wide based on Government directives. The company has its operations spread over 350 cities across 22 States in India with a strong network of around 31,500 points-of-sale (PoS) and a customer base of around 11.3 million customers. 

PNB MetLife Broadens its Product Portfolio with Three Unique Offerings for Retail Customers

Portfolio

* A guaranteed savings plan, which allows customers the flexibility of pay-out as a lumpsum or supplementary income

* A combined plan, assuring life and health insurance protection, with coverage against Covid-19

* A new Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP), which offers whole life cover along with tailor-made solutions for wealth creation

PNB MetLife Insurance is expanding its product portfolio with three new unique offerings: PNB MetLife Guaranteed Future Plan; Mera Mediclaim Plan and PNB MetLife Smart Platinum Plus. At PNB MetLife customer centricity is the cornerstone that binds all functions. These offerings complement the Company’s concept of “Circle of Life”, which assesses the needs of the customers and offers them with solutions on varied financial needs including - Child Education, Family Protection, Long Term Savings and Retirement.are testament to this approach and was designed keeping in mind the evolving needs of customers across different segments. 

PNB MetLife Guaranteed Future Plan, a guaranteed savings life insurance plan that offers dual advantages of long term guaranteed benefits and financial protection to the family in case of adversities. The plan offers complete control to customer and helps customize the savings schedule based on customer’s needs and affordability. It allows customers the flexibility to choose their future guaranteed pay-out as a lumpsum, income or a combination thereof which will help meeting financial requirements for various goals.

The company, in partnership with Religare Health Insurance, has launched - Mera Mediclaim Plan – that combines benefits of health and life insurance under a single policy. The new solution gives customers access to quality healthcare, cashless hospitalization, along with life insurance coverage.

Additionally, the company has also received approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to launch PNB MetLife Smart Platinum Plus, a whole life savings-oriented unit-linked insurance plan (ULIP). The plan also offers life insurance cover to protect ones family in case of an unfortunate demise as well as provides with tailor-made solutions to achieve ones goals, including an option where wealth creation doesn’t take a back seat even during critical illness.

Ashish Kumar Srivastava, MD & CEO, PNB MetLife, said “At PNB MetLife, we believe in “Customer Centricity’ and continuously work towards providing solutions in line with our mantra. As a part of our ‘Circle of Life’ approach, which has been conceptualized to deliver need-based solutions that provide financial wellbeing to the customers during their lifetime, the new products will address the need for life and health protection as well as wealth creation.  PNB MetLife also declared bonus for its participating polices which remains consistent even in these uncertain times. We will continue to invest our efforts in product innovations and introduce more products that will serve the life-stage needs of our valued customers.”  

PNB MetLife Guaranteed Future Plan offers four different options to create a corpus to meet one’s financial goals. The plan comes with a guaranteed income ranging from 103% to 245% of the annualized premium.  Annual premiums higher than Rs.30,000 also receive High Premium Reward ranging from 4% - 12% of annualized premiums.  Besides one can opt for Income plus booster options that will give them an additional income pay-out at specified intervals ranging from 30%-406%. The plan allows customers to time the receipt of maturity amounts on special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. The policyholder will also be eligible to avail income tax benefit on premiums paid and benefits received under 80 (c) and 10(10d).

Mera Mediclaim Plan offers coverage for comprehensive health and hospitalisation insurance along with life insurance.  The plan features cashless hospitalization cover across Religare Health Insurance’s network of more than 7,500 hospitals. The plan also covers more than 540 Day Care Treatments, alternative treatments such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy and offers a no claim bonus which helps cover to increase upto 220% over two years and 250% over five years. This unique plan provides a cost-effective solution for customers by offering a discount of 7.5% on both life and health insurance premiums, plus dual tax benefits under both section 80 (c) and 80 (d)

PNB MetLife Smart Platinum Plus is a whole life protection and savings oreinted Unit Linked Insurance Plan.  The plan features an unique Care Benefit which helps customers secure their goals against health exigencies and the insurer pays all future premiums in case of diagnosis of any of the listed five critical illnesses. The plan provides additional allocations through features like Return of Fund Management charges of 1st 5 years and Fund booster which is paid at the end of 10th year which enhance the fund value and also incentivise the customers to stay invested for longer. This holistic plan offers the policyholder with the freedom to choose from the benefits, duration of premium payment, the sum assured multiple and also maximise their wealth creation potential through a choice of portfolio strategies and variety of funds. It also offers flexibility of switching between different fund depending on the risk appetite and partially withdrawing money from the fund value after the lock-in period.  The company so far has 22 unit-linked funds in its portfolio of which PNB MetLife Virtue Fund II and PNB MetLife Virtue Fund has been ranked amongst the top 10 in the Insurance Large Cap Category (as of June 30, 2020) by Morningstar, a leading independent investment research organization. This ranking is testimony to the company’s strong fund management prosess and reaffirm the commitment to deliver value accretive growth to its customers investing through market-linked products. 

This trio of products launched by PNB MetLife holistically fulfils the advanced needs and demands of the consumer. Amongst the three products, Mera Mediclaim Plan and PNB MetLife Guaranteed Future Plan are available across PNB MetLife’s bancasurance, agency as well as online channels. As the masses settle to the new normal where protection of health and life and wealth creation have assumed a level of importance like never before, PNB MetLife strives to serve its customers at every new juncture of their lives through its dynamic and ever-evolving approach to customer satisfaction.

About PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) has as its shareholders MetLife International Holdings LLC. (MIHL), Punjab National Bank Limited (PNB), Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited (JKB), M. Pallonji and Company Private Limited and other private investors, with MIHL and PNB being the majority shareholders.

Hindware Italian Collection Brings the Luxurious Tankless Wall-Mounted EWC in India

Hindware Italian Collection introduces India’s first Tankless Wall Mounted EWC which brings together a distinct amalgamation of innovation, technology and unique design. The revolutionary product comes with an efficient flushing system that operates without a cistern, thereby, assuring intelligent utilisation of the bathroom space, while maintaining utmost level of hygiene.

This contemporary offering not only adds a distinct appeal to the bathroom, but is also sensitive towards the water consumption levels. It ensures optimum water saving where flushing can be done with only four litres of water on a daily basis.

The sophisticated product provides a soothing yet plush aesthetic appeal to the bathroom décor with its Starwhite colour. The two shapes (round and square) and Duroplast soft-close seat cover add to the premium look.

The Tankless Wall Mounted EWC promises hassle-free installation. The product is operated with only 4AAA batteries which can meet the requirements of a four member family for over a year. It also comes with a low battery alert, when batteries can be replaced conveniently by the customers themselves.

Lizol Introduces its First Disinfectant Concentrate for Indian Consumers

Lizol Double Concentrate is RB’s ‘E-commerce first’ innovation to be sold exclusively across Indian e-commerce platforms.

Lizol, one of RB’s leading disinfectant brands, announced the launch of its ‘e-commerce first’ innovation, Lizol Double Concentrate Disinfectant Surface Cleaner today. The product is Lizol’s first ever disinfectant concentrate to be sold exclusively across e-commerce platforms in India keeping in mind the significant growth retail e-commerce has seen in the country.

Being at the forefront in its collaborative fight against Covid-19, Lizol is looking to expand its portfolio by providing consumers with a range of products that help break the chain of infection. The new Lizol Double Concentrate has a superior formulation which will give consumers 10X superior cleaning and kill 99.9% germs by using just half a cap.

Commenting on the launch, Sukhleen Aneja, CMO & Marketing Director, RB Hygiene, South Asia said, “, “The Covid-19 pandemic has heightened the need and importance of maintaining safe hygiene practices as the first step towards preventive health care. Lizol’s new innovation is a 2X concentrated formula that is not only potent as a disinfectant but, is also a more sustainable option that is aimed at providing superior benefit value for consumers. It’s an ‘e-commerce first’ launch keeping in line with the changing shopper behaviour.”

With this product innovation, RB showcases its commitment towards consumer centricity by ensuring greater degree of consumer convenience. It allows ease of use and fewer buying occasions while also actively pushing the envelope on making its products environment friendly.

“Lizol double concentrate is a powerful innovation that is effective and sustainable. The concentrate has gone through multiple tests to ensure germ-kill and superior cleaning while disinfecting surfaces. This is a convenient purchase option as compared to dilutables giving consumers more than 100 uses from just one bottle”, says Dr. Navin Sharma, Head- Innovation Hub at India R&D, RB Hygiene.

The product will be initially available in Citrus variant and in two different sizes – 900ml and 1.9 litre.

Panasonic Jaguar Racing Head To Berlin for a Lockdown Showdown

Berlin Tempelhof

* After more than 150 days, Panasonic Jaguar Racing head to Berlin Tempelhof, Germany for the final six races of season six of ABB FIA Formula E

* The pacesetting Jaguar I-TYPE 4 will line up for six races in an incredible nine days on three different track layouts for the most intense finale in motorsport history

* Mitch Evans sits second in the ABB FIA Formula E drivers’ championship

* Panasonic Jaguar Racing are third in the ABB FIA Formula E teams’ championship

* Tom Blomqvist announced as the reserve driver for Panasonic Jaguar Racing

* Lights go green for the Berlin E-Prix at 19:00 local time (CET) on 5 August

After 158 days, Panasonic Jaguar Racing will head to Germany to complete season six of Formula E in a unique lockdown showdown. Berlin’s Tempelhof circuit will witness six races in nine days with three different track layouts.

Sitting second in the drivers’ championship, Mitch Evans, and teammate James Calado will look to push for more points, podiums and wins during the ABB FIA Formula E Berlin E-Prix with the pacesetting Jaguar I -TYPE 4.

Tom Blomqvist is confirmed as the reserve driver for the remaining six races of the season, replacing Alex Lynn who will drive for Mahindra. The British-Swedish driver previously drove for the Andretti Formula E team in 2018.

James Barclay, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Director:

“We’re going into the final six races in Berlin in a great position. Whilst it’s going to be an  intense challenge for all of the team to complete six races in nine days we are looking forward to it and feeling positive that we are ready to give it our all to fight for the drivers title with Mitch and achieve our best result to date in the team standings. At Panasonic Jaguar Racing our season six objective was to compete for more points, podiums and wins and so far, we’ve done just that. It’s been a long break in the season, but we are hungry to pick up where we left off and finish the season successfully. The whole team has been working incredibly hard during lockdown to ensure that we maintain our positive momentum. We never underestimate the quality of our competition in Formula E though and the challenge that the team and the drivers will face in Berlin but we are fully prepared and ready to give it our all. It’s ultimately within reach so we will be doing our all to achieve our goals together.”

Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Driver #20:

“This season we’ve tasted success and I am really proud of my performance, particularly in the last three races. We achieved Super Pole and a Podium in Santiago, we won in Mexico City and we made history in Marrakesh by gaining 18 places and finishing P6 after starting from the back of the grid. Being second in the drivers’ championship puts me in a good position heading into Berlin but I know I can’t underestimate the challenge that we have ahead. Our Jaguar I-TYPE 4 is incredibly quick so I’m hoping to show the everyone that we can be in the fight by 13 August.”

James Calado, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Driver #51:

“I’m looking forward to getting back into the Jaguar I-TYPE 4 at the Tempelhof circuit. I started in P10 in Marrakesh and felt like I had made some solid progress. I want to give my best performance in Berlin. My role is to support Mitch and the team and secure as many points as possible. I’m sure it will come with its challenges and this break has definitely added the pressure but I’m ready for the lights to go green and finish the season on a high.”

In less than one week, the ABB FIA Formula E Berlin E-Prix will commence, with the first race of six taking place on Wednesday 5 August at 19:00 (CET) ahead of the most intense finale in motorsport history.

Centuary Mattresses Launches Pocketed Spring Rollpack Mattress Under Sleepables By Centuary Brand

In continuation to its extension of advanced and innovative products, Centuary Mattresses, one of India’s leading mattress company, has now ventured into ‘Online Exclusive category’ of mattresses with the launch of ‘Sleepables Mattress’ - India’s first ‘Pocketed Spring Mattress in Box’. The company has forged partnerships with the major e-commerce players for this Online exclusive range of mattresses that offers superior quality with the luxury in stylish designs of mattresses. The high-quality pocketed spring mattress will be compressed, rolled, and packed in an easy-to-carry box. All the consumer needs to do is just unpack it, unroll it, and wait for a few seconds as it automatically decompresses making it convenient to transport and handling. The Rollpack range is available on Amazon, Flipkart, Pepperfry and Centuary’s website as well. These Rollpack mattresses are manufactured at Centuary’s own manufacturing plants in Hyderabad. 

‘Sleepables By Centuary Pocketed Spring Mattress’ is a first of its kind technologically superior mattress designed with independent pocketed springs, which ensures zero motion transfereven if someone is tossing and turning on the other side of the bed. Sleepables pocket spring mattress uses an advanced spring technology with active edge support and plush PU (Polyurethane Foams) Foam comfort layer and quilt.  The ‘Sleepables’ range of mattress is available in all standard sizes of Single, Double, King, and Queen size beds with an option of customized size also. The sleepable range is available in 6 inches and 8 inches thickness with a starting price of INR 8,000 to 24,000 depending upon the size of the mattress. 

Speaking about Centuary’s launch of the Online Exclusive range, Mr. Uttam Malani, Executive Director of Centuary Mattresses said, " Sleepables By Centuary is expected to be the growth driver for Centuary’s push into Online sales leadership of the mattress category, which is currently dominated by multiple unorganized players and private labels. It also strengthens our positioning in the segment of the superior product configuration since Rollpack spring mattresses need high-quality technology that has never been deployed in India earlier.  

Sleepables by Centuary is the first and only Online exclusive range in India of Rollpack Pocketed Spring Mattresses which comes as a bed in a Box. Many customers enjoy this hassle-free version of new-age mattress shopping. Instead of spending a weekend or two testing mattresses out in a showroom, the customers can order this mattress online in just a few minutes that are easy to deliver and handle. It is delivered from Centuary’s manufacturing plant straight to the consumers’ doorstep, thereby ensuring convenience and comfort. 

Castrol Lubricants to Now be Available at Jio-BP Retail Sites

Castrol India Limited, India’s leading automotive lubricants company, has announced that Castrol lubricants will now be available at Jio-bp retail outlets across the country. This new channel offers Castrol enhanced visibility and reach for its products and solutions.

Castrol lubricants will be supplied to the joint venture’s fuel retailing network of 1,400 sites, which is expected to grow to 5,500 sites within five years.

Earlier this month, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and bp completed the formation of their new pan-India fuels and mobility joint venture – Reliance BP Mobility Limited (RBML). RIL’s existing sites will be rebranded to Jio-bp in due course.

The decision to make Castrol lubricants available across the network was taken in 2019, when the joint venture was first announced.

“Castrol India is delighted to be a part of the Jio-bp network. We will offer a premium experience to our consumers, bringing innovative value-added solutions as together we look to transform the Indian mobility sector,” said Sandeep Sangwan, Managing Director, Castrol India Limited.

Harish C Mehta, CEO, Reliance BP Mobility Limited added “Jio-bp puts consumers at the center of its universe and will offer them differentiated products and services to set new benchmarks in mobility solutions. I am confident that Castrol’s cutting-edge lubricants, together with our fuels and convenience offers, will deliver best in class experience for Indian consumers visiting our outlets.” 

Castrol products will be available at the RBML retail network in the coming weeks.

About Castrol India: Castrol, is one of the world’s leading lubricant brands and has a proud heritage of innovation and fuelling the dreams of pioneers. Castrol India Limited is one of India’s leading lubricants company and has established itself as a pioneer and innovator in the Indian lubricants industry. Its iconic brands such as Castrol CRB, Castrol GTX, and in more recent times power brands like Castrol Activ, Castrol MAGNATEC and Castrol VECTON, are used by millions of consumers and customers across the country. The company also has a presence in select segments like High Performance Lubricants and metalworking fluids in industries as varied as automotive manufacturing to mining to machinery and wind & energy.

Castrol India has a large manufacturing and distribution network in India with three manufacturing plants and a distribution network of 350 distributors who sell to consumers and customers through over 100,000 retail outlets. Castrol sub-distributors also reach additional outlets in rural markets whilst Castrol India also directly services over 3,000 key institutional accounts.

Along with providing world class products and services, Castrol India is focused on safety, compliance and quality as its number one priority.

MYPINPAD Expands Global Presence Through Partnersip with Mswipe and Visa in Indian Market

Global secure personal authentication expert joins forces with Mswipe - India’s leading independent financial services platform for SMEs and merchants, and Visa – the world’s leader in digital payments

MYPINPAD, the global leader in secure personal authentication solutions today announces new strategic partnerships with Mswipe, India's largest independent mobile POS merchant acquirer and network provider, and the world’s leader in digital payments, Visa, to propel contactless payments in India.

The announcement follows MYPINPAD becoming the first, and currently only company in the world to achieve Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council (SSC) certification for its software only Contactless Payments on Commercial off-the-shelf (CPoC) solution. 

This is an especially important market for MYPINPAD, given that tap-to-pay or contactless card payments in the Indian market are in hypergrowth, led by Visa with over 30mn contactless cards issued.

Mswipe is at the forefront of driving tech innovations that enable micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and merchants to accept payments through cards, wallets, mobile payment apps and bank apps, contactless and QR payments.  With over 675,000 POS and 1.1 million QR merchants, it is the largest independent mobile POS acquirer and network provider in India.

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has fuelled the need for contactless transactions, with Visa recently announcing a commitment to support 10 million small businesses across Asia Pacific. The pledge is part of a global program that sees Visa supporting 50 million small businesses worldwide. As part of the commitment, the company is introducing a range of programs and solutions to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) drive efficiency and sales by accepting and making digital payments to meet increased demand for cashless payments – both online and in-store.  

CEO of MYPINPAD, Colin Greene, commented: “MYPINPAD makes it easy and affordable for merchants to become a part of digital acceptance and the payments ecosystem. Mswipe has spearheaded technology innovation in digital acceptance and payments for small and medium businesses in India. This important milestone, following our recent world-first PCI SSC CPoC certification, is another huge step for the industry in simplifying digital acceptance for the smallest of businesses to the larger retailers.”

CEO of Mswipe, Manish Patel adds: “What we plan to achieve alongside MYPINPAD will be incredibly significant for consumers, merchants and India in its entirety. The company’s technology will enable true democratisation of payments and accelerate the contactless revolution in India, which will result in huge socioeconomic benefits. We look forward to deploying the solution, and where the partnership will take us in the future.”

Shailesh Paul, Head, Merchant Sales & Acquiring and Cybersource, India & South Asia, Visa said:

“Consumer preference for tap to pay or contactless payments offers a transformational opportunity for our collaboration with MYPINPAD and Mswipe. By empowering small merchants to use their mobile phones to accept tap to pay digital payments and without the need to invest in a standalone terminal, this solution should truly help propel digital payments far and wide across India.”  

MYPINPAD’s solution is easily integrated into third party applications and delivered ‘As-a-Service’. It significantly reduces cost across the entire face-to-face payment ecosystem by meeting PCI security standards through software updates alone. This relieves pain-points such as the cost of traditional payment and POS hardware for the smallest retailers, while also serving larger retailers by significantly reducing maintenance, replacement costs of aging hardware-centric POS systems and ultimately providing stronger customer service with trusted and familiar devices.

About MYPINPAD:

MYPINPAD is the global leader in secure personal authentication solutions residing on commercially available smartphones and tablets. Our proprietary and globally patented technology secures and protects the input of sensitive information on touchscreens creating a trusted environment. MYPINPAD’s innovative solution set removes the reliance on specialised hardware for personal authentication; reduces cost and complexity, promotes rapid adoption and leverages the connected capabilities of smart devices. 

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce.

Madame Unveils Tee & Mask Co-Ord Collection for the Fashionable

Madame, a fashion brand has come up with its latest Tee & Mask Co-ord Collection. With the face masks becoming inadvertently Fashion’s hottest summer accessory, we decided to lift the fashion era with the designs you can carry, to look even more beautiful.

Introducing coordinated concepts of fashion masks with the slogan tees, making it a fashion statement. From monotones to stylish look this new range of fashion masks and tees are available in impactful prints and designs to match your daily looks. We have initiated motivational slogan prints to spread the positivity around this pandemic, a new normal is being defined.

COVID has shaken up the society to its core, Our selection of bold colors shows how steadily we have to act in hardest of the situation, the quotes depict the humanity’s ability to adapt a change and shows how creativity can put a positive twist in fighting a war. Our range of stylish masks and the graphic tee is here to make the quarantine queen you really are. 

About Madame:

Madame features a wide range of clothes and accessories for women. The brand provides fast fashion in-trend merchandise, casual wear, party wear. In line with its global image, Madame is known for its vast variety, latest styles, and fast turnaround of new collections up to seven times in a year.

Since its inception, the brand has rapidly expanded across the country and has 150+ exclusive brand outlets across the country. Madame also retails in over 600 multi-brand outlets and has four stores in Saudi Arabia. The brand is retailed through online marketplaces including Myntra, Jabong, and Amazon, and additionally, the brand has set up its own online store called Glamly.

When Madame started small, the business did great in knitwear and customers knew the brand for its winter collection. The brand wanted to evolve with the changing needs of our customers and hence decided to grab attention by starting a summer collection.

Despite the small beginning, Madame had one thing going for it customer loyalty. With its strength in manufacturing, Madame was able to win over customers, who became loyal to the brand. Women preferred Madame to other brands and continued buying from it for several years.

Peter England and HeiQ, Switzerland Jointly Launch Innovative Antiviral Collection Including Work Wear, Lounge Wear and Face Masks

Peter England, a leading international menswear brand from the house of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, is set to offer a fashionable and stylish collection with virus and bacteria resistant properties. The brand has collaborated with Switzerland-based HeiQ, a global leader in textile innovation, to bring the unique HeiQ Viroblock® fabric technology to India. Under this collection, Peter England will be launching work wear, lounge wear and face masks to meet complete lifestyle demands of the new-age consumer.

The HeiQ Viroblock® fabric is specially infused with virus resistant properties to ensure safety by inhibiting the persistence and growth of viruses and bacteria on its surface. For masks, the fabric retains these properties up to 30 gentle washes*. For apparel, the fabric retains these properties up to 20 gentle washes*.

Elaborating on the launch, Manish Singhai, COO, Peter England, “Safety and protection has never been more important than it is today, given the current situation which the entire world is facing. Peter England has a rich and strong legacy of introducing innovative products catering to spoken and unspoken needs of today’s consumers. We’re happy to announce our partnership with HeiQ, one of the world’s leading textile innovator from Switzerland, to launch our range of apparel and masks enriched with virus and bacteria resistant properties. We will be launching work wear, face masks and lounge wear in phases to address the country’s need for protection and safety. We believe that this new technology is a breakthrough in the lifestyle category and will bring us closer to the hearts of the consumers.”

In addition to the antiviral technology, Peter England has independently enhanced their mask offering with droplet resistant finish & Smart Straps. The droplet repellent finish makes the fabric hydrophobic. This repels contagious droplets on the masks’ outer surface, making it a perfect shield for the consumer. The smart straps used in the mask have a soft-finish and three-way adjustment to provide comfort, fit and a choice to carry the mask around the neck ,when not in use. Face contour design with chin mask and nose-clip make the mask sit over the consumer’s face comfortably. All these power-packed features come in varied styles and patterns, making this a comprehensive offering for protection, comfort and style in one go.

Co-founder and CEO of HeiQ Group, Carlo Centonze stated, “The team at Peter England undertook a through yet rapid learning about HeiQ Viroblock technology in order to quickly adapt it into their offerings, both in fashion masks and apparels. We worked closely with the teams to ensure that products that they have launched are fully validated in their performance to ensure that our stakeholders in India have the opportunity to add these fashionable article for their day to day protection from the current pandemic.”

Peter England’s new collection is currently available at www.peterengland.com and will shortly be available across the country through the brand’s retail network of outlets and multi-brand counters.

*Disclaimer: The fabric used in these products is treated with HeiQ Viroblock Swiss Technology that is tested to provide resistance against common viruses and bacteria, based on AATCC 100 and ISO18184 global testing methods, up to 30 gentle washes in masks & up to 20 gentle washes in apparel. Resistance to COVID-19 is yet to be assessed.

About Peter England:

Peter England is one of the most loved and largest menswear brands in India. It sells more than 14 million garments every year across 1000+ exclusive stores, 3500+ Multi‐brand outlets and across 800+ towns. The brand also holds a strong e-commerce presence. Peter England has been voted as India's Most Trusted Apparel Brand for 7 consecutive years by the Economic Times Brand Equity Survey. The brand is committed to offering varied styles across categories starting at an attractive price point of Rs. 999. Peter England was first launched in India by Madura Fashion and Lifestyle (previously known as Madura Garments) in the mid‐price segment in 1997; the company acquired the world rights for the brand in 2000. What began as a brand of honest shirts in 1997, in India, is today a complete lifestyle brand with merchandise available for every day and for all special occasions. The brand’s formal wear range of crisp formal shirts, well-tailored suits, jackets & trousers combines high fashion, impeccable fits along with a wide selection of highly curated looks for modern professionals. The casual wear range is a highly eclectic line of washed cotton shirts, denims, cargo bottoms, graphic tees, polos & winter-wear. The ‘Select’ line brings together premium formal wear with emphasis on fine detailing with a hint of color, comfort and panache. While the assorted collection of ties, pocket squares, belts, wallets and footwear assert a distinctive style statement, the finely crafted vests, boxer shorts and briefs from the newly launched innerwear line ensures highest comfort and great fit. While the brand continues to expand across India, they introduced a brand new retail identity called the Peter England Men’s Obsession, which is a large format store housing over 2000+ unique designs at an unmatched value, all the while delivering a young, vibrant shopping experience for all.

About ABFRL:

ABFRL is a part of USD 48.3 billion Aditya Birla Group. With revenue of Rs. 8,743 cr. spanning retail space of 8.1 million sq. ft. (as on March 31, 2020), it is India’s first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse with an elegant bouquet of leading fashion brands and retail formats.

SunnyBee Unveils India’s First Self-Checkout Grocery Store in Chennai

SunnyBee Market, a chain of food stores in Chennai has introduced India’s first-of-its-kind self-checkout store in Besant Nagar, Chennai, considering the need for a safe shopping experience by limiting contact and to improve overall speed of checkouts.

WayCool Labs – the technology arm of WayCool Foods & Products, a leading agritech firm based in Chennai has developed this custom solution for SunnyBee.

An integrated hardware and software solution, the self-checkout counter occupies a minimal 4 sq.ft. floor space with a built-in high-speed scanner, touchscreen panel, and a billing printer. The counter eliminates the need to interact with the store staff altogether. Shoppers scan their purchases on their own and place the scanned products in the conveniently hanging bags or use their own bags. With a single click on the touch screen to pay, a QR code will pop up on the screen. Customers scan this QR code on their mobile using any one of the numerous UPI payment methods such as GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.

This solution frees up the store billing staff to manage the store operations and improve customer service. The only place where there is an interaction with store staff is when staff will assist the customer for F&V produce to weigh, pack, and print/paste a barcode. The F&V bags with barcode can be scanned at the Selfie counter as well.

Sriram Sridharan, Business Head, SunnyBee Market said, “There has been a steady flow of shoppers as they look to stock up during these uncertain times. Though several retailers are open through the lock down with strict enforcement of safety measures, there is a sense of uncertainty among shoppers due to multiple interactions within the store. Hence, the self-checkout solution was designed, developed, and implemented in 15 days despite the lockdown. The initial response from customers is very positive and this is evident from their excitement to use the self-checkout counter every time they walk into the store.”

SunnyBee Market, founded in July 2015, is a one-stop premium food store that offers a wide assortment of more than 5,000 SKUs across multiple categories like regular & exotic F&V, Dairy, Staples, Indian and International foods. Operating 6 stores in Chennai, SunnyBee Market also conducts SunnyBee Santhai, a farmer and consumer connect platform where farmers sell their produce directly to consumers.

Talent Demand Tanks in Most Sectors in June 2020, Green Shoots in BPO, Health & Auto: TimesJobs RecruiteX June’20

Highlights

-        Retail, BFSI shed most talent demand in June 2020 M-o-M study 

-        Talent demand picked up in BPO, Health & Automobiles in June 2020 

-        In Y-o-Y analysis, the demand for talent remained same in June’20 and June’19

 

The TimesJobs RecruiteX, monthly talent demand index, marks a 4% growth in talent demand in June’20 (89) over May’20 (85). However, the demand in high-volume sectors including IT, BFSI and Retail records a steep fall. The Y-o-Y analysis showed that the talent demand index for June’19 (89) and June’20 (89) was the same. 

M-o-M talent demand trends: The growth in demand index is contributed by Automobiles (17%), Healthcare (16%) and BPO (14%) sectors who are re-hauling the business post the Unlock 1.0. With the Government relaxing lockdown norms, companies in these sectors are eyeing growth hacks by customising their offerings in the changing business scenario. 

Q-o-Q talent demand trends: The Q-o-Q analysis shows that demand for talent in IT and Retail sectors witnessed growth in AMJ’20 over JFM’20. Both, these sectors witnessed double-digit growth. Talent demand index stood at 370 points in AMJ’20 over 338 points in JFM’20, a 9% growth. The Retail sector witnessed a 30% growth in AMJ’20 in comparison with JFM’20. 

Y-o-Y talent demand trends: The Y-o-Y analysis for talent demand shows no growth, or loss from June’19 to June’20.  The Consumer Durables sector showed a growth of about 30% in Y-o-Y talent demand analysis, followed by Healthcare. The BPO sector saw the steepest fall of (-34%) in talent demand in the yearly comparison.

Commenting on the findings of RecruiteX June 2020, Sanjay Goyal, Business Head, TimesJobs and TechGig said, “The findings of RecruiteX June 2020 are a silver lining in the present scenario. The rise in BPO, Healthcare and Automobile’s talent demand hints that companies are striving hard to get back to normalcy after the Unlock 1.0. Not just the M-o-M analysis, but even the Q-o-Q comparison (AMJ’20 v/s JFM’20) has shown growth, with a double-digit hike in the IT and Retail sectors”.   

Here are the major findings of the RecruiteX June 2020 edition:

Industry-wise

Sectors which gained talent demand:  

- Automobiles: (17%)

- Healthcare: (16%)

- BPO: (14%)

Sectors with steepest loss in talent demand: 

- Retail: (-13%)

- IT/Telecom: (-6%)

- BFSI: (-2%)

Functional areas: 

Functional areas which gained talent demand:  

- Doctors/Nurses/Medical Professional: (20%) 

- Logistics/Supply Chain Management/ Procurement: (10%)

- Engineering: (5%)

 Functional areas with steepest loss in talent demand:  

- IT/Telecom: (-10%)

- Sales/Business Development: (-3%)

Location-wise: 

Cities which gained talent demand:  

- Indore: (4%)

 - Ahmedabad: (2%)

 - Hyderabad/Secunderabad: (2%)

Cities with steepest loss in talent demand:  

- Bengaluru: (-18%)

- Jaipur: (-6%)

 - Chennai: (-5%) 

Work experience-wise: 

 Work experience category which gained talent demand:  

- Over 20+ years of work experience: (6%)

- 10-20 years: (5%)

- 2-5 years: No gain, no loss 

Work experience category with the steepest loss in talent demand:  

- Freshers and people with less 2 years of work experience: (-13%)

Future Generali India Insurance Announces Increment for all its Employees in Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic

In the face of an ongoing economic crisis, Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited (FGII), the general insurance arm of the joint venture between retail giant Future Group and global insurer Generali, announced promotions, annual increments & variable payouts to all its employees. The company declared that there will be no layoffs of its employees during these unprecedented and volatile times.

They also made provision of an immediate relief fund of INR 50,000 to each of its business-active agents and their families if they are tested positive for COVID-19. 

With over 125 branches across India, the company has decided not to compromise on hiring and plans to recruit employees as per the business requirement. During this lockdown phase alone, FGII has onboarded over 70 employees across various levels using various digital tools for engaging, interviewing, enrolling, and inducting. The company will continue to hire as in any other year. 

FGII has also taken multiple initiatives towards employee wellness and engagement during the lockdown period. The company has introduced a confidential counselling helpline for employees and their families to help them cope with changes brought about by the pandemic such as anxiety, stress or work-life balance. This is supplemented by live sessions promoting physical and mental health through yoga sessions. It has also organized various engagement programmes such as talent shows and conducted virtual training sessions for employees to help them connect and learn while they work from home.

Mr. Anup Rau, MD & CEO, Future Generali India Insurance said, "We are a people-first company, period. We made sure that every single employee- right from the CXOs to our housekeeping staff - got their due credit and bonuses and increments in time. I don’t believe one can be a customer-centric company without being employee-centric; they are both congruent. Now, more than ever, our employees and partners need certainty and stability in their lives. We are building an organization for the long term and have the wherewithal to handle uncertainty. We are a fundamentally strong company and have the ability to respond to the new realities of the marketplace.”

About Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited

Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Future Group – the game changers in Retail Trade in India and Generali – a 189 years old global insurance group featuring among the world’s 60 largest companies*. The Company was incorporated in September 2007 with the objective of providing retail, commercial, personal and rural insurance solutions to individuals and corporates to help them manage and mitigate risks.

Future Generali India has been aptly benefitting from the global Insurance expertise in diverse classes of products of Generali Group and the Indian retail game-changer Future Group. Havingfirmlyestablisheditscredentials in this segment and effectively leveraging on the skill set of both its JV partners, Future Generali India has evolved to become a Total Insurance Solutions Company.

*As per Fortune Global 500 Ranking (2017)

*Future Generali India Insuranceiscertified ‘Great Place to Work’ (December2019-November 2020)

About Generali Group

Generali is an independent, Italian insurance Group, with a strong international presence. Established in 1831, it is one of the largest global insurance providers present in over 60 countries with total premium income exceeding €68 billion in 2017. With nearly 71,000 employees in the world and 57 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Western Europe and an increasingly significant presence in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Asia.

Launch of JADE N TAN – Adorning Home Store Now in Bengaluru

A much awaited JADE ‘N’ TAN – Adorning home store was launched at Kundanahalli Gate, Varthur Road, Benglauru conceptualised by  Dr. Thomas Johan  with 26 years of international & India experience in home retail and furnishing sector has headed many big box retail brands like Home Centre in Middle East, @home, EVOK by hindware, Home town in India & a award winning social entrepreneur.

Jade ‘N Tan home retail  Pvt Ltd, the boutique is located on varthur road, near Kunadanahalli gate  , the most happening place of Beangaluru. Speaking  on the launch Dr. Thomas Johan, Founder Jade ‘N’ Tan  said that the store has  wide range of Wall Arts, table decor artisan product lines ranging from Rs. 99/- up to 9999/, the  USP of the store which is mainly of wall and table related gallery. The products are 100% Indian hand crafted to help the artisans to portray their works, 40% of the products are unique and designed in-house by Team Jade N Tan .

The store is built as a restoration model by using all Old and used materials for both interiors and exterior, through this we have reduce the  capex in order to  pass on the benefits to the end-users he added.

He also stated that the  reason for choosing bengaluru as destination is because of its life style and passion  to explore all possibilities to retain their home atmosphere in a good condition, we also welcome customisation of designs.

The brand is now ready for franchisee model...

* Soon we will venture in to  E-commerce and enable the online platforms to sell our products .

* Some of  product categories are : Metal wall arts, fine art paintings, clocks, lamps, Photoframes, table decor, Gifts.

* The brand Promises best price challenge by offering the lowest price in the city/country for all comparable products.

Walk in at Jade ‘N’ Tan ,# 43/1, Muni Reddy Compound, Kundanahalli Gate, Varthur Road, Bengaluru,  for more details call: 9958805522 & +91 96862 97236.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/e3H5vNTh_Gw