Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Tennis’ ace for humanity

Personal achievements v/s off court contributions by tennis players...
In many ways, the impact of sports on society is highly collaborative. The 19th century game tennis is perfect case in point. From ending apartheid in Johannesburg by organising American-African tennis tournament, initiating opportunity for youth by initiating National Junior Tennis League, improving academic standard for African players via raising millions of dollars for United Negro College Fund & bridging the ignorance gap about Black’s sport history by publishing book on experience of Black players – tennis players did it all. As per the Sports Management Research Institute, tennis benefits the US economy by contributing $420 million to New York, which is far more than any other sports contribution in any city of the US. It is simply bewildering to believe that almost 3% of tourist to New York City visit solely to have a glimpse of US Open year after year. Tennis players oft en auction their autographed rackets & sports gear to aid victim of many natural disasters.

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Monday, March 10, 2008

Olay Olay for P&G in India!

With the launch of the $1-billion-plus P&Gbeauty brand, Olay, global FMCG giant, Procter & Gamble (P&G) has entered the Rs.21 billion skincare market in India. Initially the company will target the anti-ageing products market with its anti-aging cream, Olay Total Effects. The anti-ageing products market in India is currently pegged at Rs.600 million and has doubled in the last three years. The company, which has roped in the sensational Sushmita Sen as the brand ambassador for its Olay range of products, is likely to face stiff competition from established players like Pond’s, L’OrĂ©al & Kaya. Incidentally, out of the 100- odd brands in P&G’s kitty, the company has just launched nine brands in India.

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Saturday, March 08, 2008

Mahindra goes all out in used car segment

Mahindra & Mahindra on August 2, 2007, re-branded its used car division, AutomartIndia Ltd. as First Choice. The company also unveiled its first innovative multi-brand used car superstore in Mumbai, which promises to offer a new and refreshing buying experience for its customers. The business is a three way joint venture between Mahindra Group, HDFC and Sah & Sanghi. These entities plan to tap the first mover’s advantage in the organised used car market in India through this venture and the game plan is to roll out six such stores in the next 18 months.

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Thursday, March 06, 2008

Committing for a lifetime…

It doesn’t get better than this – from three years to lifetime! After continual concern attacks from dealers and not so good sales figures, auto maker Chrysler, has replaced its warranty scheme, from the present 36,000 miles, three year warranty to a lifetime warranty covering most of its new vehicles. However, the warranty is not transferable, thus the benefits are enjoyable by the first owner only. A new TV and print campaign has already been started to promote this new benefit. The sad part is that diesel vehicles as well as its SRT range of models, don’t fall under this scheme. Chrysler portfolio is jam packed with fuel guzzling petrol powered behemoths like the Jeep Grand Cheroke & Dodge Viper sports car. With the fuel guzzling tax in place and a steep rise in fuel prices, Americans do not prefer big petrol cars. Auto makers in the US are now trying the extended warranty route to capture declining sales. In the previous year, while GM started the five year, 100,000 mile warranty for its 2007 model line up, Ford announced its five years or 60,000 mile warranty scheme on its new vehicles.

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Monday, March 03, 2008

The ‘democratic’ route to self-destruction?

America could go to any length to contain Iran, not at all a comforting thought

In Washington a remarkable and ominous campaign is under way to “contain Iran,” which turns out to mean “containing Iranian influence,” in a confrontation that the Washington Post correspondent Robin Wright calls “Cold War II.” The sequel bears close scrutiny as it unfolds under the direction of former Kremlinologists Condoleezza Rice and Robert M. Gates, according to Wright. Stalin had imposed an Iron Curtain to bar Western influence; Bush-Rice-Gates are imposing a Green Curtain to bar Iranian influence. Washington’s concerns are understandable. In Iraq, Iranian support is welcomed by much of the majority Shiite population. In Afghanistan, President Karzai describes Iran as “a helper and a solution.” In Palestine, Iranian-backed Hamas won a free election, eliciting savage punishment of the Palestinian population by the United States and Israel for voting “the wrong way.” In Lebanon, most Lebanese see Iranian-backed Hezbollah “as a legitimate force defending their country from Israel,” Wright reports.

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