Sunday | Apr 06 2025 | 09:06:04 PM
Sunday | Apr 06 2025 | 09:06:04 PM
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EE News Desk
The Shopping Fiesta at DLF Emporio this year will be held as a month long activity inviting shoppers to win gifts and have an engaging retail experience. The Shopping Fiesta is slated to start from 10th April to 5th May 2015. The excitement will continue as guests’ will be pampered with special services such as Beauty Treatment by Amatrra Spa, Salon services by Three Graces , Tarot Reading, Caricature, Palmistry, Astrology and Numerology sessions by renowned professionals on Tuesdays and Fridays. Patrons who shop for INR 25000 and above will be eligible to win designer gifts, hampers and vouchers. On this occasion, Dinaz Madhukar, Senior Vice-President says, ‘”We at DLF Emporio endeavor to create memorable experiences for our guests that go beyond just shopping. We are delighted to present DLF Emporio Shopping Fiesta and welcome all our patrons to a month long festivities to indulge and pamper themselves.
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Technological Advancements have truly revolutionized the gems and jewellery industry, it has led to cut-throat competition and there is ongoing need for change and adoption of newer methods to stay ahead of competition. Technology forces constant changes and development in the business models. Moreover, with the growing disposable income, the lifestyle, the outlook and buying patterns of consumers have changed rapidly in the recent years. Today consumers are looking at finesse and exclusivity in the product and are also willing to pay the premium for the same. They demand greater transparency and better services. Technological advancements have not only made the products cost-effective and ensured timely deliveries; it has also made it possible to offer improved services to the customers. In order to enhance the customer experience P. N. Gadgil Jewellers Pvt. Ltd. has set up an interactive ‘Try-On’ kiosk’ at its stores located at Laxmi Road, Hadapsar and M.G. Road in Pune. This tech-savvy Kiosk is a computer-like screen where customers try different designs of jewellery virtually. The customers can create their own profile, sign-in and access it from anywhere over the internet. It allows them to capture hi-resolution images, save snapshots and make product comparisons before finalizing on the product. Moreover, it provides convenience to the customers as they can access, try and choose from vast database of jewellery anytime, anywhere. This hassle-free shopping enhances the overall experience of the customer. P. N. Gadgil plans to set up similar facility at all its stores as well as online on its e-commerce website. “Our Try-on-Kiosks is a sophisticated face detection technology that allows our customers to try on from a vast range of jewellery pieces virtually anywhere, anytime. With our presence on ecommerce, we feel it’s time we take a step forward and delight our existing and prospect customers by adding value in services we offer them”, says Mr. Saurabh Gadgil, Managing Director, P. N. Gadgil Jewellers Pvt. Ltd. This technology is projected to be the next big thing in the sales and marketing of the Gems and Jewellery industry. It will bring about rapid shift in the buying experience for the end consumer. It will allow the consumers to make informed buying decisions. Not only will it enable them compare the different products offered by jewellers across brands but will also allow them to make customization in designs to fit their requirements. It will help them shortlist jewellery and the brand from the vast universe, after which they can either buy the jewellery online or make purchases from the physical store. E-Commerce is gradually dissolving all boundaries between a brand and its buyers. The advent of technology has brought the world economies closer and made it possible to provide the value proposition to the end consumers in terms of cost-effectiveness, customization, innovation and high quality products at their door-steps.
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It is a common saying that Cricket and Cinema are the only two religions in India. I for once, disagree with the quote and fervently believe that the “Love for Food”triumphs all religions and is most religiously followed in the country. Even today, as I walk towards my home I can easily see numerous “small vendors” and “open area eateries” successfully catering to the gastronomic needs of hundreds and earning big bucks in the process.Be it a wedding featuring a lavish buffet or a nearby street joint, an exclusive 5 star hotel diner or a standalone restaurant they all are never out of business and downswings in economy never affects them. The explanation to all such phenomenon is simple- India loves food and Indians love to fancy their taste buds every now and then. The events industry however realized this fact very recently and hence the latest buzz word in the list of concepts yet to be capitalized upon is Food Festivals and Carnivals. November 2014 saw the first of its kind New Delhi Palate Fest. The 3 day festival showcased a diverse range of different restaurants, chefs , gourmet pop-ups and allowed food enthusiasts to taste and experience new flavors all in the lap of nature. The event was a massive success and the organizers followed the celebrations by organizing NDMC Palate Fest Mini on March 13 and 14, 2015; this however being the teaser for the upcoming edition of the fest. The most recent addition to events in the same category was The Grub Fest held onApril 3 – April 5, 2015 at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium lawns. With the organizers of both The Grub Fest and New Delhi Palate Fest looking towards establishing their event as a signature brand, the comparison between the two is inevitable. So which food festival was better organized? Which one was bang on bucks and which festival failed miserably to live up to the hype? We at EE, reviewed both the events and definitely have the answers to above mentioned questions. To start off with the venue and entry; while New Delhi Palate Fest was organized at the Nehru Park, The Grub Fest was managed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Lawns. Both the venues are ideal for events like these but the key differentiator here was the utilization of space. While the Palate Fest had loosely organized restaurant arrangements with people almost forgetting where to head up next, The Grub Fest certainly had an upper hand as they learned from their competitors experience and combined the two huge lawns to create a better exhibiting area for the eateries. However, this scenario was completely different as far as entry to the festival was concerned. Though The Grub Fest had an established parking area and valet parking facility but an integral aspect where they lagged behind was the walking area towards the fest. With improper arrangements of lights and a long distance to go I almost wished that they also had an auto rickshaw to commute us. Simran Banwaid (18) said, “I feel irritated as my grandparents have to walk so much. I wanted to treat them with my first salary today and not exhaust them up completely.” Also, while the New Delhi Palate Fest had an open entry, The Grub Fest was ticketed and people had to pay 100-200 INR as entry fees in addition to the food that they were going to eat and pay for. Ruha Fatima (45) commented, “I was there at the Palate Fest too and I do not understand why we have to pay for entry fee if we will obviously be paying for the food too?” However, In terms of installations and art pieces it was The Grub Fest which managed to score brownie points with interesting installations at every step. While they might not have had giant installations of plates and tins like their rivals but they did had installations of Mercedes Benz, a dedicated photo booth by United Coffee House with a backdrop of Connaught Place in older times and multiple art-works by Studio Arc which managed to thoroughly engage the audiences who were standing in long queues to get their photographs clicked. An added advantage for the New Delhi Palate Fest was it being properly timed in terms of weather. However the same was the biggest challenge for the organizers of The Grub Fest. With the sudden downpour adding obstacles to their overall plans they also faced issues by the police authorities at the last moment who asked them to re-locate their ticketing centers which resulted in the audience having to walk extra miles. Mani Singh, one of the organizers of The Grub Fest said, “It is something which we cannot control. It was supposed to rain on Tuesday but it has rained today and we are expecting it to rain tomorrow as well. There are a few other interesting technological elements like the LCD screens that we wish to have included at this point but I do not want anyone to get hurt.” Also, Chef Anahita from Soda Bottle Opener Wala who was scheduled for a live demonstration was ticked off with bad weather conditions as her demonstration was called off. Interestingly, the negative weather conditions for organizers were actually welcomed by the audiences as some of them enjoyed the change in climate as it had been a little too hot in the past few days. Another positive factor in favor of The Grub Fest was the new restaurants and food brands participating in their festival being sold off completely much before the end of the first day. In terms of the participating restaurants The Palate Fest had 40-60 stalls including leading names in the culinary space likeThe Oberoi, Radisson – Kebab Factory,J.W. Marriott – Akira Back,The TajMahal HOTEL-New Delhi, Vivanta by Taj Ambassador, ITC Hotel – Dakshin, Kebabs &Kurries, Tres, Mamagoto, Hungry Monkey and others but the lineup offered by The Grub Fest was far more superior as they had many new restaurants exhibiting themselves first time at a platform so huge, with eateries like Royal China, United Coffee House, Smokey’s, Fio, Town Hall, Khan Chacha, Switch, NYC Pie, Kathi’s, Shiv Sagar making their presence felt. However, managing the vivaciousness in the atmosphere was another aspect where The Grub Fest failed miserably as The Palate Fest had a livelier ambience which is a pre-requisite for a food carnival. As per unofficial sources a total of 15000 participants attended The Grub Fest at day one which is much lower than the figures registered by The Palate Fest. Without a doubt, The Grub Fest was a more organized food festival, roaring to serve the best gastronomic experience to its customers however with the rains acting as a dampener to their plans, desperately missing ambience, an additional entry fee, reduced audience participation and less engaging elements adding as they could sadly not reach at par with the standards set by the New Delhi Palate Festival. It will however be an interesting insight to see what food festival succeeds in engaging the audiences in the long term as the organizers of both festivals aim to continue with successive editions of their festivals in the future as well.
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“Forget the Ministry of Information of Broadcasting, we will work with you to make India into a land of experiences,” Amitabh Kant, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion may have made the statement in a light vein but he left key members of the Indian events and experiential business encouraged during his address on the first day of EEMAGINE 2015. He explained that while a growth pace of 9-10 per cent per annum and a young population were two of India’s biggest strengths, these traits also created challenges that required a nation of job creators and not job seekers. Technology played a key part in addressing these challenges but India needed a balanced economy where both services and manufacturing contributed. There are perils of a non-industrialization strategy, and it is imperative now for us to focus on making India a place that is easy to do business in. We need to unleash young entrepreneurial spirit of India so we take on the western world like China has. Prime Minister NarendraModi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative is on these lines. There were four more points on his list that characterized India today. The second on this was opening up India to a global economy. “India must be part of a global supply chain,” he stated, making the third point, adding, “And we are already doing that very well in the way that various multinational companies have relocated their R&D departments to India. The fourth was about India becoming a great centre for innovation, wherein the country had already blended its hardware and software capabilities to become a unique nation that was excelling and growing on both counts. The final point reiterated the importance of the entertainment industry in India. Mr Kant explained that in the government’s plans, tourism and entertainment were two sectors that were integral to the ‘Make in India’ campaign. For every direct job that these sectors created, there were nearly five indirect jobs. “The world is moving from five star hotels to experiences and no other country can provide what India does. We have 5000 years of legacy and heritage and today we are making technological breakthroughs. No other country has this vibrancy, and it is in this spirit that I invite you all to join us as our true brand ambassadors in our Make in India initiative,” Mr Kant concluded.
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The National Centre for Autism in the capital, organized an Autism Awareness Jamboree (AAJ) on 2 April 2015 to step up awareness of the mental disorder that already impacts 15 million in India. One of the attractions of AAJ was an Art Carnival at the India Habitat Centre attended by over 150 children from various schools across Delhi. Autism is a brain disorder that causes a lifelong development disability, primarily affecting the communication and social abilities of people. Due to sensory defensiveness, people with autism perceive the world differently and therefore communicate and react differently. It is recognized as the most common developmental disability, and studies in Asia, Europe, and North America place current prevalence levels at around 1 in 68. It is estimated that India has a population of 15 million individuals with autism. Five times as many boys have autism as girls. The autism community across India will be celebrating Autism Awareness Month throughout April. As part of this, Action For Autism, the non-profit organization, which runs the National Centre has planned a series of activities apart from the jamboree, including an art exhibition at IHC, Delhi on the 9th and a Flashmob performance at Select City Walk on the 19th. AFA, along with supporting NGOs, will also be joining the global autism community in the campaign called Light It Up Blue, in which iconic landmarks around will turn their lights blue to create awareness. This year, the Pyramids in Egypt, Niagara Falls in Canada, Trafalgar Square in London and the iconic Pearl Tower in Shanghai will be among the 60 landmarks to light up in blue. In India, cities and towns such as Dehradun, Chennai and Hyderabad will light up some of their prominent buildings, like the clock tower in Dehradun. In Delhi, the Hyatt Regency hotel and Select City Walk mall too will turn blue in support of the cause.
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Anmol Jewellers recently hosted a soiree to celebrate their 29th Anniversary, at their boutique in Mumbai and a specially designed ‘Sparkling Champagne Bucket Challenge’ was the star attraction of the evening wherein the attendees of the soiree were involved in numerous engaging games and activities all surrounding the use of the champagne bucket. Celebrities like Preeti Jhangiani, Aditi Govitrikar, Aarzoo Govitrikar and Kaykasshan Patel graced the event with their presence and designerBabita Malkani also was spotted raising a toast to this special occasion along with Anmol’s loyal clients. Anmol Jewellers recently hosted a soiree to celebrate their 29th Anniversary, at their boutique in Mumbai and a specially designed ‘Sparkling Champagne Bucket Challenge’ was the star attraction of the evening wherein the attendees of the soiree were involved in numerous engaging games and activities all surrounding the use of the champagne bucket. Celebrities like Preeti Jhangiani, Aditi Govitrikar, Aarzoo Govitrikar and Kaykasshan Patel graced the event with their presence and designerBabita Malkani also was spotted raising a toast to this special occasion along with Anmol’s loyal clients. Anmol Jewellers recently hosted a soiree to celebrate their 29th Anniversary, at their boutique in Mumbai and a specially designed ‘Sparkling Champagne Bucket Challenge’ was the star attraction of the evening wherein the attendees of the soiree were involved in numerous engaging games and activities all surrounding the use of the champagne bucket. Celebrities like Preeti Jhangiani, Aditi Govitrikar, Aarzoo Govitrikar and Kaykasshan Patel graced the event with their presence and designerBabita Malkani also was spotted raising a toast to this special occasion along with Anmol’s loyal clients.
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The 8th GeoSpa AsiaSpa India Awards ceremony was recently held at JW Marriott, New Delhi. Along with the presence of Bollywood stars like Vidya Balan, Huma Qureshi, Raveena Tandon, Ridhima Sahni Kapoor and TV actor Sidharth Shukla the main highlight of the event was a fashion show by Dubai-based fashion designer Varoin Marwah. EE caught up with Liza Varma, Founder, Liza Productions and Management who managed the fashion show at the event, spoke about the engaging elements at the event, the response received and the concept of integrating a fashion show in spa awards. Q-How was the concept of having a fashion show at Asia Spa Awards conceived? A- I have already worked with Parineeta Sethi in the previous editions of Asia Spa Awards wherein also we featured a spa collection so this is not the first time a fashion show at a spa award has happened. The concept has been designed by me and a designer Veroine Marwah, the event is all about spa awards so we have worked only on eco-friendly fabric and tried to showcase a collection which is all about comfort as it is worn during spa experience which is supposed to be relaxing. We thought on different kind of elements to work on so we came up with metal, fire, water, earth and wood as these are also the elements that are used in spas and hence we came up with this concept. Q-What was the response that you received for the fashion show? A-. Spa is also a lifestyle business at the end of the day and fashion fits in really well with it. We received an excellent response from the guests who had come and also on facebook and other social media platforms and it was one of the main highlights of the award function and people were eagerly awaiting for it since it was announced. Q-What were the other engaging elements at this edition of the Asia Spa Awards? A-The award is an 8 year old tradition by the Asia spa magazine and all the spa’s in the country are a part of it. It is being managed beautifully since its first edition and I have been closely associated with it either as part of the production team or as an audience. It’s an initiative to award people in the industry and in between the awards you saw dance performances from Skeleton Dance Troupe. Of course the fashion show was the grand finale and the designer was specially selected from Dubai who has an amazing future ahead. Q-You have been closely associated with Asia Spa Awards and also are instrumental in organizing it. So what are the challenges you faced while you organized the event? A- I quite enjoyed the entire experience and I never find anything challenging. In the production side we had to look at softness as spa is all about softness, comfort and relaxation so we had to give the venue a very relaxing feel. The backdrop and the entire aura of the place was a soothing experience creatively designed to support the experience of the audiences. Q- What do you think is latest trend in the spa industry and do you foresee any changes happening? A- I think that the industry is definitely is experimenting more as many can be seen providing lifestyle experiences and are also coming up with tailored packages in places like hill stations where in one can relax and comfort themselves. People definitely enjoy the experiences of spa since the individual lives of people have become so stressful. I feel in the future we can definitely see a more better perspective for the industry as a whole.
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Fashion Design Council of India and Amazon Fashion recently organized the 25th edition of the India Fashion Week with the theme Autumn-Winter 2015. Held at the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from March 25-29, the extravaganza featured the brightest stars from the design nucleus and witnessed 25 shows and over 100 designer stalls at the exhibit area. EE, caught up with key models that walked the ramp at the Amazon India Fashion Week. In an exclusive conversation the models shared their experiences at the fashion week and the recent changes they have witnessed in the world of fashion. Nikita Sahay an ex-army captain who walked for ace designers at AIFW said, “This was my first fashion week as I started modeling in October itself. The overall experience was amazing as the people were nice and very positive. From the choreographers to the designers were all really supportive and I had the time of my life.” When asked upon how did the shift in career path happened Nikita responds. “I always wanted to get into modeling but I was a second generation officer in the family. Hence, even I joined the army but one fine day I realized that I cannot do this anymore as I was not passionate about it and I had to follow my dreams. I fervently believe that if you do not follow your dreams you end up being tired and hence modeling happened.” Speaking about her upcoming shows and projects Nikita says, “There are a few plans in the process but for now I need to take a little rest as I worked really hard for the fashion week.” Aditi Mishra, a known face in the industry with over 4 years of professional experience said, “My experience has been good. There are a lot of new designers that have come in and it is always great to walk for them. I think the future is great for us as the new designers are really talented.” Also walking the ramp at the AIFW was Astha Ssidana, a Miss India Finalist who shared her opinions, “It was an exciting opportunity for me because if you are a model then the Amazon India Fashion Week is the most amazing platform for you. I walked the ramp for some of the best designers like Malini Ramani, Rina Dhaka, Namrata Joshipura and I loved every bit of the clothing that I got so all in all it was an experience to cherish.” Sharing her thoughts on how the 25th edition of the fashion week was different from its previous edition Astha said, “Well, it was an Autumn Winter fashion week and I am more of a spring person myself but I was blown away by the style quotient like Ashima-Leena’s Afghans and Namrata Joshipura’s low cut jumpsuits. Also the main highlight was the finale wherein 25 designers shared the stage and that is a dream coming true for anyone who wants to be a part of this industry.” Speaking on the recent transformations in the industry Astha says, “People are more professional now in the industry also they are more considerate today with the western culture coming in the industry so a positive change is certainly there.” Hida Siddhiqui, one of the most promising models in the country felt overjoyed with her experience at the AIFW as she said, “I loved the way all the collections were showcased and the concept was very unique. The collections were bang on contrast and combinations and I enjoyed it thoroughly.” Speaking on the highlights of the fashion week Hida said, “I don’t think we have ever had 25 ace designers in one grand finale so that experience was a memorable one.”
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The world of fashion is constantly thriving and has evolved tremendously over the years. Fashion shows today have become an ongoing affair everywhere and are being heavily integrated in all forms of events be it product launches, college festivals, musical concerts and even weddings. But amidst of all the glitterati and fame, the fashion industry is also filled with numerous diversified notions that make the fashion industry one of the most talked about professions in the country. EE caught up with Anita Kumar, a renowned model from the industry on the issues being faced by the industry, evolving trends and so much more. Q- What are the pros and cons of being in the fashion industry today? A-Well the pros of being in the fashion industry today are that you get to travel, meet a lot of people and definitely you get to wear all those amazing clothes. Whereas the cons are that there is a lot of competition existing in the industry today also there exists a lot of insecurity among the people. Q-You have been one of those key faces in the fashion world who has made it big in a very short span of time. How was your journey like? A-To sum it up in one word I can say that it was very challenging. I have auditioned a lot so there are a lot of ups and downs, you do get selected sometimes and you do get rejected as well. But with me the key mantra was never give up. It makes a lot of difference in the industry if you have a mentor to guide you through the industry. I did not have anyone so it was difficult for me but at the end of the day patience pays off. The industry values people who have been groomed and a mentor in the industry can help you in this sense. Also parents can be a good guide in the industry as they help you in attaining the mental grooming you need to survive in the industry. Q- What are the evolving trends in the field of fashion today? A-The industry has definitely gone more competitive over the years and also there is a lot more awareness about the industry in the people today. Even parents today are very open and are able to accept that fact that if their child wants to be a model they should support them. Also at the end of the day there is enough work and space for everyone and you just need to work hard for that. There is also the emergence a lot of new talents coming up through beauty pageants which have become a routine affair now which helps the upcoming models in getting the proper grooming, work up on the confidence and meet people who matter. Q-The overall vibe of the fashion industry is often speculated to be full of obscenity and unsafe for women. Do you think that the actual reality of the fashion industry is different than what is perceived? A-In every profession to start with be it medical or mass media or any other field there are going to be people who are perhaps involved in bad habits. Since ours is an industry which is constantly and consistently under the spotlight one bad incident has put on this blot on the entire industry. Assumptions are not right most of the times and in every field there are people who are not good examples and since the spotlight is directly on us our industry is openly misunderstood but at the end of the day it is just one disadvantage amongst all the advantages of being in the industry. Q-If there a piece of advice you would like to give to upcoming models who aspire to be like you? A-The only piece of advice I would like to give to everyone who aspires to be a model is that be grounded , never change and remain patient. This has been my mantra for life as from my journey in the industry I have realized that one strongly needs these three values to survive in the industry. Also I feel you should love your parents and never go against them. My parents have been my biggest support and against all the turbulent times I have faced in the industry I have found them constantly by side supporting me in every endeavor and that kind of support is very important to survive in the industry
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A recently conducted survey suggests that the past decade has witnessed the re-emergence of the wedding card industry. In their pursuit to have a big fat wedding, people are taking special care of every small detail. Wedding cards in the past were used as a formal invitation to the nuptial but with the advent of technology and with more creative ideas flowing; people now use wedding cards as a tool to generate anxiousness and excitement for the guests. EE reached out to few notable wedding card designers in the country to get an insight into some rapidly evolving ideas and trends in the wedding card business. Rahul Jain, Co-Director, King of Cards says- Well, the industry has changed completely. There was a time when people would ask us for discounts on wedding cards and bargain but today they are willing to pay even 1500 INR for a single card even when they are ordering in bulk.” When asked upon the latest trends existing in the market Jain told us, “Recently new concepts like in built personal message and musical messages are very much in trend. Also, electronically designed LCD cards are being appreciated. These cards actually have an LCD panel installed in them that plays a customized video when you open it and the LCD can also be used for other purposes.” With people willing to thrive on unique and innovative ideas a strong demand for unconventional wedding card invites such as inflated balloons, small baskets with toys, chocolate engraved wedding invites and saplings of plants are also being widely used. Vikas Marwaha, Owner, Baklawa House responds by saying, “Few years back we have had musical cards that played a musical message but now pop up cards are the new buzz word. These are actually made inside wooden boxes with the help of laser lights and as soon as someone opens them you have a laser light effect that displays the invitation. People today want their wedding cards to be unique and hence we have recently used a lot of metal work to design them.” Speaking on some of the most demanded cards Vikas says,” Our customers today easily spend around 5 per cent of the total wedding expenditure on invitations and they also want special invites for bachelor parties. We have recently used gold printed metal sheets that give a 24 carat gold effect and engraved the invitation on the same to add a royal touch.” Himanshu Sharma of Wedding Cards says, “Today, the trend is heavily determined by technology as the people want to get their art-works, doodles, lifestyle and memories incorporated in the wedding cards to give it a more personalized touch. The most recent trend is also of Whatsapp cards which have to be digitally designed. Also today people want to give expensive gifts to the invitees and hence the invitation is also engraved on gifts like selfie sticks tablets and mantle showpieces.” Sharing his personal favorite from the wedding invitations Himanshu says, “For me laser pop-up cards are definitely a must try. Today if an overall wedding budget is 2-4 Cr then people at least spend 5-10 percent of that on wedding cards which is a tremendous amount.”
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