Thursday, July 17, 2014

Infilicious: Food Festival at Ahmedabad Branch of Infibeam

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. Isn't it okay, once in a blue moon, to give a break to our brains and do something that our tummy would approve of? After all, belly rules the mind. And Infibeamites at Ahmedabad office decided to celebrate their love for food.


It all began with a casual chit-chat after lunch on a lazy afternoon. Somebody popped up with a suggestion - Potluck; and others were waiting to catch the pot. As luck was in our favour, Addy...oops, +Advit Sahdev - Marketing & Promotion team head, waved go-ahead. Then plan, plan and plan. +Rachna Rawat took the initiative to engage the entire floor; she personally went to each desk and asked what they (or their moms & spouses) could cook the best. A lavish menu was prepared on July 11th and each person was assigned with some tasks. Those who were not able to bring anything from home, got something from food stores. Our design team supplied crockery and cutlery: thermocol dishes, bowls, spoons and forks.


On July 12th, everything was in apple-pie order. The conference room on 7th floor was filled with the delicious aroma of irresistible food. As the clock struck 1 pm, all invitees including Mr +Vishal Mehta, CEO - +Infibeam and Mr Malav Mehta - Director, Infibeam made their way to 7th floor conference room. The spectacular event began with smacking of lips and ended with licking of fingertips.

Finally, the team Marketing & Promotion got a pat on the back from Vishal Mehta. And also got the nod for more such events every month. Special thanks to Rachna, Vineeta, +Naresh Koshti and +Jigar Gondalia, who put their heart, soul and hunger to make the entire show a stunning spectacle.


Our ace photographer +Praful Vaidya captured some foodful pics and also employed his creativity to design the invitation. And last but not the least, +Jayesh Purohit & +Advit Sahdev penned the copy for invitation; +Vishal Shastri contributes to circulate this blog.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

TV18 Broadcast Launches India’s First Gujarati Business Channel

Becomes world's first and only truly diversified Business News Network Sanjay Pugalia to be Editor-in-chief
From small-time traders to business leaders, the Gujarati community is India's most dynamic business community. Born entrepreneurs and risk takers, they have been driving the Indian economy with their ambition and putting India on the global business map. It has always been a part of their DNA to give birth to pioneering business ideas, capitalize on opportunities and create a glorious future. It is for this community that we are launching CNBC BAJAR, India's first Gujarati Business Channel- A channel that speaks the real language of business. Designed for India's most vibrant community, dedicated to the original entrepreneurs and global Indians CNBC BAJAR is a tool for Gujaratis to make most of every business and trading day. It's a tool almost as powerful as the Gujarati community itself.

CNBC Bajar is partnered by Infibeam.com, in association with Adani and Ganesh Housing.

Backed by the editorial might of the CNBC Universe - CNBC TV18 and CNBC AWAAZ, CNBC BAJAR is the newest jewel in the crown of India's only business news network. The channel has found endorsement from various personalities.

Mr. +Narendra Modi "It is truly a BIG IDEA to have initiated a business channel in Gujarati. You have understood the mindset and lifeline of Gujarati and I believe this Gujarati channel will get you the highest profit, as compared to all other channels of your Network. Even in the Diamond market, an Israeli is learning Gujarati, in order to conduct business with a 5th standard pass out Gujarati businessman. In the entire world, Gujarati language is accepted as the language of business. It is a form of currency. It is reflective of the economy. And that is why the tagline, "Business Ni Matrubhasha" is easily relatable to Gujaratis."

Mr. Uday Kotak : "First of all - Congratulations. CNBC BAJAR has been launched at the right time. I would say that "Share Bazaar" and "Gujaratis" are synonymous."

Mr. Deepak Parekh: "I'm very happy and delighted to learn that the TV18 Group is starting a new channel called CNBC BAJAR. It is important that we have a business channel in Gujarati, because every Gujarati is a businessman. Business is in the veins of every Gujarati individual."

Ms. Chanda Kochhar: "Gujarati businessmen have two stellar qualities. One is their entrepreneurial spirit and the other is their inherent ability to work hard. When the circumstances are good, they go out of their way to find business opportunities. But when they face challenges, they seek innovative methods of facing them."

Mr. Vallabh Bhansali: "In Mumbai, particularly in the textile market, the wholesale markets, the stock market, the primary language is very much Gujarati. That's why now a Gujarati channel starting in Gujarati language is a very good thing, and my best wishes are with it."

Mr. A.M. Naik: "I think Gujaratis can make business out of nothing. And apart from their entrepreneurial bent of mind, they are devoted to what they do. And that is a deadly combination."

Mr. Adi Godrej: "Gujarat has always played a very strong role in the business affairs of our country. Gujaratis have been entrepreneurial and pioneering. A disproportionate part of the investment into the Indian Stock Market, both primary and secondary, comes from Gujarat."

For the detailed bytes of all the dignitaries, please visit the Annexure.

The channel is anchored and driven by some of the biggest names in Indian news and television. Mr. Sanjay Pugalia is the editor-in-chief and reputed anchors, Mr. Pradeep Pandya and Ms. Aashka Goradia will be the face of the channel.

The channel offering will be a mix of live markets coverage from NSE, BSE, commodities, currency, etc. and feature shows on aspects such as personal finance, entrepreneurship, property, lifestyle, etc.

Editor in chief, Mr. Sanjay Pugalia had this to say on the launch "The kind of programming plan that CNBC BAJAR has, the channel is armed with a global attitude and the pace of a general news channel. We have added stronger doses of content around SME, retail, bullion and commodity into the typical mainstream mix of business news. We will focus both on the micro markets within Gujarat as well as the global markets which affect the investment and business decisions of the business savvy Gujaratis."

CEO of CNBC channels and Forbes India, Mr. Anil Uniyal spoke about the business rationale behind starting this channel "On every economic parameter, from industrialization to GDP per household, Gujaratis are top performers today. However, there isn't enough content being created to serve this hugely affluent set of viewers. It was thus a very simple decision for us when we decided to start this channel. Not only that, no other community devours content revolving around finance, markets, business and economics the way this community does.

With the launch of CNBC BAJAR, our company has become India's only truly diversified business news network with unmatched presence across platforms. We can only go upwards from here."

Speaking on the partnership, "Gujaratis are entrepreneurial and well known for their business acumen. This channel in Gujarati will be worthwhile for their business and new vision. It will be truly their own channel"

Since Gujaratis are perhaps the most global community in the country today, the channel will not only find interest in its home state but also all over the country and beyond that as well.

The marketing campaign of the channel is centered around the thought "The mother tongue of business". It brings out the centricity of business in the life of Gujaratis and how extensively the language is used even today in the numerous dealings of business. The campaign has been designed by Piyush Pandey's O&M.

At a time when the TV industry is going through wholesale changes, this channel targeting a specific niche of affluent viewers is an example for the rest of the industry on the way forward for everyone.

CNBC BAJAR is available on Tata Sky channel 896, You Scod channel 286, GTPL channel 263.

About +Network18 - The Network18 Group is a media and entertainment company with interests in television, internet, films, e-commerce, magazines, mobile content and allied businesses. Through its subsidiary 'TV18 Broadcast Ltd.' [BSE: 532800, NSE: TV18BRDCST], the group operates news channels - CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group). TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels - Colors, Colors HD, MTV, Comedy Central, Vh1, Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr./Teen Nick and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the group's filmed entertainment business.

About +Infibeam  - Infibeam.com is an Ahmedabad based leading e-commerce company with offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. The Company is retailing more than 1.5 million products across 30 categories online. Infibeam today is not just a preferred online shopping destinations for the millions of customers but also runs another remarkable platform BuildaBazaar, which was launched in 2011 with the objective to offer technology platform through which any retail brand, big or small can build its own web store in just a few minutes. Today, BuildaBazaar is hosting more than 15000 retail stores online over its platform.

Annexure-
Mr. Narendra Modi: "It is truly a BIG IDEA to have initiated a business channel in Gujarati.

I know someone who had an English newspaper, which was running into losses and was low on circulation. He was worried about how to keep it afloat. Then he started a newspaper in Gujarati, which focused only on news about the share market. You won't believe, even teachers and farmers started buying the newspapers as they were interested in the share market. As compared to the several pages of English newspapers, this 4-page Gujarati newspaper made a profit that made up for the whole. You have understood the mindset and lifeline of Gujarati and I believe this Gujarati channel will get you the highest profit, as compared to all other channels of your Network. Even in the Diamond market, an Israeli is learning Gujarati, in order to conduct business with a 5th standard pass out Gujarati businessman.

In the entire world, Gujarati language is accepted as the language of business.

It is a form of currency. It is reflective of the economy.

And that is why the tagline, "Business Ni Matrubhasha" is easily relatable to Gujaratis."

Mr. Uday Kotak : "First of all - Congratulations. CNBC BAJAR has been launched at the right time. I would say that "Share Bazaar" and "Gujaratis" are synonymous. The way the country's future is poised, good times are sure to come. And this, I believe, this will be a marathon and not a mere 100 meter sprint. I, thus, advice all your viewers that if they are planning to enter the share market, they should plan their investments from a long-term perspective. For the Gujaratis' time has come."

Mr. Deepak Parekh: "I'm very happy and delighted to learn that the TV18 Group is starting a new channel called CNBC BAJAR. It is not Bazaar, it is BAJAR. And this channel is going to be in Gujarati. It is important that we have a business channel in Gujarati, because every Gujarati is a businessman. Business is in the veins of every Gujarati individual. The Gujarati community has presence all over the world.

Gujarati language has become more or less a part of business language in India. After English, Gujarati language is spoken in all parts of the country, but particularly in business circles."

Ms. Chanda Kochhar: "Gujarati businessmen have two stellar qualities. One is their entrepreneurial spirit and the other is their inherent ability to work hard. The state of Gujarat has undergone development, primarily for two reasons. One of course is the entrepreneurial spirit of Gujaratis and the second is the policies of the Gujarat Government. The Gujarat Government's policies are investment-friendly and this is why Gujarat has experienced ample investment and development. As our business has grown in Gujarat, we have seen investments and savings potential across rural and urban areas. Over and above that, I have some great experiences associated with Gujarat, like sarees from Panetar, sarees of Bandhej and Gujarati food. I think these are some unique experiences. My experience with Gujarati businessmen shows that they seek opportunities and face challenges with equal flair. When the circumstances are good, they go out of their way to find business opportunities. But when they face challenges, they seek innovative methods of facing them. As we have seen frequently, Gujarat has faced several challenges such as earthquakes and more, but even in tough times, Gujaratis have worked hard, overcome these challenges and come out stronger."

Mr. Vallabh Bhansali: "As for success, I think indeed in business, Gujaratis succeed quite a lot. Their business attitude and aptitude, both are very strong. When they fall, stand up again to fight and this is the reason behind their success."

In Mumbai, particularly in the textile market, the wholesale markets, the stock market, the primary language is very much Gujarati.

That's why now a Gujarati channel starting in Gujarati language is a very good thing, and my best wishes are with it.

Mr. A.M. Naik: "I think Gujaratis are entrepreneurs by birth. Every Gujarati has in their DNA the knack to run a business. They see business in anything. I think Gujaratis can make business out of nothing. And apart from their entrepreneurial bent of mind, they are devoted to what they do. And that is a deadly combination.

And what I love most about them is that they not only know how to make money, but also know how to enjoy life. They are great food lovers and travel all around the world.

Mr. Adi Godrej: "Gujarat has always played a very strong role in the business affairs of our country. Gujaratis have been entrepreneurial and pioneering. A disproportionate part of the investment into the Indian Stock Market, both primary and secondary, comes from Gujarat. Some of our largest companies in the country have been started by people from Gujarat. Gujaratis have always been global...in their mindset and in their actions."