Author: Team

Cushman & Wakefield Appoints Moinuddin Patel as Managing Director – Pune

Pune, 09, January 2025: Cushman & Wakefield, one of the largest and fastest growing real estate services firm in India, today announced the appointment of Moinuddin Patel as Managing Director, Pune. In this role, Moinuddin will oversee the firm’s operations in Pune, focusing on driving growth, enhancing client relationships, and further strengthening Cushman & Wakefield’s presence in this key market.

A seasoned real estate professional with over 20 years of experience, Moinuddin has extensive experience in transactional businesses, team leadership, and building strong, long-lasting client partnerships. During his decade long tenure with Cushman & Wakefield, he successfully led the Tenant Representation business in Mumbai, contributing significantly to the firm’s success in the region.

Moinuddin’s academic foundation further complements his professional journey. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) and is a Graduate of Science (Physics) from Mumbai University.

Anshul Jain, Chief Executive, India & SE Asia & APAC Tenant Representation, Cushman & Wakefield, commented, “Moinuddin has been a valuable member of our team for over a decade, delivering exceptional results for our clients and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence within the teams. His deep market knowledge, strategic vision, and strong expertise makes him the ideal choice to lead our business in the Pune market. I am confident that he will further strengthen our presence and unlock new opportunities for growth in the city.”

Reflecting on his new role, Moinuddin Patel said, “I am honoured to take on this leadership role at Cushman & Wakefield in Pune. The city’s growth trajectory presents immense opportunities, and I look forward to working alongside a talented team to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional value to our clients and partners in partners in the region.”

Marking 13 Years of Excellence, Pepperfry Strengthens Focus on Homes and Launches COD

Mumbai, January 9th, 2025: Pepperfry, India’s leading furniture and home décor marketplace, is celebrating its 13th anniversary. Since its inception in 2012, the company has grown from a visionary idea to a trusted name, delivering home solutions and exceptional customer experiences.

Timing with anniversary milestone, Pepperfry has announced the launch of its Cash on Delivery (COD) payment option to make online home shopping even more convenient and accessible. This new offering reflects company’s commitment to catering to diverse customer preferences and ensuring a seamless shopping experience.

Speaking about it, Ashish Shah, Co-founder & CEO of Pepperfry, said, “With Pepperfry completing 13 remarkable years, we are proud to celebrate our journey as India’s one-stop Home destination for all things home. Over 65% of our transactions are driven by the home category, reflecting the trust our customers place in us. This year, with our 13th anniversary, We aim to further establish Pepperfry as India’s No. 1 destination for home and furniture. As a part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing customer convenience, we have also introduced COD (Cash on Delivery) for home décor products, ensuring seamless access to high-quality, stylish offerings. Our focus has always been on enabling customers to create homes that are an extension of their dreams.”

Pepperfry boasts an impressive catalogue of 80,000+ SKUs across categories like Beds, Sofas, Dining, Lamps and Lighting, Kitchen and Dining, Home Décor, and Furnishings, with over 1,000 brands onboard. Its offerings include a trendy and aesthetic mix of products, such as marble-painted lamps, smart lights, blue pottery, and eco-friendly sustainable materials like bamboo and banana fiber. Unique collections like cane, wicker, and macramé further reinforce Pepperfry’s position as a leader in home innovation

Pepperfry has unveiled a giveaway campaign titled “Birthday Return Gifts” to commemorate its 13th anniversary. Running until January 20th, 2025, this thoughtfully curated initiative reflects company’s deep gratitude towards its customers who have been an integral part to its success over the years. Customers stand a chance to win a range of exciting prizes, from stylish home décor items to premium furniture and even complete room makeovers, making the campaign an extraordinary and memorable celebration.

As part of its 13th-anniversary celebrations, Pepperfry has also introduced an exciting campaign Superr 13’ rewarding 13 lucky customers every hour. Running until January 20th, the promotion gives shoppers the chance to win exclusive, unconditional coupons during sale hours, adding even more value to their shopping experience. This initiative underscores Pepperfry’s commitment to celebrating with its customers and making every purchase memorable.

Speaking about the campaign, Mahip Dwivedi, VP & Head of Marketing of Pepperfry said, “Turning 13 is a special milestone for us at Pepperfry. The ‘Birthday Return Gifts’ and ‘Lucky 13 Winners every hour’ both campaigns are at the heart of this milestone. Running until the 20th January, both these campaigns are our way of spreading joy and showing gratitude to the community that has made us India’s go-to destination for All things home. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back; it’s about reinforcing Pepperfry as India’s favourite décor destination for home and living, and celebrating the joy of creating homes together.”

This anniversary campaign not only celebrates Pepperfry’s remarkable journey but also reinforces its identity as a brand that deeply values its customers by enabling offerings is. By encouraging participation through fun and creative contests, both online and in stores, Pepperfry is ensuring that every customer feels like a part of this milestone celebration. The campaign is a reflection of the brand’s belief in fostering connections and creating memorable experiences for its customers while solidifying its position as India’s leading furniture and home décor marketplace.

Kuku FM’s Spiritual Vertical – Bhakti To Officially Launch At Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

Bengaluru, 9 January 2025: Kuku FM, India’s largest platform for audio streaming and shows branches out into the spiritual domain with the “Bhakti App”. The new app will be launched at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 – the largest religious congregation in the world, set to attract over 400 million people worldwide.

Bhakti app aims to elevate the quality of spirituality-themed shows in India by offering an audio OTT platform that has a dedicated team and resources to expand its library of shows over the next 1 year. Bhakti app, houses over 2000 hours of 500+ spirituality-themed shows, audiobooks, bhajans, lessons and more. Listeners can choose from devotional songs, inspiring audio-epics to thematic content around Indian festivals and spiritual chants. The long-form audio shows showcase India’s spiritual heritage and mythology like Bhagwad Gita, Mahabharat, Ram Katha, Vishnu Puran and more. The audio library will cater to devotees across all age groups.

Talking about the launch, Jhoomer Sinha, Vice President – Hindi Business India, Kuku FM said, “India’s rich culture and spiritual diversity will be on full display at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Given the massive attendance and the positive sentiments around it, we feel this is the perfect platform to launch our devotional and spiritual app – Bhakti. There is a dearth of high-quality professionally produced premium shows in this genre and we intend to fill this gap with this app. We have drawn inspiration from our rich heritage and have high quality audio shows spanning content across mythology, spirituality, devotion, rituals as well as chants and bhajans.

At the Kumbh Mela, a 360-degree campaign is being planned leveraging on-ground presence with tent branding, kiosks and more. Across the kiosks, devotees will get a glimpse of our audio shows as well as a chance to participate in several contests. The campaign’s give-aways include an all-expense sponsored trip across India’s holy Char Dhaams among many other thoughtful prizes. A follow-on Bhakti campaign will also be kickstarted across digital platforms to reach new audiences throughout the country.”

Elaborating further Jhoomer said, “While the Maha Kumbh Mela happens once in 12 years, with Bhakti App, devotees can continue their spiritual journeys from any corner of the world with just a click. In the beta stage, we have received a resounding response from users with 500k downloads and extremely positive feedback.”

Bhakti App features some of the most popular scriptures and audiobooks such as Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana & Mahabharata, Secrets of the Four Yugas, Mystery of Seven Immortals, Samudra Manthan & Kalki Avatar, Tales of Vedas and Upanishads and more. With Bhakti app, Kuku FM also forays into India’s music streaming and astrology market by offering a selected curation of devotional music and astrology-centred original content available on the app.

Plans are underway for the next year to double Bhakti’s library catalogue with an aim to expand across multiple languages beyond Hindi.

OTEK launches BM09, India’s first AI Mouse with Voice Typing, Voice Translation, Smart Writing & OCR

Pune, January 9, 2025: OTEK, a startup in consumer electronics & computer accessories, today announced the launch of BM09, India’s first AI-integrated Mouse for enhanced productivity and effortless multitasking. The BM09 has an extensive range of innovative features like voice typing, translation, OCR scanning, and smart AI tools and will be available for buying online on Amazon and the brand’s website with a 10% discount, along with offline IT retail shops.

The launch of OTEK-BM09 is a significant milestone for OTEK, creating a product funnel where productivity meets effortless creativity. Intending to capture the growing electronics and computer accessories market in India with expected high demand, OTEK is targeting an extensive portfolio of potential customers: professionals, students, academics, creative professionals, content creators, and tech enthusiasts. The brand’s long-term goal is to uniquely position and keep its leadership status in the space, paving the way for more innovative products.

As India’s first AI-integrated Mouse, the BM09 has an AI Button that offers users instant access to OTEK’s AI software. Furthermore, the product is also equipped with an OCR button for transforming images to text instantly and a voice button for seamless voice typing & commands. However, the highlight of the BM09 is the translation button on the left side, enabling multilingual communication and instant voice-to-text translation in 100+ languages in real-time. The BM09 can connect with multiple devices simultaneously through its advanced Bluetooth 5.0 or 2.4 GHz wireless dongle. Users can switch seamlessly between devices such as laptops, tablets, and desktops with a stable and low-latency connection.

Mr. Prashant Bora, MD & CEO of OTEK (A Bora Multicorp Venture), put forth the brand’s vision associated with the launch of BM09, saying, “User requirements and innovative technologies will be critical factors for the growth of India’s electronics & computer accessories market in the coming years. At OTEK, our vision is to supplement this shift with high-quality and affordable products that are reliable and easily manageable. With the launch of India’s first AI-integrated Mouse, we are looking to transform how basic computer accessories are perceived in India while empowering users with our extensive support system, visibility, control, and confidence with innovative features. The BM09 has been designed with a comprehensive transformation of the computer accessories space in mind, and we stay confident at its potential and the next scope of growth.”

The BM09 comes equipped with extensive innovative features that enhance productivity while making user operations simpler, smarter, and more connected. Through OTEK AI, users can undertake procedures like writing, problem-solving and learning new things. It also helps users with extensive operations like meeting notes, drafting weekly/monthly reports, SWOT analysis, essay writing, project proposals, legal documents and many more. The OTEK AI can also undertake complex procedures in creating presentations, spreadsheets, image generation, proofreading, summarization, OCR scanning and AI assistants in a fast, correct, and hassle-free manner.

The OTEK-BM09 stands for the brand’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into everyday tools, making technology smarter, more accessible, and user-friendly. With a weight of 92 grams, the BM09 is lightweight and is equipped with a 5.0/2.4GHz Wireless Connection for transmission mode, provides adjustable DPI sensitivity options: 800, 1200, 1600, 2400, and 4000 for precise cursor control and a Type-C Charging Port. The BM09 is also compatible with Windows 8/10/11, MacOS version 10.15 and above is available in two color variants, Black and White.

FHRAI Welcomes Andhra Pradesh’s Tourism Policy 2024-29 as a Transformative Step for Growth

India, 9 Jan,25 – The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), the world’s third-largest hospitality association, has welcomed the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024-29, lauding it as a visionary move to transform the state’s tourism landscape. By fostering a conducive investment climate, bolstering infrastructure, and promoting sustainability, the policy seeks to elevate Andhra Pradesh as a global tourism hub while ensuring economic growth, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.

With the announcement of its transformative Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024-2029, the State Government has granted “Industry Status” to the hospitality and tourism sector across all segments, recognising its strategic importance as a key driver of economic growth, employment generation, and regional development. This bold step reaffirms the state’s commitment to positioning Andhra Pradesh as a premier global tourism hub and driving economic growth, employment, and cultural enrichment. The Policy 2024-29 sets ambitious goals with a mission-driven approach.

The Vision 2047 focuses on transforming Andhra Pradesh into a global tourism hub, offering world-class spiritual, coastal, ecological, and wellness experiences while prioritising sustainable development. Mission 2029 talks about elevating tourism’s contribution to the state’s Gross Value Added (GVA) from 4.6% to 8% and its share in employment from 12% to 15%. Simultaneously, aiming to attract private investments worth ₹25,000 crore.

The policy emphasizes maximizing tourism potential, by developing seven major hubs and creating 25 circuits spanning across beach tourism, eco-tourism, river cruises, Buddhist heritage, and temple tourism. The policy’s foundation rests on four strategic pillars: Diversified Tourism Offerings; Infrastructure Upgrades; Sustainable Practices; and Robust Governance Frameworks.

The Policy offers robust fiscal incentives such as 100% Stamp Duty reimbursement on land purchases or leases for tourism projects, waiver of Land Conversion Charges, and 100% reimbursement of expenses incurred for getting quality certification. It also offers a Capital Subsidy at 25% of the fixed capital investment (FCI) for MSMEs and 10% for Large, Mega, and Ultra Mega Tourism Projects with certain capping.

Along with these financial benefits, the policy includes non-financial incentives like a single-window clearance system to speed up approvals and the creation of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) to manage anchor hubs and thematic circuits. The Policy also emphasises establishing district-level hubs to support investors and track project progress.

Reacting to this development, Mr. K. Syama Raju, President of FHRAI, further stated: “Andhra Pradesh has taken a giant leap in Tourism and Hospitality. Recognising tourism as an industry, combined with substantial incentives for private investors and a focus on thematic circuits, will elevate the state’s appeal to tourists. With its emphasis on sustainability and community empowerment, this policy has the potential to create significant economic and employment opportunities. FHRAI is keen to collaborate with the state government to achieve these ambitious goals.”

FHRAI strongly believes that granting ‘Industry Status’ as well as the incentives offered to the tourism and hospitality sector shall reduce operating costs, facilitate ease of doing business, as also encourage domestic and international investments while positioning Andhra Pradesh as a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable leader in India’s tourism industry. Moreover, it is also a move towards a visionary roadmap for other States to follow suit. The strategic blend of fiscal incentives, sustainable practices, and inclusive policies of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024-2029 sets a benchmark for other States to replicate.

By aligning infrastructure development, private investment, and workforce training with sustainability and community welfare, the policy aims to position Andhra Pradesh as a leading player in India’s tourism industry while benefiting local communities and the hospitality sector. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy 2024-29 marks a transformative step in unlocking the state’s tourism potential.

Beat Rising Winter Energy Bills with 5 Energy-Efficient Bajaj Water Heaters

As winter sets in, energy bills tend to soar, especially with the increased need for hot water for your showers. But high costs don’t have to dampen your season! Bajaj brings you a range of energy-efficient water heaters, crafted to deliver cozy warmth without straining your wallet. Designed with care, Bajaj water heaters ensure consistent comfort while helping you save on energy, making your winters both warm and budget-friendly.

 Whether you’re preparing for a long, hot shower or just washing up; these models are built to meet diverse needs without compromising on durability, or affordability. Here are best water heaters models to consider this season:

Bajaj Eternal Series Pentacle Digi 15L: Smart Water Heater with Digital Precision:
The Pentacle Digi isn’t just smart on the outside with its digital temperature control – it’s built smart on the inside too. Its key features include DuraAce™ tank, fortified with marine-grade glass-line coating, stands strong against corrosion, ensuring years of reliable performance. The DuraCoat™ non-stick heating element efficiently heats water while resisting scale buildup, maximizing energy savings. Precise temperature control is further enhanced by the DuraNte™ Thermostat and easy-to-use remote control, letting you set your perfect comfort level while minimizing energy wastage. It’s AgeGuard™ technology prevents color fading of outer body. It is backed by a 4-year product warranty & 6 years element warranty. Apart from the durable features, it has 8 smart modes which enables users to set geyser as per their need. The Pentacle Digi is smart water heater that offers savings and lasting performance.

Bajaj Armour Series Contempo: Faster Heating in a Stylish Package:

The Bajaj Contempo is a stylish and efficient water heater packed with features for lasting performance and safety. Inside, it’s has the DuraAce™ Tank with marine-grade glass-line coating providing excellent protection against corrosion and backed by a 10-year warranty and the DuraCoat™ non-stick heating element which resists scale build up and comes with a 6-year warranty. Its 3 kW power delivers 33% faster heating, while the shock-resistant and rust-proof Engineering thermoplastic body adds to its longevity and modern aesthetic. Safety is paramount with features like Child safety mode, Bajaj Voltage Pro™ and the DuraNte™ Thermostat for reliable and safe operation. It’s AgeGuard™ technology prevent color fading of outer body.

Bajaj Endure Series Gracio Storage Water Heater: Stylish & Efficient Water Heater:
This Bajaj Gracio water heater features impressive Bajaj DuraAce™ Tank with marine-grade glass-line coating, providing excellent protection against corrosion and backed by a 10-year warranty. Impressive. Efficient heating is ensured by the Bajaj DuraCoat™ Non-Stick Heating Element, which resists scale buildup and comes with a 6-year warranty. The reliable Bajaj DuraNte™ Thermostat ensures consistent performance offering 4 years of reliability and insulated tank minimizes heat loss, keeping your water hot for longer adding to the energy saving,. It’s Bajaj AgeGuard™ technology prevent color fading of outer body. The Gracio proves that you can enjoy efficient and durable hot water which add up to the bathroom decor.

Bajaj Shield Series Immorto Storage Water Heater- Long-Lasting Efficiency:

The Immorto, with its durable construction and efficient heating element, is designed for long-lasting performance and energy savings. It’s hero features include DuraAce™ Tank (10-year warranty) and DuraCoat™ Non-Stick Heating Element (6-year warranty) ensure durability and efficient heating. The DuraNte™ Thermostat provides reliable performance, while Bajaj Voltage Pro™ (4.5kV surge protection) and Child Safety Mode enhances safety. A variable temperature setting add to its convenience and pre-coated metal body adds to longevity. The Immorto is a smart choice for reliable and safe hot water. . It is available in 4 capacity options, 6L, 10L, 15L and 25L.

Bajaj Shield Series Crest Plus Water Heater: Essential Efficiency for Every Home:

The Crest Plus is a feature-packed water heater offering both efficiency and safety. Its hero features are DuraAce™ Tank (10-year warranty) and DuraCoat™ Non-Stick Heating Element (6-year warranty) ensure durability and efficient heating. The DuraNte™ Thermostat provides reliable performance. VoltagePro™, multiple safety systems, shock-resistant Engineering thermoplastic body and Child Safety Mode prioritize safety. A 5-star BEE rating, and Swirl flow Technology enhance efficiency. A Thermostat Knob provides convenient temperature control. The Crest Plus is a reliable and efficient hot water solution.

This winter, combat rising energy costs with Bajaj Electricals’ best water heaters, designed to keep your home warm and your bills low. Whether you need an instant water heater for quick heating, a storage water heater for larger capacity, or a gas water heater for energy-efficient performance, Bajaj has the perfect winter water heater to suit your needs. Each model is thoughtfully crafted to deliver consistent warmth while conserving energy, offering the ideal balance of comfort and savings. Enjoy long, relaxing showers and peace of mind this season with a Bajaj water heater for winter—your perfect partner for efficiency and cozy warmth.