Author: Neel Achary

New Empire Corp. Chairman and CEO, Bentley Zhao Receives the American Dream Lifetime Achievement Award at an Event Recognizing Outstanding Contributions of Key Asian American Leaders

Event Commemorated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

NEW YORK, June 22, 2023 – Bentley Zhao, Chairman and CEO of the New Empire Corp, received the “American Dream Lifetime Achievement Award” at an event commemorating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Fushimi Japanese Restaurant on May 20, 2023. During the event, Mr. Edward F. Cox, Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, recognized Asian American leaders for their contributions to the citizens of New York City.

New Empire Corp. (NEC), Chairman and CEO, Bentley Zhao has delivered 120+ projects including condominiums, hotels, and mixed-use properties and added more than 2000 units to the firm’s residential portfolio and development pipeline. As Founding Chair of the Asian Commercial Real Estate Association, Zhao works to increase housing attainability in Asian-American communities.

“I was honored to receive the American Dream Lifetime Achievement Award during this important celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” said New Empire Corp. Chairman and CEO, Bentley Zhao. “Seeking opportunities to give back in meaningful ways is one of the most important things we can do,” he added. “Through our efforts, we’re seeing a social impact as well with direct and indirect job creation. Indirectly, we’re able to develop communities, and bring together local businesses such as coffee shops and restaurants, while directly creating more jobs in the construction/service space, as well as architects, engineers and more,” Zhao concluded.

In addition to the “American Dream Lifetime Achievement Award,” Zhao also received the “2018 Lifetime Achievement Award” from the President. Bentley Zhao has won a great number of other awards in his illustrious career. Among the numerous awards he has earned are that he was recognized as a “2022 Chinese Construction Outstanding Professional,” by Chinese American Construction Professional Chairman, Andy Jiang. Additionally, he was presented with a “Certificate of Recognition” by Cynthia Sternquist, the mayor of Temple City. Other of Zhao’s awards include that he was presented with a “Community Service Award” by NYC Assemblyman William Colton and NYC Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate, Jr. presented Zhao with the “Entrepreneur of The Year- Real Estate Award.” Congress member Max Rose also presented Zhao with a “Certificate of Congressional Recognition.”

DS Group Takes an Innovative Lead in Making Waste Segregation Easier

Launches a unique awareness campaign #CatchTheRightBin

New Delhi, June 22nd, 2023: Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), a multi-business corporation and a leading FMCG Conglomerate today announced a public awareness campaign, ‘#CatchTheRightBin’ to educate people on the importance of waste segregation at source to aid the waste management process. Initiating this drive under the brand Catch, the Group has introduced a solution that guides consumers in the disposal of the packaging in the correct bin after use.

Implementing a simple yet impactful change, the DS Group has substituted the current black waste basket symbol on the packaging with coloured bin, to guide the consumer to the right bin.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, DS Group said, “As a responsible corporate citizen, DS Group recognizes the importance of waste segregation and understands its role in this context to bring about a behavioural change amongst us. We wish to create awareness and drive what is a simple, positive call to action that every individual can undertake thereby creating a deeper impact. With the #CatchTheRightBin campaign, we endeavor to promote, inculcate and instil the habit of responsible waste segregation at source and work with our consumers to set a benchmark in waste management culture.”

Conceptualized by Dentsu Creative, this campaign acts as a platform that urges its audiences and invites other brands to implement this method and make waste segregation easy for customers. The DS Group will launch a comprehensive 360-degree public awareness campaign for waste segregation. It includes digital films, OOH, social media and on ground activation to educate and guide people on proper waste segregation practices. The media partner on the campaign is Mindshare and the social media partner is Grapes.

The DS Group’s sustainability initiatives are in areas of energy management, water management, material conservation, recycling, and waste management. Guided by a clear set of values and built on a strong foundation of philanthropy, corporate responsibility is an integral part of the Group’s business objectives to enhance livelihoods and build sustainable communities.

Premium Fast-Fashion Brand, French Crown raises INR 8.6 Cr from Velocity

Bangalore, 22 June 2023: Dedicated premium fast-fashion brand French Crown has raised INR 8.6 Crores over multiple tranches from Velocity.in, India’s largest revenue-based financier. With a vision to revolutionize the fast-fashion industry, French Crown has made significant strides in expanding its global reach, boasting a remarkable presence in over 90 countries.

French Crown, a renowned player in the fashion industry, is creating a stir with its unwavering dedication to innovation and style. With a remarkable track record of launching over 200 new designs every week, the brand is captivating fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Unlike conventional apparel companies, French Crown stays ahead of the curve by leveraging its creative prowess and in-depth understanding of market trends.

Ilesh Ghevariya and Bhavidip Ghevariya, Co-Founders of French Crown said, “The support and funding provided by Velocity has been instrumental in helping French Crown. With Velocity’s strategic partnership, we have achieved a significant milestone by becoming a INR 100 crore bootstrapped brand, demonstrating our ability to grow in a highly competitive market. This partnership has enabled us to invest in strategic marketing initiatives, resulting in increased brand visibility across the globe. Our ability to launch over 200 designs every week allows us to stay ahead of the competition and maintain a loyal customer base. Our commitment to offering something new and captivating with every collection has solidified our position as a leader in the industry, while debunking the notion that fast-fashion compromises quality or value.”

French Crown has successfully cracked the code to overcome one of the biggest challenges faced by major brands in the fashion industry – dead stock. Utilizing advanced forecasting algorithms and tailor-made in house inventory tracking management systems, they minimize waste and optimize inventory management. Their seamless coordination from design to distribution ensures every garment finds a satisfied customer, fostering sustainability and efficiency in the fast-fashion landscape.

While social media has become the go-to platform for fashion advertising, French Crown sets itself apart by consistently offering fresh designs that entice customers. With each visit, customers are greeted with a delightful array of unique, trendy garments, ensuring a shopping experience that is always fresh and exciting. With an impressive 50% customer retention rate vs. the industry average standard of 28.2%, French Crown has proven its ability to captivate and engage its audience.

Beyond their relentless creativity, French Crown is dedicated to sustainability and ethical practices. While the fast-fashion industry has faced criticism for contributing to pollution and exploitation, French Crown takes a different approach. This commitment to responsible fashion is a testament to their unwavering dedication to making a positive impact.

Speaking about the funding, Atul Khichariya, Co-Founder & COO of Velocity said, “I am thrilled that Velocity, as a growth partner, has been instrumental in fueling the remarkable success of French Crown. With a steadfast commitment to sustainability, French Crown has proven that it’s possible to launch over 200 new designs every week while practicing fair trade and minimizing their environmental impact. By incorporating eco-friendly materials, adopting ethical manufacturing practices, and prioritizing transparency in their supply chain, French Crown has emerged as an influential force in conscious fashion. Their success demonstrates that fashion can be both stylish and sustainable, inspiring the entire industry to embrace a more responsible approach to production and consumption.”

As French Crown continues to grow and captivate the fashion world, their ability to offer a wide range of designs each week remains a key element of their success. With an ever-expanding customer base and a strong presence on social media, the brand is poised to become the go-to destination for fashion-forward individuals seeking fresh, unique, and sustainable apparel options.

AIMIL Ayouthveda launches in Nepal with Ms. Jassita Gurung as its brand ambassador

New Delhi, July – AIMIL AYOUTHVEDA – a global skincare brand known for its natural yet innovative products, unveils and strengthens its presence with its much-awaited launch in Nepal. The celebration also marks the onboarding of the brand’s first-ever brand ambassador Ms. Jassita Gurung, an acclaimed actress from Nepal. The collaboration aims to strengthen Ayouthveda’s presence in the Nepalese market and promote the brand’s commitment to delivering Effective Skin Care.

Gurung with her captivating on-screen presence and passion for promoting self-care and wellness, perfectly embodies Ayouthveda’s core values. Over the years, Ayouthveda has earned a reputation for harnessing the power of Ayurveda, combining it with modern science to develop effective and high-quality skincare solutions. The brand offers a wide range of products that cater to diverse skin concerns, ensuring customers experience visible results and long-lasting benefits. As a brand ambassador, she will play a pivotal role in endorsing Ayouthveda’s idea to promote safe and effective skincare and will act as an anchor to build a relationship of trust between the audience and the brand.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Sanchit Sharma, Founder and Director of Ayouthveda, stated, “We are delighted to extend our branch internationally in Nepal and welcome Ms. Jassita as our brand ambassador in Nepal. Her grace, authenticity, and dedication to her craft align perfectly with Ayouthveda’s philosophy of embracing natural beauty and holistic wellness. We are confident that her association with the brand will resonate with our customers and further enhance Ayouthveda’s position as a trusted skincare brand in Nepal.”

Jassita Gurung, known for her versatility and acting prowess, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “I am honoured to be associated with AIMIL Ayouthveda, a brand that celebrates the essence of Ayurveda and offers products that nourish and enhance natural beauty. Skincare is an integral part of my self-care, and I am thrilled to be a part of Ayouthveda’s journey to empower individuals to embrace their skin and feel confident in their own beauty.”

As part of this partnership, Ayouthveda and Gurung will engage in various promotional activities spanning print & digital campaigns, social media initiatives, and public appearances. The launch in Nepal is a start of a beautiful chapter in expansion and a stepping stone towards reaching a fresh generation of enthusiasts who appreciate the science of Ayurveda.

Muscle & Strength India enters Telangana market with store launch in Secunderabad

Hyderabad, June 22, 2023: Muscle & Strength India, one of the country’s leading retailers of fitness supplements & nutritional products has launched its store recently in Secunderabad, Telangana. Renowned bodybuilder and former Mr. India, IFBB PRO Manoj Patil inaugurated the store located at Secunderabad. Muscle & Strength India is looking to expand aggressively in South India through franchisee route as it seeks to deepen its presence in India’s growing nutritional supplement space. The brand already has 3 stores in South India – Vellore, Gulbarga & Secunderabad now and plans to further strengthen its on-ground presence in the region by adding 10 more stores in the next 1 year.

Muscle & Strength India currently has 25 stores spread across multiple cities and has the widest range with over 1000 fitness supplements and nutrition products from 42+ brands. These products are used for athletic performance, fitness and overall wellness. As part of the expansion plan, Muscle & Strength India will also partner with various gyms across the country, while introducing more products in the near future.

“It has been our top priority to widen our network and deepen our penetration pan India. We are delighted to enter the Telangana market and we will also continue to expand our footprint in newer cities in South India in coming months. Our new stores are also a testament to our unwavering commitment of providing genuine and economically priced supplements which has increased consumers’ trust in our brand. Apart from metros, we are also witnessing demand in the tier 2 & tier 3 cities where availability of latest, genuine and economically priced supplements is still a challenge,” said Mr. Praveen Chirania, Founder, Muscle and Strength India.

“The driving factor of the Indian dietary supplements market is the increasing health consciousness and proactive health mindset amongst the consumers. We should be careful about our dietary habits, lifestyle and our body and we should join the fitness industry and motivate others as well. Fitness is the real wealth in today’s age because if you are fit, you can live longer and do better things in life. I am happy to be here in Telangana and advocate healthy ways to be fit and use genuine health supplements. However, it is important to make the distinction between genuine and fake supplements and hence one should buy them from genuine dealers of reputed brands.” said Manoj Patil, Renowned model and bodybuilder.

“We are happy to join hands with Muscle & Strength India who has become one of the fastest growing retail chains in the health supplement market in India. In a short span of time, Muscle & Strength India has already made its mark with its authentic and genuine products. Our ideal target audience are those who are interested in fitness and sports nutrition, gym-goers, sports enthusiasts, health gurus, health-conscious individuals, etc.” said Srikanth Biradar & Vinay Balne, Store Owners, Muscle and Strength India.

Founded in 2018 by Praveen Chirania, Muscle & Strength India is a leading brand in the supplements space today endorsed by celebrities and athletes like Mika Singh, Shreyas Talpade, and Tarun Gill amongst others. The company offers a comprehensive range of genuine high-quality fitness supplements and nutritional products across categories such as proteins, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements etc manufactured by international fitness brands under a single roof.

Committed to providing world class fitness supplements & nutritional products, Muscle and Strength India is creating a niche for itself by creating a mark as one of India’s leading health supplement brands, providing high-quality, authentic products to fulfill the demands of new age customers. Muscle & Strength India aims to expand in the near future and further launch products in various variants, focusing on different health and wellness categories and segments.

Tumble Dry goes on an aggressive expansion plan -“To open one store daily to Meet Ever-Growing Demand” Tumble Dry goes on an aggressive expansion plan

–          To open one store daily to Meet Ever-Growing Demand

New Delhi, 22nd June 2023: Tumbledry, a leading provider of laundry and dry clean services, is making significant strides towards its ambitious goal of opening 2000 stores by the year 2025. The company’s rapid growth presents a significant opportunity for emerging entrepreneurs in tier 1 and tier 2 cities.

As a franchise-based business model, Tumbledry has successfully captured 56% of the organized laundry market, offering entrepreneurs an opportunity to tap into the growing demand for laundry services. Tumbledry provides comprehensive support to its franchisees, including training, guidance on operations, marketing assistance, and promotional activities. This support system has enabled franchisees to set up thriving stores and achieve business growth in collaboration with Tumbledry.

Since December 2022, Tumbledry has launched an impressive 189 stores, setting a new standard in the industry by opening one store per day over the past six months. This extraordinary pace of expansion demonstrates Tumbledry’s commitment to pushing boundaries and consistently expanding its footprint. Notably, in the months of March, April, and May 2023 alone, Tumbledry introduced an impressive total of 25, 35, and 30 stores, respectively.

Tumbledry currently has over 70 stores in the works, scheduled to go live in June and July 2023. These new store openings will span a wide range of cities across India, including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Patna, Jammu, Ranchi, Kolkata, Kashipur, Barpeta, Sonari, Silvassa, Shimla, Giridih, Bokaro, Gulbarga, Hubli, Kozhikode, Kollam, Barmati, Erode, Jaunpur, and Sodepur. By expanding its presence to these diverse locations, Tumbledry aims to make its exceptional laundry services more accessible and efficient for people across different regions.

Tumbledry’s growth has been fueled by its quarter-on-quarter expansion. The company has achieved remarkable success, operating 604 stores in 198 cities in just 48 months. Data shows that out of the total franchise partners on-boarded by Tumbledry, a significant 40% are from Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions, highlighting the company’s commitment to reaching customers beyond major metropolitan areas.

“We are incredibly proud of our rapid growth and expansion efforts,” said Mr. Gaurav Nigam, Founder at Tumbledry. “By opening one store per day, we are determined to make our high-quality laundry services accessible to more customers throughout the country. Our expansion reflects our commitment to revolutionizing the laundry industry and providing exceptional growth in the industry.”

Tumbledry differentiates itself from other service providers by prioritizing transparency, high-quality service, and customer convenience. The company utilizes state-of-the-art machinery and chemicals sourced from Sweden, America, and Germany. It also boasts an in-house academy to train its washermen and pressmen, ensuring clothes are handled with the utmost care. With a focus on hygiene, Tumbledry processes each customer’s clothes separately and guarantees 99% stain removal with specially developed chemicals. Customers can witness the cleaning process in live stores and track orders through the mobile app, which includes free home pickup and delivery. These unique features set Tumbledry apart from other laundry service providers.

The laundry service market in India is vast, with a value of USD 35.83 billion in 2020 and an estimated worth of INR 2.2 Lakh Cr. Despite this, 96% of the Indian laundry industry remains unorganized. Tumbledry aims to tap into this growing market by offering franchise opportunities, providing a chance to be part of a rapidly growing industry with a high return on investment. The company’s franchise model has enabled it to penetrate smaller cities and towns, where the demand for quality laundry and dry cleaning services is growing.

Tumbledry is working diligently towards addressing the laundry and dry cleaning needs of half a billion urban Indians by launching 2000 live stores by 2026. The company’s goal is to cover all Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities and establish a hyper-local presence by having one Tumbledry store within every 3 km radius. This strategic expansion plan aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to high-quality laundry and dry cleaning services.

TrafficGuard raises $6.5 million via strongly supported placement

In addition to the latest funding Trafficguard has onboarded India Gifting Portal(IGP) and RupeeRedee

22 June, India: TrafficGuard, an omnichannel ad verification platform, today announces that it has launched a $9 million capital raise with $6.5m cornered via a strongly supported and upsized two-tranche share placement (Placement) to existing long-term sophisticated investor shareholders and new high-quality institutional shareholders. The placement will witness the firm issuing a total of 135,416,666 new fully paid ordinary shares in two tranches.

Highlighting the importance of the fresh capital, Mathew Ratty, CEO and Co-Founder, of TrafficGuard said, “In the modern era where brands are busy embracing digital transformation, the rise of new-age bots, SDK spoofing and click spamming has fueled the growth of advertising fraud. Today, ad fraud is costing advertisers a staggering $127 billion per year. To combat these issues, modern-day advertisers desperately need innovative, tech-enabled solutions to measure and verify traffic. This is where TrafficGuard has carved its niche as one of the most-preferred partners to several well-known, multi-billion dollar global enterprises in their bid to curb faux engagement, reduce ad spend and unlock the best advertising results.”

“We, at TrafficGuard, have grown exponentially on the back of our customer-centric approach and meticulous efforts to raise awareness among marketers pertaining to ad fraud and best practices to negate it. And, the latest funding is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team of engineers and data scientists in creating award-winning products. Aligned with our long-term vision of aiding global brands, the funding will not only contribute to our enterprise level strategy but also play a pivotal role in monetising our self-serve product consisting of youtube, search, display, discovery, etc. With over 4,500 sign ups on our freemium version, we look forward to rolling out our new reporting suite to the mass markets,” he added.

In what appears to be a lucrative opportunity for its shareholders, TrafficGuard will also be seen rolling out an optional Share Purchase Plan (SPP) which will exclusively allow eligible shareholders to purchase up to $30,000 worth of shares at the same issue price as the Placement regardless of the size of their shareholding, sans any brokerage or transaction costs. The SPP will be integral in the company’s vision to raise up to $2.5 million.

TrafficGuard, with the proceeds from the Placement and the SPP, aims to fund processes to streamline the company’s pipeline of enterprise customers, vital enhancements to its products, development of new product features and capabilities; and sales and marketing initiatives to further grow its customer base.

Welspun India Tops Home Textile Manufactures In Sustainalytics Rating

Mumbai, 22 June 2023 – Leading textile major Welspun India Limited (WIL), continues its impressive performance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) parameters which is reflected in this year’s Sustainalytics’ ESG risk ratings The company has achieved a notable score of 11.3, a significant improvement over its previous year score of 14.4. This is an acknowledgment of its consistent push to adopt ESG as an important pillar of its business strategy.

Sustainalytics, a leading independent ESG and corporate governance research, ratings, and analytics firm, evaluated companies across various industry sectors and assessed WIL’s performance in the Textile & Apparel category. Welspun India now ranks 9th out of 202 participants worldwide and is positioned in the “Low risk” category. It is the highest ranked Indian company amongst industry peers which comes in the backdrop of multiple ESG initiatives that the company has taken over the past years like its Decarbonisation road map, Water conservation initiatives, use of sustainable raw materials, supply chain sustainability, etc. These initiatives amply demonstrate WIL’s dedication to sustainable business practices and commitment to become world leaders in the ESG space.

The assessment highlighted Welspun India’s ESG management as “Strong”. This recognition represents the company’s strategic efforts towards integrating environmental, social, and governance factors into its business operations and decision-making processes.

Speaking on the achievement, Dipali Goenka, MD & CEO, Welspun India said, “Welspun India’s initiatives towards our environment has only been growing with the company’s strengthening position both domestically & globally. We have also endeavoured to give back to society and such achievements motivate the team even further to go the extra mile and think out-of-the-box for to conserve our environment.”

India’s Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House

WASHINGTON:  On Thursday, June 22, 2023, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the White House. The leader of the most populous country in the world, Prime Minister Modi, will sit with President Biden and the world will watch the two nation’s reunion since the ban on Prime Minister Modi was lifted nearly a decade ago.

If you would like more context on the matter, please consider George Washington University experts, Deepa Ollapally and Alyssa Ayres. If you would like to speak with a GW expert, please contact media relations specialist Shannon Mitchell at shannon.mitchell@gwu.edu or gwmedia@gwu.edu.

Deepa Ollapally, Research Professor of International Affairs; Associate Director, Sigur Center for Asian Studies; Director, Rising Power Initiative. Professor Ollapally is an expert on Indian foreign policy, US-India relations, great power competition in the Indian Ocean and India-China relations. Professor Ollapally has authored five books and is currently working on a funded book, Big Power Competition for Influence in the Indian Ocean Region. Professor Ollapally has held senior positions in the policy world including the US Institute of Peace, Washington DC and the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India.

Alyssa Ayres, Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs. Dean Ayres is an expert on India’s role in the world and in U.S. relations with South Asia in the larger Indo-Pacific. Dean Ayres is a foreign policy practitioner and award-winning author with senior experience in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. Dean Ayres serves as an adjunct senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, Dean Ayres served as deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia during the Obama administration. During Ayres’s time at the State Department, she provided policy direction for four US embassies and four consulates.

Histria Books to Participate at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference In Chicago

Histria Books, an independent publishing house with offices in Las Vegas and Palm Beach, is pleased to announce its participation in the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition. The conference will be held in Chicago, IL from June 22-27, 2023.

Histria Books will be exhibiting at booth 4429I, part of the Independent Publishers Pavilion. The booth will feature a variety of books from Histria’s catalog, as well as book signings with authors.

The following authors will be appearing at the booth:

Olivia Goodreau, author of But She Looks Fine: From Illness to Activism (Sunday, 1 pm)

Doug Greco, To Find A Killer (Saturday, 12 pm)

Beth Bacon, author of The Panda Cub Swap (Saturday, 10 am)

Johnny Teague, author of The Lost Diary of Anne Frank (Saturday, 11 am) and The Lost Diary of George Washington (Saturday, 3:30 pm)

Rob Smat, author of Power to the Players (Saturday, 3 pm)

Sarah Anne Carter, author of Orphan Wish Island (Saturday, 2 pm)

Randy O’Brien, author of Gettysburg by Morning (Sunday, 11 am)

During the meet-and-greets with authors, Histria Books will be giving away free books and advance reader copies (ARCs) of upcoming releases that each author will sign.

“We are excited to be participating in the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition,” said Diana Livesay, Assistant Director of Histria Books. “This is a great opportunity for us to connect with librarians and book industry professionals, and to share our love of books with the world.”

The ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition is the largest library event in the world. It brings together thousands of librarians, library staff, educators, authors, publishers, and other book industry professionals from around the world.

For more information about Histria Books, please visit www.histriabooks.com.

Histria Books
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