Category Archives: Business

PerformAce’s ConnectX Secures Exclusive Rights to the Indian Sneaker Festival

New Delhi, September 03,2025 – In a landmark move set to redefine India’s sneaker and streetwear culture landscape, PerformAce today announced that it has acquired the exclusive rights to the Indian Sneaker Festival (ISF), India’s biggest celebration of sneakers, fashion, music, and lifestyle.

With the support of PerformAce’s ConnectX, ISF aims to pursue a new level of growth, broaden its horizons, and elevate street-wear in India to an international level, as The Indian Sneaker Festival has evolved into the one stop destination for sneakerheads, collectors, streetwear aficionados, artists and brands, intersecting fashion, music and lifestyle into rare experience.

ISF is known as India’s largest sneaker and streetwear culture festival with:

• Sneakers & streetwear showcase: Exclusive product drops, limited-edition launches, and exhibits from both global and local brands.
• Music & cultural PerformAce: Line ups with global superstars and India’s hip-hop pioneers. In 2025, Grammy award-winning rapper 21 Savage was our headliner which was a watershed moment for India’s music and streetwear scene. We have had past performances from sensational acts such as Seedhe Maut and Wazir.
• Experiential zones: Live flea markets, sneaker-trading, customization stations, graffiti art, workshops and interactive brand activations.

Speaking on the acquisition, a leadership spokesperson from PerformAce said:
“We are delighted to present ISF solely under the PerformAce banner. The meaning behind the Streetwear and sneakers category runs deeper than products – it represents identity, creativity, and culture. In partnership with ISF, we want to create a global platform, here in India, enabling youth to connect, collaborate and celebrate.”

Anytime Fitness Opens New Club in Gurgaon’s Sector 29, paving the Way for Growth in Delhi NCR

Gurgaon: Anytime Fitness India, a 24-hour fitness franchise focused on convenience and community wellness, has opened a new club in Sector 29, Gurgaon. This opening is significant as it marks the first venture for franchise owners Ms. Shivani Saini and Mr. Vikas Saini. It is also the 17th Anytime Fitness club in the city.

As Gurgaon becomes one of India’s most active fitness areas, the launch in Sector 29 shows the brand’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality wellness spaces. Members will find a gym designed for modern lifestyles, featuring great equipment, functional training areas, expert coaching, and 24-hour access.

Mr. Vikas Jain, Managing Director of Anytime Fitness India said, “Anytime Fitness has been steadily strengthening its presence across India, and it is heartening to see the growing awareness among people about health and their demand for clubs that offer holistic wellness. Sector 29 is a vibrant community that values fitness and active living, and bringing Anytime Fitness here allows us to meet that need with a space designed not just for equipment, but for a supportive environment where members feel motivated every day. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Shivani and Mr. Vikas Saini to our expanding network of dedicated franchise partners.”

Unlike traditional gyms, Anytime Fitness combines technology and personal support throughout the member experience. Features like Body Composition Analysis, guided workout plans on the Anytime Fitness App, and access to a global network of over 5,500 clubs provide a smooth fitness journey both locally and abroad.

Since launching in India in 2013, Anytime Fitness has grown to more than 170+ clubs across the country. Beyond gyms, the brand has fostered community-driven initiatives like FitCraft and Be Fit Fest, bringing together members, trainers, and fitness enthusiasts to celebrate active living. The brand continues to support entrepreneurs while promoting healthier communities. The new club in Gurgaon Sector 29 is another step toward the goal of reaching 500 clubs nationwide within five years.

The St. Regis Mumbai Appoints Nishanth Vishwanath as General Manager

The St. Regis Mumbai, the epitome of timeless luxury and bespoke hospitality is elated to announce the appointment of Nishanth Vishwanath as Multi-property General Manager. In his new role, he will spearhead The St. Regis Mumbai and Courtyard by Marriott Agra’s vision to elevate guest experiences and drive continued success.

A seasoned hospitality leader with over two decades of diverse experience across Marriott International’s portfolio, Vishwanath brings with him an extensive record of operational excellence, strategic innovation, and market leadership. His career began in 2001 with Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel in the Food & Beverage division. Over the years, he rose swiftly through leadership positions, making significant contributions in enhancing F&B reputation, positioning hotels as premier destinations for luxury events, and driving consistent growth in revenue and guest satisfaction.

From shaping JW Marriott Pune and Renaissance Mumbai as landmark wedding and conference venues to positioning JW Marriott Bengaluru as a market leader during his tenure as Director of Operations, Nishanth has showcased his ability to deliver results with creativity and passion. He later joined as General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Chennai, before taking on the coveted responsibility of Area Director – Operations for South & East India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, where he played an instrumental role in strengthening Marriott’s market presence across the region.

Throughout his career, Nishanth has been celebrated for his people-first leadership style, mentoring associates, guiding pre-opening teams, and consistently championing service excellence. His approach combines innovation with empathy, ensuring that both employees and guests remain at the heart of every initiative. Beyond his professional journey, Nishanth holds a degree from Mangalore University in hotel management. An avid traveler with a deep appreciation for culture and history, he also pursues fitness and reading as part of his personal passions.

The St. Regis Mumbai will build upon its legacy of timeless luxury and bespoke service under his dynamic leadership.

Balanced Growth: Manufacturing, Construction, and Services Drive India’s 7.8% GDP

 By-Mr Samyak Jain, Director, Siddha Group

“India’s Q1 GDP growth of 7.8% once again reinforces the country’s position as the fastest-growing major economy globally. The encouraging aspect is the balanced nature of this performance—manufacturing and construction are expanding close to 8%, while services are growing at a robust 9%+. This construction sector growth is particularly significant for the real estate industry, as it reflects strong infrastructure development and housing demand across urban and emerging markets.

On the demand side, momentum is equally broad-based, with private consumption, investments, and government spending all rising in healthy tandem. From a real estate perspective, this translates to sustained demand for both residential and commercial properties, driven by rising disposable incomes and corporate expansion. The healthy investment climate is fostering new real estate projects and infrastructure development, creating a positive cycle for the sector.

That said, challenges remain. The recent 50% U.S. tariff on Indian exports, along with external headwinds, will pose some risks in the months ahead. However, with ongoing reforms, policy support, and inflation remaining relatively benign, India’s macroeconomic story continues to be among the strongest and most compelling globally. For real estate, this stable macroeconomic environment, stable interest rates, coupled with urbanization trends and government housing initiatives, presents significant opportunities.

We expect FY25-26 growth to be steady & above global peers – providing a solid foundation for corporate earnings expansion and equity market performance. This sustained economic growth will continue to drive real estate demand, particularly in tier-1 and tier-2 cities, supporting both residential sales and commercial real estate investments.” 

World’s Slimmest Smartphone – The TECNO POVA Slim 5G Launching on 4th September

New Delhi, 30 August 2025: TECNO Mobile is gearing up to unveil POVA Slim 5G, a smartphone designed to reset expectations, turning what was once only a dream into reality with its record-setting slimness and a lot more personality!

POVA Slim 5G is set to become the World’s Slimmest 3D Curved Display 5G Smartphone, delivering an ultra-sleek look without compromising on essentials. Despite its incredibly thin profile, the device is stepping in to prove that function and style can go hand in hand.

Adding to its ’Too Slim To Be True’ design is the Dynamic Mood Light. This innovation is expressive, friendly, and almost like a buddy that stays in sync with you. The smartphone lights up expressively with every call, notification, etc, making technology feel more human than ever. With this design breakthrough, every interaction feels more alive, more personal, and more connected, transforming a simple notification into an experience you actually look forward to.

The upcoming launch of POVA Slim 5G promises to combine elegant aesthetics, smart innovation, and everyday usability. Staying true to POVA’s nature of delivering the unexpected, POVA Slim 5G is all set to raise the bar higher (and slimmer), something ‘only POVA can’.

This 4th September, witness the world’s slimmest revolution – TECNO POVA Slim 5G.

The Great Eastern Home debuts Timeless Hand-Sculpted Ceramic Artefacts

The Great Eastern Home presents its latest collection of ceramic artefacts, a celebration of form, texture, and craftsmanship. This series transforms one of the world’s oldest materials into modern pieces that add depth, warmth, and elegance to contemporary interiors. From sculptural silhouettes to finely detailed finishes, each creation is designed to complement a variety of spaces, serving as both a visual statement and an integral part of everyday living.

At The Great Eastern Design Studio, every creation begins with a carefully sketched idea. In the brand’s in-house Ceramic Workshop, skilled artisans hand-shape raw clay, refining each curve and surface. Layer by layer, specially formulated glazes are applied, bringing out distinctive tones and textures. Every piece is then fired with precision for strength and longevity, before being hand-finished to enhance its unique character.

The collection offers a blend of bold designs and subtle details, making it versatile for both classic and modern décor settings. Whether placed on a console or dining table, these artefacts bring an understated sophistication to their surroundings. Their tactile beauty and timeless appeal invite closer appreciation, turning everyday moments into curated experiences.

With this launch, The Great Eastern Home continues its tradition of preserving artisanal skills while reinterpreting them for the modern home. Each ceramic artefact is one-of-a-kind, carrying the mark of the hands that shaped a true collectible that tells a story of heritage, artistry, and enduring design.

Collection Highlights

• Horse Head Sculpture – A statement piece that exudes grandeur, ideal for display on a console or foyer table. Its striking form instantly draws the eye and elevates the space.
• Cactus-Like Tree Sculptures – Inspired by the concept of connectedness, these decorative forms reference grassroots networks and the intricate mycelial systems of fungi. Part of our “Trees Do Talk to Each Other” series, they embody nature’s silent conversations.
• Cat Sculptures – Playful yet refined, these pieces reinterpret Mumbai’s Post Art Deco allure, bringing a touch of nostalgic sophistication to contemporary interiors.

Tata Motors launches the all-new Winger Plus, setting new benchmarks in premium passenger mobility

Bengaluru, 30 August 2025: Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, launched the all-new 9-seater Tata Winger Plus, a premium passenger mobility offering designed for staff transportation and the growing travel & tourism segment. The Winger Plus offers passengers a more comfortable, spacious and connected travel experience, while enabling fleet owners to achieve higher efficiency and profitability with lower total cost of ownership. Priced at Rs. 20.60 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi), it brings together the combination of design, features and technology to set new benchmarks in the segment.

The Winger Plus comes with segment-leading features like reclining captain seats with adjustable armrests, personal USB charging points, individual AC vents and ample leg space. The wide cabin and large luggage compartment further enhance comfort on long journeys. Built on a monocoque chassis, the vehicle offers robust safety and stability, while its car-like ride and handling ensures ease of driving and reduces fatigue for drivers.

Introducing the new Winger Plus, Mr. Anand S, Vice President and Head – Commercial Passenger Vehicle Business, Tata Motors, said, “The Winger Plus has been thoughtfully engineered to deliver a premium experience for passengers and a compelling value proposition for fleet operators. With its superior ride comfort, best-in-class comfort features, and segment-leading efficiency, it is designed to drive profitability while offering the lowest cost of ownership. India’s passenger mobility landscape is evolving rapidly-from staff transportation in urban centres to the rising demand for tourism across the country. The Winger Plus is built to serve this diversity, setting new benchmarks in the commercial passenger vehicle segment.”

Powering the new Winger Plus is the proven and fuel-efficient 2.2L Dicor diesel engine, delivering 100hp of power and 200Nm of torque. This premium van is also equipped with Tata Motors’ Fleet Edge connected vehicle platform, enabling real-time vehicle tracking, diagnostics and fleet optimisation for improved business management.

With a diverse commercial passenger vehicle portfolio ranging from 9-seater to 55-seater vehicles in various configurations across multiple powertrains, Tata Motors addresses every mass-mobility segment. The range is further complemented by Sampoorna Seva 2.0 – Tata Motors’ holistic vehicle lifecycle management initiative, covering guaranteed turnaround times, annual maintenance contracts (AMC), access to genuine spare parts and reliable breakdown assistance. With a strong network of over 4,500 sales and service touchpoints across India, the company continues to deliver dependable, efficient and future-ready mobility solutions.

Powering Bharat: Flipkart deepens supply chain footprint across country

Bengaluru , August 29, 2025: Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, today announced a major expansion of its pan-India supply chain infrastructure ahead of its flagship festive event, The Big Billion Days. With the addition of new fulfilment centres (FCs) and last-mile hubs across key states such as Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi, Agra, Ghaziabad), Bihar (Patna), Haryana (Manesar), and Tripura (Agartala), Flipkart is deepening its regional presence, enabling faster festive deliveries, and creating thousands of jobs while powering the rapid growth of quick commerce in India.

This year’s expansion spans 35 lakh sq. ft., covering 21,000+ pincodes nationwide.

Facilities for all, including Large, Non-Large & Grocery:

• The new operational Varanasi Center is spread across 2.0 lakh sq. ft., generating 3600 direct and indirect job opportunities.
• The newly operational Patna Fulfilment Center, a 4.5 lakh sq. ft. cornerstone facility, serves more than 1,000 pincodes and has created over 1,100 direct and indirect jobs.
• Flipkart is now operating in a Regional Distribution Center (RDC) in Manesar, one of India’s largest state-of-the-art facilities. Spread over 140 acres, the RDC will create over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing significantly to local employment. The center is expected to cater to a wide range of products, including parcel goods, white goods, and furniture, adapting its assortment dynamically to meet customer requirements and market trends.
• Flipkart expanded its footprint in the Northeast with its first grocery fulfillment center in Agartala, Tripura. Spread over 35,000 square feet and equipped with a daily dispatch capacity of 5,000 orders per day.

In addition to Varanasi, Patna, Manesar, Ranchi, Ghaziabad, Agra and Agartala, Flipkart has gone live with new facilities in Guwahati, Singur, and Saidham, to name a few, strengthening last-mile reach ahead of the festive season. With these additions, Flipkart’s network now comprises over 100 fulfilment centers nationwide, collectively capable of processing millions of festive orders with speed and precision.

Hemant Badri, Senior Vice President and Head of Supply Chain, Customer Experience & Re-Commerce, Flipkart Group, said: “Flipkart’s supply chain blends the scale of large fulfilment centers with the agility of hyperlocal hubs, creating a hybrid network that serves every corner of Bharat. This festive season, our expanded infrastructure spanning 35 lakh sq. ft. across Varanasi, Patna, Manesar, Ranchi, Ghaziabad, Agra and Agartala not only strengthens delivery speed and reliability for millions of customers but also generates inclusive job opportunities at scale. 2.2 lakh+ seasonal job opportunities have been created with a strong focus on women, PwD and first-time workforce hiring. From metros to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, our focus remains on delivering convenience, strengthening regional economies, and building a future-ready supply chain powered by technology and inclusivity.”

Complementing its large-scale fulfillment centers, Flipkart is also scaling its quick commerce backbone through nearly 400 new micro-fulfilment centers and dark stores across 19 cities. This network underpins Flipkart Minutes, which has doubled order volumes every 45 days since launch, enabling faster-than-ever delivery of essentials and festive products.

As part of its festive readiness, Flipkart has created over 2.2 lakh additional seasonal job opportunities across warehousing, logistics, and last-mile delivery roles. This includes opportunities for persons with disabilities (PwDs) and other segments of society across its supply chain. With inclusive hiring, tech-led skilling through the Supply Chain Operations Academy (SCOA), and partnerships with social organisations, Flipkart is strengthening both festive operational capacity and India’s broader employment ecosystem.

Ekart, in partnership with NReach Online Services Limited, has launched on-ground health camps under its Suraksha wellness program to support over 6,000 warehouse associates across 21 supply chain facilities. Timed ahead of the festive season and Big Billion Days, the camps offer essential screenings, including blood tests and diabetic, kidney, liver, and cardiac assessments, enabling early health insights for frontline employees. This builds on Suraksha’s broader impact, which has supported 1.7 lakh associates in 2025 and facilitated over 18 lakh minutes of doctor consultations last year. The initiative reflects Ekart’s commitment to caring for the people who help deliver India’s festive joy.

With these expansions, Flipkart reaffirms its role as a pan-India enabler of festive e-commerce and quick commerce, ensuring that The Big Billion Days 2025 brings faster, smarter, and more joyful shopping experiences for customers across the country.

Mahatta and Co. Onboards Flash Communications as Communication and PR Partner

New Delhi, 28^th Aug, 2025 – Mahatta & Co., one of India’s most iconic photography houses with a legacy spanning over a century, has appointed Flash Communications as its official Communication and Public Relations partner. The collaboration marks a significant step in amplifying Mahatta & Co.’s heritage, creative vision, and future projects to a wider audience.

Founded in 1915, Mahatta & Co. has been a visual storyteller of India’s journey—capturing historic moments from the Partition and Independence celebrations to India’s first fashion show and the transformation of Connaught Place. With its legacy rooted in photography and design, the brand continues to evolve, blending archival storytelling with modern innovations.

“Mahatta & Co. has been synonymous with photography, legacy, and storytelling for over four generations,” said Mr. Arjun Mahatta, Partner, Mahatta & Co. “With Flash Communications, we aim to bring this legacy closer to today’s audiences while showcasing our upcoming projects in a fresh, engaging way.” He added.

Manas Chhabra, Founder, Flash Communications, added: “We are excited to partner with Mahatta & Co. and craft narratives that highlight their unmatched history while shaping their voice for modern media platforms.”

Through this partnership, Flash Communications will drive strategic PR initiatives, media outreach, and storytelling campaigns aimed at strengthening Mahatta & Co.’s positioning as both a heritage institution and a contemporary creative powerhouse.

SafeStorage Enters Global Market with Launch of First International Facility in Dubai

India, 28th August 2025: SafeStorage, India’s largest tech-enabled self-storage company, today announced the launch of its first international operations in Dubai, marking a major step in its global expansion strategy. This milestone coincides with the company’s 10-year anniversary, during which it has served over 1,00,000 customers across 11 major Indian cities.

From a single warehouse in Bangalore in 2015 to a robust presence in Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Kolkata, Coimbatore and Jaipur, SafeStorage has become synonymous with reliable, secure, and professional storage solutions for both individuals and businesses.

The newly launched Dubai facility will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to cater to a wide range of storage requirements whether it’s household items during relocation or travel, inventory management for SMEs, or secure document archiving for corporates. Strategically located, the facility will be supported by a fully digital booking and inventory management platform, ensuring customers in the UAE enjoy the same convenience, safety, and service excellence that have made SafeStorage a trusted brand in India.

Over the past decade, SafeStorage has supported thousands of households during relocations, renovations, and extended travel, while helping businesses of all sizes, from automobile companies to corporates, store documents, records, and inventory. The brand has also become a vital partner for small and medium enterprises managing surplus stock and fulfilling online sales.

Speaking on the landmark expansion, Mr. Ramesh Madisetty, CEO of SafeStorage, said, “This is more than just a market entry, it’s the beginning of our global journey. Dubai is a dynamic, fast-growing hub that attracts a diverse population and thriving businesses, making it an ideal location for our first overseas operation. Over the last decade, we have built our reputation in India on trust, technology, and customer-first service. Now, we’re bringing the same secure, flexible, and transparent storage solutions to the UAE, helping individuals and companies focus on what matters most while we take care of their storage needs.”

The Dubai launch marks SafeStorage’s first step towards a stronger international footprint, with future plans to enter additional global markets in the coming years. By combining cutting-edge infrastructure, robust technology platforms, and a customer-centric approach, the company aims to become a trusted storage partner across borders.