Travel trip to Dhulikel

 The Himalayan Times_Travel & Lifestyle 

 July 21, 2016

"In the midst of splendor"

 

Soni Rai visits Dhulikhel and wraps herself in its beauty

Living in Kathmandu, surrounded by compact houses, busy streets, loaded vehicles and big malls, I was planning on taking a break for some rest and relaxation. I could not make up my mind about just where to go! But, soon enough, I got the opportunity to go to Dhulikhel.

The destination was perfect — just a one and half hour drive from Kathmandu and I could stay the night and get the much needed break. Though the journey was a short one the view that accompanied us throughout was breathtakingly beautiful. After about 50 minutes we reached Sanga, which houses a gigantic statue of Lord Shiva. It was a sight to behold — Lord Shiva in all his glory atop a green hill.

Crossing Banepa, we came across a big signage of Kathmandu University; which meant we were getting closer to our destination. After about 15 minutes we reached Dhulikhel Resort. We were greeted warmly and informed that because we were at the resort during the off season we had the place almost to ourselves! Tourists usually frequent Dhulikhel between October to December. That said, there were a couple of foreigners enjoying the off season as much as we were. Some locals and foreigners alike were out on hikes by the hillside, dotting a pretty picture across the hillock.

Without much ado, after we checked in, we headed out to explore Dhulikhel bazaar. We were anticipating this visit because we’d heard so much about the vivacity of this market place. The roads were free from traffic, and the market place itself was not very crowded. We walked around a bit and bought some knickknacks to bring back home. Taking a right turn from the main bazaar, we went for a visit to Dhulikhel Hospital, which is one of the main attractions of the town. The hospital stands tall and proud of the service it provides.

The next spot on our list was to the 1000 steps, which is quite popular for its scenic beauty and calm weather. When I first heard about 1000 steps, I immediately thought that it was going to be a tough climb uphill. After about 300 steps, we came across Shanti Ban where we saw a huge statue of Gautam Budhha, where a modest number of visitors were taking pictures. It was still under construction but even in its half built state it looked beautiful. I can only imagine how stunning it’s going to look on completion.

Climbing up the stairs made me realise that there were quite a few hiker’s rest stops which made the climb easier than expected. Finally reaching the top, I felt elated! The steep climb was worth it. The last few steps led to the old Kali Temple, and a nearby view tower, which was padlocked. The view from top was all about fog settling down on the valley below; the sky hanging low on the horizon. The locals informed us that on a good sunny day you could see the mountains.

The 45 minutes climb was exhausting but we couldn’t wait to explore more. We headed towards Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple and walked along Lamidada and Panchkhal where the roads were bigger. We reached the Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre (BPOTC) where the roads were narrower with numerous little alleyways going in different directions. These routes make for a good drive or a refreshing walk. Bhagwati Temple is a must visit while you’re here.

From BPOTC, Palanchowk Bhagwati temple is only eight kms away. As soon as we reached there I saw a statue of goddess Bhagwati beautifully carved in black stone. The Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple has a female priest, unlike many other temples. The architecture is intriguing and I was charmed by the tinkling of hundreds of bells and mirrors hanging on the temple walls.

Details:
How to get there: Daily buses to Dhulikhel are available from Old Bus Park

Hotel to stay: There are many hotels and resorts available in Dhulikhel. One such is The Himalayan Horizon Hotel with great hospitality.
Local attractions: You can always stroll through the Dhulikhel town or hike up to the lofty Namobuddha, enjoy the splendid view with a packed lunch.

Official launch of Tata Tiago in Nepal

 The Himalayan Times_PERSPECTIVES  

 August 31, 2016

 

 

“With the kind of product portfolio that we have planned we expect very healthy growth"

JOHNNY OOMMEN is the Head-International Business- Passenger Vehicle Business Unit of Tata Motors. He spoke to Soni Rai of THT Auto Plus about Tata Motors in Nepal and expectations from the new launch of Tiago.

How has the performance of Tata Motors been in Nepal?
We have seen extremely good growth in Nepal though last year due to the earthquake and blockade we couldn’t supply vehicles as per the demand. But this year, the market for passenger vehicles seems very promising and we are optimistic that we will increase our sales by 30 to 35 per cent.

What is the competition like and what is your market share at present?
I think we have witnessed growth in across most segments in Nepal. It’s a very interesting market for us. There is extremely good growth in the hatchback segment and that is why we have come up with Tiago. Indeed, it is a market that is waiting to expand.
We have healthy double digit market share which we are planning to increase substantially in coming years.

What are your expectations from this new launch— Tiago? What kind of competition do you see in the Nepali market?
We are seeking to define the hatchback segment in Nepal and we are confident with the Tiago. For this car we have mainly focused on three areas— technology, design and quality since 2013. We believe it is a car that is absolutely perfect for market like Nepal. Here I see a large emerging young consumers segment and we are confident that Tiago will appeal to them in many aspects.

Looking through the traditional lens the competitors in terms of size of car and performance attributes, it would be Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki by the offerings that they have in that segment. However, I think the features and equipment that we have offered in Tiago actually belong to a higher segment. We are actually somewhere in between the low and medium hatchback segment. In terms of price value we are closer to the lower segment and in features we are closer to the higher segment.
 
What are the biggest challenges facing Tata Motors faces at present?
We have a very strong presence in the MUV segment with the Sumo, a very dominant product in that segment. We had been trying to find ways of expanding our presence in the market by making offerings in other segments where we have been absent.  So, last year we launched two products— Zest and Bolt. Both have received extremely good response which has actually resulted in an increase in overall numbers in Nepal. With the launch of Tiago we are seeking to further add on to our presence in the hatchback segment. So currently one of the big challenges has been our presence in various segments.

What are your future plans for Nepal?
I think with the kind of product portfolio that we have planned we expect very healthy growth. As I said earlier, we launched two products last year— Zest and Bolt. This year Tiago is already one of them and you can expect another launch later this year. We are planning to launch at least two new products every year in Nepal to maintain our strong product portfolio. We are optimistic that in next three to four years we will be among the top two players in Nepali automobile market.

NADA Auto Show 2016 coverage

 The Himalayan Times_Perspectives                           

 August 31, 2016

"With this edition of NADA Auto Show, we expect the automobile industry to reach new heights"

ANJAN SHRESTHA is the President of Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA).  He spoke to Soni Rai of THT Auto Plus about ‘NADA Auto Show 2016’ and the current situation of Nepali automobile industry.

What are your expectations from this edition of the NADA Auto Show?
The Nepali automobile industry has been witnessing growth every year. We expect it to grow even further this year. The industry is growing by two folds as compared to the last year that is around 40 per cent. The main objective of this expo is to update people about the latest developments in the automobile sector. This event is a platform for automobile companies to promote their products. There has been a consistent increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors every year. We are trying to accommodate each and every automobile dealer at the auto show so that no dealer is missed. With this edition of NADA Auto Show, we expect the automobile industry to grow to new heights.

What s the current scenario in the auto industry?
The domestic automobile industry is growing every year. Now people's perceptions about automobiles have changed to a great extent. People have understood that an automobile is no longer a commodity of luxury rather it is a necessity. The only problem is the hefty tax imposed by the government. Hence, the government needs to understand that an automobile has become one of the basic needs of people. As the auto show is scheduled just before the festive season, we are optimistic that the industry will witness significant growth in sales. Customers and auto enthusiasts are also eagerly waiting for the auto show to purchase new and latest vehicles; for sure they are looking for the best deals.

How is this NADA Auto show different from the previous shows?
Compared to previous editions, this year there are more participants at the auto show. Last year there were 65 exhibitors whereas this time we have 73 exhibitors. We have 125 stalls — separate sections for two-wheelers, four-wheelers, commercial vehicles, and heavy equipments have been allocated. This time some new automobile companies like Morris Garage (MG), Renault, Bela, Runner, Scomadi, et cetera are also participating at the mega event. It shows that the number of individual automobile dealers have increased which indicates that the event has been improving and becoming popular among both exhibitors and visitors.

The automobile business largely depends on auto loans. What is the current status of auto loans?
In today’s context, auto loans are very lucrative. Currently banks are offering as low as seven per cent interest rates on auto loans. The easy access to auto loans and attractive interest rates is the major reason behind the growth that the automobile sector has been experiencing recently. Earlier, auto loan seekers had to go through a long procedure, but now easy processing and flexible interest rates have largely encouraged customers to opt for auto loans. We can say that the flexible auto loan is one of the major factors for the growth of the industry.

What are your expectations from the auto show?
We have always organised the auto show just before the festive season. The main objective of the expo is to inform customers about new and latest launches in the Nepali market. As previous editions of the auto show have been fruitful and created positive vibes in the market, we are confident that this edition too will help make the industry more vibrant.

Since the government has been imposing hefty tax on the import of vehicles, what does NADA expect from the government?
The automobile industry has been one of the major contributors of revenue generation in the country. It has the potential to contribute even higher revenue. However, the imposition of hefty taxes on the import of vehicles has deprived the government from collecting more revenue. We have been always urging the government to reduce custom duty at least by 10 to 15 per cent. The government has to understand that the automobile is no longer a commodity of luxury rather it is a matter of necessity. We have been always urging the government to either make public transportation more organised or make private vehicles more affordable.

The domestic automobile industry was largely last year. How is the industry doing today?
The earthquake and economic blockade were two major hurdles for the domestic automobile industry in the last fiscal. There was no investment made during those days. However, as soon as the blockade was lifted backlog sales took place. Also to add to that, demand for the electric vehicle was high during the fuel crisis and slowly the emergence of electric vehicle has begun. Though the industry has taken time to revive, now the automobile sector is back to its normal state. We are optimistic about the auto show as it will definitely create positive vibes in the entire industry.

Brand Story of Ford

 The Himalayan Times_PERSPECTIVES 

 JUNE 19, 2016

Going further by building on a glorious past

Ford’s global celebration of ‘ Heritage Month 2016’ driving greater brand connect

Soni Rai 

Kathmandu 

Marking 113 years of success, Ford is celebrating the month of June as ‘ Ford Heritage Month’ globally. GO Automobiles Pvt Ltd ( GO Ford) is the authorised dealer of Ford products in Nepal. It has been operating in the market since 2010 to promote Ford as a brand that is best known for setting standards in terms of safety, innovation, fuel efficiency and performance.

Celebrating success 

Sunil B Chhetri, Deputy General Manager, says, “ We have been celebrating ‘ Ford Heritage Month’ in Nepal since 2013 as our brand continuously strives to serve our customers with additional care. On this occasion, we not only cherish our history but also acknowledge our loyal customers who are at the heart and soul of our brand.” Every year, Ford creates a unique theme for the celebration — in 2013 the theme was ‘ Putting the World on Wheels’, in 2014 it was ‘ Ford in Pop culture’ and this year the theme is ‘ Racing is in our DNA’. This year’s theme is inspired by Ford’s racing history. “ We have decorated our showroom around the racing theme including a mini race track set up on the floor at every showroom. We want to give our customers a racing experience,” he says.

Special offers 

Ford will be organising special sales and promotion attractions that will include special price for all Ford line up, special gifts for showroom visitors and test drive opportunities. As the brand recognises that customers are the most important component for their success, they have organised special activities for both customers and owners. According to Chhetri, customer loyalty can be expected only if the company provides products and services beyond their expectations and Ford is set out to do just that.

Customers can get the chance to win movie tickets and take part in go kart racing events which are scheduled at the end of June. Chhetri adds, “ As a whole, Ford customers can expect special discounts, attractive offers, gifts on test drive and valuation, exciting activities throughout the month of June. We want to strengthen the bond between customers’ and the company through the celebration of the ‘ Heritage Month’.” 

Strong brand pillars 

According to Chhetri, safety, reliability and cost of ownership that sums up ‘ value for money’ is the unique selling proposition of their brand. Ford is also known for manufacturing safe, reliable and technologically advanced vehicles offering lowest cost of ownership. He shares, “ We are one of the top three selling brands for passenger vehicles in SUV, hatchback and entry level sedan segments in the domestic market.” Ford makes every effort to meet local taste and preference through their marketing strategies.

“ We have four brand pillars and strictly follow it — Quality, Green, Safe and Smart ( QGSS). Everything that Ford has to offer revolves around these. Our activities like planning, performance, service, promotions et cetera , are all centred on our QGSS pillars,” he shares.

In Nepal, in order to maintain brand value, Ford always tries to launch their vehicles at the same time and of the same quality that is launched globally. The brand also assures that the latest technology introduced in the global market is also available to local customers. “ Cost for maintaining a Ford vehicle is lowest in the market. Not only are our spare parts the cheapest but our servicing cost is also lowest. This is what sets our brand apart from the others,” Chhetri informs.

Local strategy 

In order to sustain in the market every brand has to perform to their best ability and please their customers. Ford being a global brand abides by its global vision. However, the brand tries to localise their strategy and aims to connect with customers through their excellent customer service. “ Ford understands the customers’ needs and constantly tries to provide fast and quality services. As an initiation, we plan to open new service outlets in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Butwal and Narayanghat with world class 3S ( sales, service and spare parts) facility soon,” Chhetri shares. The brand tagline — Go Further indicates delivery of quality products and easy availability. He informs, “ Go Further is not only our tagline but it’s our global brand promise that keeps us one step ahead of others. Customers can expect a wide range from the Ford line up with the latest and most desirable vehicles to be introduced globally and soon to be launched in Nepal,” he assures.

THT_Perspectives

May 8, 2016

The coolest air conditioners

Summer brings a ray of hope for brands hoping to increase sales and grow the market

 

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu

The rise in temperature and the persistent hot weather has scurried consumers to look for cooling solutions. Air conditioner ( AC) brands are hoping to see an increase in sales as we proceed further into summer. Though most companies’ yearly target is a 20 to 30 per cent increase in sales, the target is hard to meet in a market like Nepal due to insufficient power supply. However, domestic and international air conditioner brands like CG, LG and TCL are continuously working on maintaining their brand name and pushing sales in a constant effort to grow the domestic market.

Customer comes first

Bishnu Gyawali, Senior Sales Manager, CG Electronics says, “ The overall market share covered by our brand is around 15 to 20 per cent in Nepal.” According to him, the brand’s unique selling point is its quality maintenance with affordable price range. CG as a brand believes in customer retention hence, every year they come up with different schemes to facilitate customers.

For this summer, they are offering free installation scheme on purchase of every AC. The products range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 90,000. After the Capital, Pokhara is the second target market for high sales of AC. According to Gyawali, for a brand to sustain in the market quality maintenance, promotion of the product, customer satisfaction and fulfilment of commitment is very important. He informs, “ We have strong distribution channels making our product visible in different outlets that create demand for our brand.” This visibility leads to publicity and publicity leads to brand recognition.

Environment friendly

Lalit Mishra, Senior Manager- Sales and Marketing, EOL Pvt Ltd, authorised distributor of TCL, says, “ Our ACs use titan gold technology that ensure eight years of satisfaction and our products come at an affordable price.” For a brand to establish itself in the market, a good marketing strategy is a must. TCL also focuses on raising awareness among customers to use eco- friendly air conditioners. He informs, “ Quality product, after sales service and competitive pricing is important for a brand to sustain in the market.”

According to Mishra, TCL never compromises when it comes to providing the best products. They focus on need and preference of the customers. He informs that customer satisfaction is their first priority. Currently TCL ACs enjoys eight per cent market share and aims to achieve 15 per cent market share in coming years. The company is also working on different summer campaigns like free installations on the purchase of AC. TCL ACs range between Rs 52,100 to Rs 98,800 and their Cassette AC at Rs 214,000.

Energy saving 

Purushottam Bhandari, National Sales Head, LG, says, “ LG ACs use energy saving mode which consumes less electricity and is environment friendly, this technology differentiates our brand from others.” One year warranty is provided with free installation to the customers, he informs. LG also uses unique skew fan and BLDC motor technology in AC which eliminates unnecessary noise giving great experience. “ Compared to other brands of ACs LG inverter ensures 36 per cent less consumption of electricity,” he informs.

According to Bhandari, LG relates to its tagline ‘ Life is good’ by fulfilling their promises in terms of providing innovative and quality product to customers by making their life easier and better. When it comes to durability LG air conditioners ensures a 10 year lifespan. It focuses on creating brand value of the product by constantly using new technologies like energy saving solutions, dual protection filter and volt care technology — low voltage starter and high voltage safe. This technology protects AC’s from low- high voltage variation. LG AC’s price starts from Rs 64,000 onwards.

Brand story of Sunglasses (Cross brand story) : THT_Perspectives

 The Himalayan Times_PERSPECTIVES

  May 22, 2016

 All eyes on summer style

 All eyes on summer style Branded shades look to bask in the summer sunlight

Soni Rai
Kathmandu

Hot temperature, colourful umbrellas and cool shades show the summer in. Sunglasses never go out of style; they only define it.There are hordes of these cool products in the market but there’s something special about the branded ones. People inadvertently opt for branded sunglasses for quality, style and features which make it a style statement.

In Nepal, Santonza Trade Concern Pvt Ltd, authorised distributor of eyewear brands like Ray- Ban, Vogue, Oakley, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Bvlgari et cetera brings international brands to the Nepal market. Anthropose a Nepali brand of sunglasses is also rising in popularity and heating up the competition among brands in Nepal. It caters to both men and women. Each brand is unique in the style factor they provide and hence use different branding and marketing strategies to promote themselves.

It’s in the name

 Ashok Agarwal, Managing Director, Santonza Trade Concern says, “ We have around 28 international brands of sunglasses and the highest demand is always for Ray- Ban followed by Vogue and Oakley.” He adds that 80 per cent of the market is dominated by Ray- Ban while the remaining 20 per cent catered to by Vogue, Oakley and Prada. Local customers are more loyal to Ray- Ban because of its variety in lens colours, optimum visual clarity and assurance of 100 per cent UV protection. Ray- Ban uses polarised glass for protection against the glare of the sun. Some of the most iconic models from Ray- Ban are Aviator Classic, Clubmaster Classic and Round metal sunglasses. The starting price of Ray- Ban shades are from Rs 6,000 and go upwards of Rs 20,000.

According to Agarwal, with Vogue sunglasses, customer can find the use of cool colours with metal and enamel details that come with sun blaze frames and iconic looks. Oakley eyewear is best known for its lens technology using high definition optics. This brand uses Prizm lens technology, Plutonite lenses which provide UV protection and safety from harmful blue light up to 400 nm. The starting price for Vogue and Oakley sunglasses is Rs 20,000 onwards. He also shares that every week the company is selling three to four units of sunglasses other than Ray- Ban.

All about the customers

 This increase in the trend of opting for branded products can also be credited to pocket friendly price tags. “ We always try to keep the price range of sunglasses a bit lower than the pricing in Hong Kong, Dubai and Thailand as a marketing strategy,” says Agarwal. That said, customers do not hesitate to pay a hefty amount either given the brand name and the reliability it promises. Dealing with many renowned eyewear brands the company focuses on good customer service. They give 10 per cent discount on every purchase and present attractive offers to customers. He further explains, “ We sell 15,000 units of sunglasses annually although our target is to sell 50,000 units. It’s hard to achieve the set target because of counterfeit products easily available in the market.”

 Ethics in style 

Suraj Shrestha, CEO of Anthropose says, “ Our brand is a confident, capable and a self- sufficient sunglasses brand which aims to create its own resources to achieve its objective that is to solve social problems.” The tagline ‘ Get. Give.Change.’ is a representation of the core mission of the brand. “ When you GET a pair of Anthropose sunglasses, you GIVE a gift of vision to someone in need and you CHANGE the life of a person, then a community and a nation as its wider impact,” he informs. According to Shrestha, for every 10 pairs of sunglasses sold, Anthropose provides a free cataract surgery in rural Nepal.

He further shares, “ The Anthropose sunglasses are made of high quality materials from the body to the lenses.” Adding that having a social mission tied to the core motive of the business sets the brand apart from others. Currently, all the sunglasses are manufactured in China. However, the brand’s long- term plan is to soon start manufacturing in Nepal.

Anthropose sells its products online and focuses on delivering smooth customer service. They also connect with customers through different events, trade shows and campaigns. “ We are a big believer in digital inbound marketing. Hence, our marketing strategies comprise more of content based marketing supported by paid advertisements on the digital frontier,” says Shrestha. Besides that the brand relies on in- person interactive marketing for branding and promotion of the product.

Shrestha says, “ Our sunglasses frames are made of high quality cellulose acetate and stainless steel and lenses are made of premium quality light – weight CR- 39 lenses to assure clarity and protection.” He adds that all the models of sunglasses are UVA/ UVB protected, polarised for glarereduction and has anti- scratch coating. He informs, “ From the product to the pricing, customer service to after sales, sales channel to delivery experience, and from inquiry to any complaints, our brand always strive for distinction.” The sunglasses range from Rs 4,799 to Rs 6,199

The Himalayan Times_PERSPECTIVES
February 28, 2016

Healthy Appeal

Dabur Honey's health benefits behind its sweet success

Soni Rai
Kathmandu

Healthy body and healthy mind has become the mantra of life with special focus on eating habits. Among numerous factors, honey has proven to be one of the important components of diet for a healthy lifestyle. From starting your day with a healthy dose of honey to using it as a natural healer, this golden nectar is now an important part of our meals. In the Nepali market, Dabur Honey is one of the renowned brands of Dabur Nepal Pvt Ltd ( DNPL), established in 1992 that has successfully stood the test of time. Dabur honey is synonymous with health and purity not only in the local market but globally as well. The guiding force behind Dabur’s growth and success has been the wealth of nature and its limitless capacity to support life. With the overall vision of eco- sustenance, DNLP was set up as an independent Group company in 1992. This new company, set amidst the verdant greens and towering mountains of Nepal, has managed to establish a unique bond of technology and preservation.

TRUST AND LOYALTY

 Abhaya Prasad Gorkhalee, Head of Marketing, Dabur Nepal Pvt Ltd, says, “ Consistent trust in the brand and loyalty towards the product is one of the core strength of our brand.” Dabur Honey not only assures purity but also consists of anti- oxidants, vitamins, and essentials minerals, which is important for a healthy body to support immunity power.

He states that Dabur Honey persistently focuses on quality maintenance because slowly consumers are moving towards healthy living styles and make no compromise on what they consume. Though there are many players in the market, Gorkhalee believes that Dabur honey has its own brand advantage.

He says, “ At Dabur, we focus on educating consumers’ about the health benefits of the products we sell. For instance, Dabur Honey raises awareness about how one teaspoon of honey daily can do wonders for your health.” According to him, the brand focuses on educating consumers’ through advertorials about the benefits of consuming honey. This is where the appeal of the brand lies, he shares.

QUALITY AT ITS BEST 

Gorkhalee says, “ Although marketing is important the brand’s focus is majorly upon quality and purity of the product. The brand enjoys 70 per cent of the total market share in Nepal and we continuously strive to make our products better.” He further states that though the demand of Dabur Honey is not seasonal they do see a slight increase in sales during the winter season.

According to him, the brand appreciates what their loyal consumers are in search of, which is why they give special care to packaging. The new ‘ eazee squeeze’ pack is easy to use and is quite in demand in various supermarkets. Regular bottles are available in different sizes of 50 gm, 100 gm, 250 gm, 500 gm and 1 kg whereas the ‘ eazee squeeze’ pack is available in 400 gm in different retail shops and supermarkets.

Similarly, the brand is coming with new marketing strategies with the interesting tagline, ‘ Drop sugar, switch to Dabur Honey’ in which they are promoting the healthy habit of using honey instead of sugar.

Dabur Honey claims to be a healthy product with various benefits from increasing metabolism to natural healing. Gorkhalee concludes, “ Because of these undeniable benefits the demand for honey in the market is always high.”

The Himalayan Times_PERSPECTIVES

March 6, 2016

Himalayan News Service                    

Kathmandu 

 A sip of the home grown

Local tea brands take an encouraging leap forward

Tea is the most consumed beverage in all households and there are plenty of variety and brands in the market to choose from. Nepal produces teas that are unique in appearance, aroma and taste. In Nepal one can find two types of teas — Orthodox tea which is flavourful, light in colour, and is produced in less quantity and CTC tea which is strong in colour, subtle aroma and produced in high quantity. Some of the well known local tea brands are Rakura, Tokla, Shakun and Muna.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Neeraj Rathi, Owner of Rakura Tea, says that he envisaged a brand that would encompass the nation’s finest teas and worked towards promoting and creating more appreciation on a collective level, around the globe. He says, “ It would have to stand tall amidst the finest brands of the world and yet be different. A vision that would create lasting sustainability and rejuvenate the whole Nepali tea market.” According to him, every feature of the Rakura brand of teas has been carefully researched, contemplated and executed.

From their collective tea experience of a 100 years in only selecting, perfecting and packaging the finest teas either from their own estates or through joining hands with other finer tea- producing estates to their gamble in using the latest technology in tea bags where the flavour of their teas would disperse from five sides instead of two or their pledge to using only the best food safe raw materials in packaging, their aspiration has always been to present consumers with the finest Himalayan tea experience. 

Rathi shares, “ We deem that it’s not just about drinking quality tea but our attention to details that strive to amaze you.” Rakura Tea understands the flexible demand and consumers’ need to have a variety of options in one brand. Some of Rakura brand of teas currently consists of 11 varieties of teas in both certified organic and conventional form through 18 SKUs divided into three segments, namely the SUPREME line of premium loose teas, CLASSIC Line of premium tea bags and Premium Natural Tea infusions in tea bags. Classic Green Tea and Classic CTC ( milk tea) sees the most demand in the market, Rathi says.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT 

Shakun Tea has been in the market for 32 years now and focuses on quality management from plucking raw tea leaves to final packaging. CEO of Shakun Tea, Ashwini Agrawal says, “ More than production, tea’s sampling and proper testing is more important to conserve the natural flavour and colour of the final tea.” In his view, brand can be upgraded through advertising in print media or audio- visual media but the most crucial part is awareness among consumers about local tea.

He says, “ The demand for CTC tea is high in the local market because consumers in Nepal like to drink milk tea with strong colour and flavour. Teenpate Special tea, Teenpate Illam Caddy and Nepal Caddy are some of the most sought after teas in the market.” 

LONG LASTING IMPRESSION

Muna Tea present over 30 years in the Nepali market has been a brand of choice for consumers in terms of quality and taste. Dinesh Saria, Director of Muna Tea, says, “ We always try our best to cater to all segments of Nepali society with our various brands like Muna, Welcome, Bihani and Royal Assam. Our pricing is also different for our different brands. So this helps supply to small tea hawkers to high end customers.” According to Saria, their signature brand is Muna, which is one of the oldest brands in Nepal.

It has a huge mass following, especially in the remote towns and villages. He says, “ There are markets where our Muna brand still holds 90 per cent market share. Then our relatively newer brand is Welcome Tea which was launched around a decade ago. It is popular in many urban markets and holds majority sales in some towns like Hetauda and Dharan. Our other products are Bihani Tea and Royal Assam. Royal Assam is our most premium tea which caters to tea lovers and tea- connoisseurs looking for a quality cup of CTC tea. We blend Nepali tea with the world famous Assamese tea to get this premium blend.”

 When consumers understand that the quality maintained in international tea brands are also maintained by local tea brands then Nepali tea brands definitely takes an encouraging leap forward, he says. Saria says, “ Very soon we are looking forward to launching our Green Tea segment. Our Green Tea is certified organic tea coming from the best gardens in Nepal. This will be a very healthy option for consumers who are weight conscious and health focused. We are also looking to innovate and automate in our back- end processes to give world class look and feel to our products.” 

BRANDING AT ITS BEST 

Harsh Sanghai, Senior Associate, Tokla Tea says, “ Our brand advantage is its persisting quality maintenance in every product. The brand speaks about trust, that’s why Tokla never compromises in branding.” Tokla Tea enjoys 25 per cent of market share by producing varieties like Tokla Gold, Tokla Rich and Tokla Premium Long Leaf Green Tea. According to Sanghai, they are more focused on in- store advertising like placing eye- catching displays of Tokla through attractive packaging and through wet sampling so that customers can provide immediate response.

“ Tokla Tea is not only limited to operating locally but also exports to countries like Australia, America, Russia and India. Our Tokla Premium Long Leaf Green Tea is becoming more popular among consumers because our green tea consists of powerful antioxidants which help consumer to overcome various health problems,” he adds.

All local tea brands are easily available in different outlets of departmental stores like Bhat Bhateni Supermarket, Saleways Department Store, Salesberry et cetera .

  

The Himalayan Times_PERSPECTIVES

March 20, 2016

 

When woes replace wows

Advertising industry still trying to strike a balance

Soni Rai 

Kathmandu 

According to the Advertising Association of Nepal ( AAN), the total annual business of the advertising industry in Nepal is above Rs five billion. However, the industry being capital centric is not a good sign. The flow of recognition of mass media such as newspapers, magazines, television commercials ( TVC), radio advertisements, et cetera from consumers’ point of view is limited outside the valley, which automatically hinders the growth of the advertising business.

Capital centric

 “ The advertising industry at present is improving but the bitter truth is that it is Capital centric and has limited scope,” says Tripti Dhungana, Head of Department of Public Relations at Prisma Advertising. “ Advertising industry is moving at a fast pace and annually the profit margin is 10 to 15 per cent,” says Santosh Shrestha, President of Advertising Association of Nepal ( AAN). Shrestha also says, “ The blockade had an adverse effect on the advertising industry which led to 60 to 70 per cent decrease in revenue.”

 Sekhar Chettri, Managing Director of V- chitra Advertising says, “ the blockade resulted in increase in operational cost and most of our regional activities were paused, we could not work on our projects and campaigns.” 

According to Dhungana, because the economy is yet to find balance after the blockade, the fate of the advertising agencies is still in a limbo. She shares, “ Due to the blockade there were no product launches, even during the festive season there were no special offers for customers. There were no sales and there weren’t many products for us to market.” 

Challenges ahead 

Shrestha shares, “ The main challenge faced by the advertising industry right now is unhealthy competition among agencies, low industry margin, lack of high skill manpower and unfavourable government policies.” He also adds that the perception of clients is a major problem faced by advertising agencies as advertisers see advertisements as expenses rather than long- term investment. According to Chettri, the lack of understanding between clients and agencies is the main challenge.

Dhungana further adds, “ As we have a niche market in advertising, we fail to analyse the target audience properly. For instance, Close- up focuses on teenagers, Pepsodent focuses on children, eventually both are toothpaste but they have target markets which make connections with the consumers.” She believes that once the target market is analysed half of the advertising industry’s problems will be solved.

Why consumers don’t acknowledge the industry? 

Dhungana shares, “ Consumers believe in what they see, for instance, in a band people recognise the lead vocalist but they ignore other members. Same goes with our industry. Consumers recognise the advertisement but they won’t bother to find who were the brains behind it.” Chettri believes that slowly but surely consumers will recognise advertising agencies for the work they do. He shares, “ Value for money ( VFM) varies from client’s perception, whether s/ he is a trader or a brand maker. We need more of people/ client to belief on ad agencies rather than just focus on selling objective.” 

What’s ahead

“ Exploration and creativity is what the advertising industry always demands. In the advertising industry people are not restricted to think, for instance, if you are launching a new product you should have the information about that very product in detail and in depth,” says Dhungana. She further explains that the advertising industry has a bright future if people are willing to explore and come up with creative ideas and understand what the client and consumer actually wants. Shrestha informs that soon AAN will be coming up with a personality training course for people interested to explore the world of advertising. This help and training will also be extended to those who wish to make a career in this industry.

Clean feed and dubbing issues 

According to Shrestha, they are still lobbying with the government for a clean feed policy and the process is ongoing. He says, “ For now a clean feed committee has been formed and we are hopeful that the committee will bring a positive change in the advertising industry.” Dhungana is of the opinion that everything has its pros and cons.

The good point of foreign language dubbing is that multinational companies are entering the local market which somehow brings opportunity whereas, in dubbing only the voice- over is recorded which is a loss of opportunity for many.“ To ask for a ban in any policy is not a part of the solution because 98 per cent of our economy depends on foreign products, so it’s wise to take a diplomatic stand rather than to advocate for any kind of ban policies,” believes Dhungana.

The Himalayan Times_ Perspectives

April 10, 2016

What’s COOKING ?

Tall on gas and short on action, inaction by authorities to blame for LPG crisis

Soni Rai

Kathmandu

T he long line of consumers with empty cylinders in front of every LPG dealer and distributor proves that consumers are still plagued by the unsolved cooking gas shortage. Yet nobody in authority seems too bothered to solve this major problem of a basic necessity. “ It’s been days since I have been queuing for gas and have to return empty handed as the gas doesn’t arrive at the dealer’s distribution point,” says a resident of Basundhara. “ As I have to go to work and cannot wait the whole day, I have to manage without gas,” says Asha Bishowkarma, a resident of Maharajgunj.

According to the Nepal L P Gas Industry Association, the current problems faced by consumers is to be blamed directly on an inactive and unconcerned government, as market demand is not being fulfilled by Nepal Oil Corporation ( NOC). There is no proper Act for LPG in Nepal and this is the reason behind the chaos and black marketing while NOC distributors and dealers play the blame game.

 THE ROOT PROBLEM

 Baburam Humagain, General Secretary of the Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights Nepal, says, “ Consumers are facing huge problems related to acute shortage of LPG. Consumers with high purchasing power and business establishments prefer to buy new cylinders ( at a premium) instead of waiting in the queue. So there is no real problem for those who can afford to buy a new cylinder in the black market.” According to him, gas dealers obviously prefer to sell new cylinders at a premium to those who can afford, such as restaurants and industries. This has led to a trend of hoarding and encouraging the buying of new cylinders rather than refilling old ones.

“ There should also be a provision that consumers be allowed to buy and refill any brand cylinder from any gas dealer because ultimately quality, quantity and price of all are the same,” he says adding that if one gas company is not supplying then consumers should be allowed to exchange it easily for another. “ The practice of paying extra for a new cylinder must be stopped as it only helps to expand the market of a particular dealer,” he says.

CLUELESS AUTHORITIES 

He further says, “ Right now the government is clueless and says that the shortage is because people are hoarding it due to a sense of insecurity.

However, the government is weak and yet to come with a policy or inform consumers about a solution to the current crisis.” According to him, if the gas dealers and the government work together to ensure smooth supply then the problem can be solved very soon.

Gokul Prasad Dhital, Director General at the Department of Supply Management and Protection of Consumer Interest says, “ In Nepal there are 6.2 million cylinders in circulation. It takes times to refill it and send them back to the market.” However, he admits there are problems with dealers not supplying gas in an effective way and encouraging people to buy new cylinders by paying extra.

“ We are investigating and sending our supply management team to dealers to properly evaluate the situation. They are deployed to find out whether consumers’ are getting cooking gas or not,” adds Dhital. “ In some places our supply management team have distributed cylinders to consumers who haven’t got cylinders for many days. It has been brought to our notice that some dealers hoard cylinders. Soon we will hold them responsible for these misconducts,” he assures. However, till date not a single dealer has been booked or seriously taken to task, despite obvious discrepancies in distribution.

Dhital also says that they are in continuous discussion with NOC about how to ensure smooth flow of LPG to dealers. He insists that for proper supply of LPG there must be the implementation of a card system. For instance, blue cylinders for business purpose and red cylinders for household consumer purpose.

SUPPLY DOES NOT MEET DEMAND 

Kush Prasad Mally, Vice- President of Nepal L P Gas Industry Association, says, “ Every winter the demand for LPG rises by 20 per cent, which is an indicator for the government to increase supply, but this never happens.” According to him, from mid November to February every year the problem of LPG shortage arises. “ NOC is a state- owned entity and should charge according to global market prices. Instead they try to show consumers that they are supplying LPG at a loss and hence supply does not meet demand,” says Mally, adding that even LPG storage facilities are inadequate.

He points out, “ There are approximately 25,000 LPG dealers in the country yet there is no fixed policy that they abide by which leads to black marketing. The only solution is proper policy and inspection by the government.” According to him, the government should encourage the private sector to come up with business plans so that private companies too can import LPG according to the increasing demand of consumers. Due to lack of proper policy the private sectors are hesitant to invest and the government has not been able to ensure smooth supply.

MORE PROMISES 

Mukunda Ghimire, Spokesperson of Nepal Oil Corporation, says, “ The monthly demand for LPG is 25,000MT. In catering to this demand we try to bring at least 30,000MT. However, the demand has now soared to 40,000MT and we are working on importing LPG as per the new demand.” According to Ghimire, NOC does not own any LPG bullets for importing and transportation of gas. If NOC has its own LPG bullets it will help decrease the problem of gas shortage. “ As the demand for the LPG is 40,000MT we need at least 60 LPG bullets. Right now we are importing 45 Indian LPG bullets which are not enough to fulfil market demand,” he admits.

Ghimire opines, “ We also don’t have any storage for LPG right now and with 53 bottling plants we only have storage capacity of 5,500MT which is certainly not enough.” He further adds, “ We plan to start a new storage plant in Kavre with storage capacity of at least 30,000MT.” While every little effort will make a big difference, it remains to be seen if all the tall talk converts to action. Otherwise as usual it’s just gas that stirs the cauldron till the next crisis evolves.

The Himalayan Times_PERSPECTIVES

March 27, 2016

Taste the difference

The official beer partner of Euro 2016 offers a chance to live it live! 

Soni Rai
Kathmandu 

Gorkha Brewery Pvt Ltd which holds more than 70 per cent market share of Nepal’s beer market has successfully created a niche for themselves over the past 20 years. The company introduced Carlsberg, one of its premium brands, in 1995 in the Nepali market. Carlsberg, one of the most iconic brands of Gorkha Brewery, is also present in more than 150 countries worldwide. Carlsberg beer contains five per cent alcohol and comes in three bottle and can sizes — 650 ml, 510 ml and 330 ml.

HOW IT ALL STARTED 

Carlsberg Laboratory made its first major scientific breakthrough when Dr Emil Chr Hansen developed a method for propagating pure yeast. The propagating method revolutionised the brewing industry. The samples of the yeast were then sent to breweries around the world by request and young brewers came to Carlsberg to learn the skills. After that the new Carlsberg yeast — Saccharomyces Carlsbergensis — was applied in the every brewing process.

FLY TO FRANCE

 Carlsberg, the official beer partner of the UEFA EURO 2016 started their two month long campaign ‘ Live it Live’ from March worldwide and in Nepal. Baibhav Sharma, Head of Marketing, Gorkha Brewery says, “ As Carlsberg is the official beer partner of UEFA EURO 2016 we want to offer a once in a life time experience to our consumers and football fans through our campaigns,” adding that the campaign is visible in over 3000 outlets all over Nepal which includes premium restaurants, supermarkets and departmental stores.

The winner of the campaign gets a chance to watch the EURO 2016 match between Italy and Sweden live on June 17 in France. EURO 2016 is officially starting from June 10. A coupon will be available with every purchase of Carlsberg beer wherein the buyer has to fill in his details and that of the outlet’s and drop it in the drop box. A lucky draw contest will be held on May 3 and the winner announced. A drop box is available in every outlet where consumer can drop their filled out coupons.

Sharma shares, “ We will be selecting only one winner through the lucky draw contest and the winner can choose a partner to take along with him to France to watch the EURO 2016.” MAINTAINING BRAND VALUE “ The brand’s unique selling point is its brand name itself. We maintain its international standard in terms of price and quality. It also uses special aromatic herbs which are not found in other beers in Nepal.

The brand’s association and with the Barclays League, Liverpool and Euro Cup adds more value to its name,” says Sharma. He further says, “ Carlsberg enjoys over 99 per cent market share in the premium segment.” According to him, Carlsberg’s mantra for success lies in its adherence to the three A’s — appreciation, aspiration and appeal. Sharma shares, “ Consumers recognise Carlsberg because they appreciate it, we are associated with different football leagues which are a result of aspiration and the concept of providing beer towers in different outlets and restaurants appeals consumers. These three A’s are the principles we follow at Carlsberg,” he added.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

 Sharma believes that branding market segmentation is very important, in terms of consumers’ education. He shares that outlet segmentation is equally important to know their consumer’s preference in terms of the type of place they want to hang out. According to Sharma, their target consumers are above 24 years, who have disposable income to spend, and can go to premium outlets.

INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATION

 According to Sharma, integrated marketing communication is very important in terms of advertising and marketing. For instance, people see advertorials in newspapers which increases the brand’s visibility. Advertisement, he believes, subconsciously plays a vital role in creating a positive image.

He mentions, “ We use print advertisement, outlet advertisement and digital platforms as well. In terms of consumer effectiveness, outlet advertisement is more effective it directly influences the consumers at a point of purchase.”

 TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

 On being asked about the quality they maintain, Sharma says, “ There are two types of quality test when it comes to total quality management, one we send samples to Carlsberg international research agencies and the second is international agencies pick up the samples from any of the outlets randomly. Apart from this, Gorkha Brewery has Empty Bottle Inspector system in which if any of the bottles has any defect the system automatically break the bottle. We assure the packaging is safe.” 

THT- Perspectives
April 17,2016

Cool brands in heated competition

The hottest clothing brands fighting to offer the coolest summer look

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu

Our lifestyle has always been influenced by how we present ourselves and the statement we make has a lot to with what we wear. Renowned clothing brands like Wrangler, Lee and Jeanswest are flourishing in the market with stylish denims for both men and women. These brands are popular with customers and this summer clothing brands are pushing their summer fabrics that ensure a cool and comfortable look.

Travel in your jeans

Wrangler is an enduring American clothing brand offering clothes which is for the spirit of people who work hard, have fun and recognise courageous individuality. In 2013 Wrangler as a brand entered the Nepali market. Vivek Sharma, Director of Wrangler Nepal, says, “ Wrangler has already created a brand name for itself all over the world and in terms of quality it has never compromised.” He says that they have targeted all age groups of customers from adults to the middle- aged, specially in terms of jeans for both men and women which is their brand advantage. “ We have different collections of jeans such as ‘ Tough gear jeans’ — this is twice as s tronger than any other pair of jeans, ‘ Water and oil repellent jeans’, and ‘ Sun shield denim’ — which reflect UV rays, making the fabric cooler in summer.” He says the brand continuously focuses on giving something new and different each year to customers as a part of their brand strategy.

According to Sharma, even a recognised brand faces tough competition in the market and their constant persistence and variation in the clothing line makes them different from others. He also adds, “ We regularly focus on customer service by keeping a database of our customers so that they can be updated with the latest news related to the brand.” This is what makes the brand different and helps in increasing brand loyalty among customers.This summer the brand is offering ‘ Traveller jeans’ to customers. They are comfortable and made of soft fabric which is perfect for travelling, says Sharma.

For every season

In Nepal, Lee has been around since 2011 offering an entire clothing line for men and women.

Earlier the brand was more focused on work wear and business clothing but has expanded to fashionable denims with casual clothes as well. Dilip KC, General Manager, Lee jeans Nepal, says, “ Lee is for those who want better fits, styles, finish and choices in their clothing style.

We are more focused on jeans and t- shirts and we introduce our clothes lines according to the seasons.” He informs that this summer Lee has come up with ‘ Denim Delight’ which is much smoother, looks like jeans but is more stretchable and thus is more in demand in the market.

According to KC, they import their products from India and Vietnam. “ Following the latest fashion in our clothing line, using suitable fabrics according to the season and durability are the unique selling points of our brand,” shares KC. “ Different collections, styles and fits like loose, regular, relaxed, skinny and slim jeans are favourites among customers,” he says.

He further shares that customer service is very important when it comes to maintaining a brand name. “ It’s not about one time sales, a brand should have the capability of retaining customers which is only possible by providing a quality product with good service. Satisfying our customers with the latest products is our marketing strategy,” he says.

Price is right

Jeansweat is an Australian brand which was launched in 2010 in Nepal. It operates in the casual clothes segment with denims playing an integral part in the product range. This brand has been loved by customers for their product, customer service and reasonable pricing. This apparel chain is owned and operated by Glorious Sun.

Achal Kumar Agarwal, Director, Jeanswest for Nepal, says, “ We do lot of online marketing for Jeanswest and have different discount systems for regular customers as this helps increase sales.” He informs that in Nepal, word of mouth advertising is the key to increase sales. “ We focus on men and women clothing. We have a strong brand presence when it comes to women’s clothing whereas very few of brands concentrate on women, this is our strong selling point,” he says.

According to Agarwal, Jeanswest is competitive when it comes to pricing. This pricing strategy helps to pull the customers. He says, “ Our brand’s USP is reasonable pricing compared to other brands.” He informs that the brand usually uses fabrics like lycra and dupont. For this summer season the brand is coming with summer fabrics which absorbs sweat. They are very strong in both the jeans and tshirt segment, says Agarwal. For men they have jeans, casual pants, shorts, t- shirts and shirts; for women they have skirts, shorts, jeans, t- shirts and blouses. “ This wide product range has helped our brand sustain in the market,” says Agarwal.