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.”