Johnnie Walker - Since 1820 and still walking

The legacy has remained consistent and has endured almost two centuries. Started by John Walker in Ayrshire, Scotland, it has notably become popular as one of the super brands of the world. Diageo the current owner takes a lot of pride in having JW in his kitty and has also created "The Striding Man Society" which is a members club for Johnnie Walker drinkers. The forward walking man symbolizes forward thinking and the pursuit of excellence.

Well, now… That is it! What’s so exceptional…?

Hmm…

Let’s see…

The baton passed to Alexander Walker.

Like father like son, but with a slight difference! Alexander Walker wanted to run the marathon than the 100 meter dash! He stepped into his father’s shoes quite comfortably and introduced the iconic square bottle in 1870. This meant fewer broken bottles and more bottles fitting the same space. The other identifying characteristic of the bottle is the label, which is applied at an angle of 24 degrees. The angled label means the text on the label could be made larger and more visible. A smart move, wouldn’t you agree?

A remarkable brand that sits quietly in the dark cupboard of so many ardent scotch connoisseurs and has been voted by a network of trusted veterans as the Number One whisky brand in the world. And of course, the number of bottles sold would second that.

What was started as Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky selling from a small grocery shop, has found its place in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible by the name "the Savoy, and the Everest of Deluxe Whiskies." Even the purists cannot deny that. I think it is the best brand in the world today. Make no mistake… I will go to the extent of stating that if you can find a better brand of whisky then I will happily pay a finder's fee. How about that?!

For those of you who have acquired a taste for some of the finest of drinks in life… Walk and Talk over a peg or two of Walker and decide whether I have left you with a hangover or a Dutch courage!

Cheers!

Sachin – The only thing constant in this ever changing world.

“I want my son to become Sachin Tendulkar.” – Brian Lara (West Indies)
“We did not lose to a team called India. We lost to a man called Sachin.” – Mark Taylor (Australia)
“There are 2 kind of batsman in the world. 1 Sachin Tendulkar and 1 all the others” – Andy Flower (Zimbabwe)
“I have seen God. He bats at No. 4 for India in tests.” – Matthew Hayden (Australia)
“I see myself when I see Sachin batting.” – Don Bradman (Australia)
That’s the kind of respect he commands.
He creates a positive vibe whenever he walks into the field.
And when he plays, nothing but there is class stamped all over it.
Fantastic would be an understatement when you see him play.
He is not only a brand but an iconic brand that has attained divinity.
Millions of cricket lovers around the globe and even those who don’t know much about cricket can’t withstand anything less than a Century from this master player.
The ruthlessness and efficiency with which he plays is really captivating. Twenty years is certainly a long time for a player and a brand.
It is his performance that reflects his resilience to remain focused and let his bat do the talking every time naysayers raised their dreaded finger on him.
But what’s even more interesting, is the story which I would like to share with you guys…

It was the month of July 1998, long time…
But the memories still young and fresh in my mind…
And we, we means I with my family were on our way to Ranchi from Jamshedpur, a 130 kms odd drive. The weather was just perfect and the drive one of the best of my life as it left behind some beautiful memories for me to cherish in a dew drop adorned green grass blades… Oh! A view from heaven. A slice of paradise!
We stopped by a roadside dhaba to refuel our stomach. As dhabas are very well known, for the time they take to prepare the orders, I decided to utilize this time
I excused myself from the family and moved to the cash counter where there were already a lot like me cricket lovers encircling a Marconi device (the radio) -
Thanks to this invention.
What’s playing out was an India Sri Lanka match… India batting second, in a bad position.
Everyone was just glued to the sound waves including me as the radio too was not in a mood to express India’s loss.
When suddenly a hand struck me from behind. I turned… A feeble old man enquired about the score.
I answered with a deep voice and the next question followed “Sachin hai na?” (Is Sachin still there?)
I replied yes
With a smile on his face he said “India jeet jayega” (India will win)
And I was dead as a Dodo!

Was that confidence?

Was that hope?

Or was it faith?

Hmm…. You know what… I think, it was all three!

No wonder we call Sachin… God!

AK-47 All I Need Is All I Got

Quite surprising, huh…

You all must be thinking how come AK 47 struck my mind.

Even I never thought I would be writing on this...

But anything that continues to evolve to encompass identity - is a BRAND

And I felt the need to write about such an assault brand.

But actually this rifle has made a mark really deep - in this world - just like it makes when fired.

Designed by a young Russian tank commander Mikhail Kalashnikov the AK47 assault rifle has attained iconic martial status all over the world.

Known for its high quality the gun has functioned perfectly even after being dug out of the mud.

Be it the Iran Iraq war, Srilanka’s Tamil tigers

People from the left extremist group or the NATO forces

Believe me this gun has never let its user down

It’s ubiquitous

It’s friendly (of course to the person handling it)

And nonetheless it’s deadly

It’s a brand that wrote its own destiny.

A brand that can unleash terror in split second.

Irony would be a word less justified as to what extent the management term Business Ethics would hold true to this.

You will feel your ears turning hot.

You might even get goosebumps.

As you see those jaw dropping videos acclaiming this terror machine.

For all those brave men and women who have time and again recommended the supremacy of this great intricate structure.

If prizes like Nobel peace can be conferred on an US President whilst wars are being waged by the nation on two fronts.

How about presenting an AK47 along with a diploma, a medal and a document confirming the prize amount.

Think about that...

Amul – The face of real India

I love the way they satire on every current events.
And showcase it in a manner that is ought to bring smile on one’s face…
But it is not only their ads that make us smile.
It is also their product specialty that helps us stay strong.
A chubby girl with big eyes usually dressed in a polka dotted dress…
Often showing up on hoardings with a recognisable tagline Utterly Butterly Delicious Amul.
Thanks to late Eustace Fernandez for giving us someone like her,
Who has become the known face in every other Indian household…
The Amul Moppet or the Amul girl.
As the name suggest this brand is really priceless.
Going strong since last 64 years.
And serving millions of people across India.
What was started as Operation flood or the White revolution in the 70’s has really taken charge
-Thanks to Verghese Kurien-
And contributed in increasing India’s milk production by several million metric tonnes.
It has made India the world’s largest milk producing nation.
That’s the reason why World Bank says “This has been the most beneficial project funded by us anywhere in the world.”
The three tier business model of Amul benefits everyone from the farmers to the end users.
It is the second largest company in India after Railways which provide employment to so many people.
The Amul Pattern or the business model of Amul has inspired many similar projects in various Indian states.
Just like Amul is in Gujarat, Vijaya in Andra Pradesh; Verka in Punjab or a Nandini in Karnataka are some of the cooperative milk projects
That is benefiting millions of farmers every day in their respective states.
The success of Amul is not one of those which can be easily forgotten.
But it is one that will always remind us of a true “Swadeshi Movement”.

Goodbye Maruti 800

In this brand bazaar…
Brands come and go.
But some doesn’t fade away so quickly with the advent of time.

They mean serious business.
They come, they see, they rule and they stay.
They become immortal because they get attached to our emotional chord.
We some how connect with them.
Either because they are the first to occupy our mind space
Or because they never ditch us.
Something like this is the story of a brand named Maruti 800.
I know you must be thinking that Maruti 800 will no longer be available to the public after some time.
As already the company has stop selling the car in 13 major Indian cities and will be sold in other cities only until 2015–16.
Then how come can I say that it will stay.
Yes it will in our minds and in our hearts.
Starting from Harpal Singh who is now 85 and who was the first in the country to drive home the iconic car in 1983,
Every 2.5 million buyer and their family members feel proud when they are asked about their car because it was or rather for many of them it is a part of their family.
The one who takes them to any family function.
The one who soaks in the rain but gives them a safe haven.
The one who accompanied many of their daughters when she left her own house and went to her in laws.
There are many such stories which may come out when we ask them about their experience with this car.
They’ll simply love to share it.
The common man’s car, the people’s car, the family car and by many other names we know it.
Starting its journey in way back 1983 when there were only Ambassador, Contessa and Fiat as its rival.
It saw globalization but till today multinationals are fighting it hard to stand their chance in the car market.
I know what comes has to go.
Nothing is permanent.
Life evolves.
But few things stay alive in history.
Maruti 800 is one of them.

Sequoia - The small behind the biggies.

If I’m not mistaken many of you out there reading this article belongs to generation Y.
Some might even be geeks.
Well that’s only for confirmation.
Let’s start
There are something’s which you could know…
But for everything else there is Google.
That’s very true!
Everyday we use Google at least once a day.
On my personal side it’s uncountable.
And all those guys doing freelancing work.
I know you must be complaining,
but PayPal is your best pal.
I can’t remember any of the instances when my friends would have missed any latest videos or to that matter MMS.
Just because of their one very loyal and helpful friend named YOUTUBE.
LinkedIn, the current heartthrob.
The first of its kind, a business oriented social networking site which people mainly use for professional networking.
Coming next Electronic Art.
Which many of us would recognize as EA Sports.
The company that puts us into Schumacher’s shoes.
Yes, I’m talking about NFS (Need for Speed).
Apple Inc., it might sound like a fruit company,
But today I will be on the wrong side.
If I say so.
With a revenue of US$ 43 billion.
It’s a company worth mentioning.
Moving from technology.
What comes to my mind is our very own CCD.
Yes Café Coffee Day.
The favorite place for couple’s day out.
Because a lot can happen over coffee.
But why am I mentioning all this company together after all they all are big brands on their own.
Today our life would have been so void without them.
There is something which connects them.
A name which 97% of the people have never heard.
A name that is behind more than hundred companies in this world.
A name which I think, now you would love to know.
Sequoia Capital, the venture capital firm founded by Don Valentine.
Which provided the seed capital to many small companies which are now not so small.

Apollo – It costs a trip to the space.

When in 1983, Pratap C. Reddy decided to start his own hospital.

He named it Apollo.

Why?

The fact is, he was very much obsessed with Apollo 1.

But has he overdone it?

I think so…

That’s why those who come to his hospitals are charged as space tourists rather than patients.

A liver transplant would cost something around Rs. 20-25 lakhs at an Apollo hospital.

Cardiac surgery Rs. 3.5 lakhs

Bone marrow transplant Rs. 15 lakhs

Orthopedic surgery Rs. 3 lakhs

These rates are pretty high as compared to any other hospitals in and around India.

Are they a merchant?

Doctors who are considered second to God have made this a business.

One third of the world’s poor resides in India.

42% of India’s fall below the international poverty line that means their PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) in nominal terms is Rs.21.6 a day in urban areas and Rs.14.3 in rural areas.

Take that!

Can they afford this voyage? Of course not

Well leave the numbers.

The current health care situation in India is dismal.

But today healthcare is being seen as the next big boom.

And private players like Apollo are likely to cash on that…

As a matter of fact they are catering to only wealthy foreign and domestic consumers.

The so called elite class.But what about the low income people?

Is someone hearing them?

My simple question is…

Can he be conferred with a Padma Vibhusan -?

An honor given for a distinguished service to the nation.