Tag: marketing

Business

Croma Launches Festival of Dreams with Up to 35% Off on Electronics

Tanisha Cardozo

Croma, India’s leading omni-channel electronics retailer from the Tata Group, has kicked off the festive season with the return of its much-anticipated Festival of Dreams campaign. Running until October 23, 2025, the campaign brings customers across India an unbeatable mix of festive offers, flat discounts, and special deals across a wide range of categories both in-store and online.

This season, shoppers can enjoy flat 35% off* on popular categories such as TVs, air conditioners, small home appliances, and audio gear. Smartphones, laptops, refrigerators, and washing machines are also seeing exciting markdowns of up to 30%. In addition to discounts, customers can take advantage of cashback offers up to 20%*, exchange bonuses, and attractive EMI plans — all designed to make upgrading your home or buying gifts for loved ones easier and more joyful.

A spokesperson from Infiniti Retail Ltd shared, “Festive shopping should be simple, joyful, and stress-free. With flat savings across the most-loved categories and special windows around Dussehra, Dhanteras, Diwali and Bhai Dooj, we’ve curated offers that will add an extra element of celebration to every Indian home. Through our Festival of Dreams, it is our endeavour to ensure our customers have a joyful and fulfilling festive celebration with their loved ones.”

Recent GST reforms have led to an additional 10% savings on TVs and air conditioners, giving customers more value during the high-spend festive season. Whether customers choose to shop at one of the 560+ Croma stores across 200+ cities or online via croma.com and Tata Neu, they’ll find a seamless experience with mirrored offers, expert buying support, and convenient order tracking.

Croma’s omni-channel capabilities mean shoppers can research online, reserve products, opt for store pickup, or request doorstep delivery. Whether upgrading your own home or buying thoughtful gifts for loved ones, the Festival of Dreams ensures every celebration is filled with smart savings and joy.

Offers applicable only on select brands, classes & categories and may vary by store and city. T&C Apply.

Human Interest

Google Celebrates 27 Years of Innovation with Nostalgic Birthday Doodle

Tanisha Cardozo

Can you believe Google just celebrated its 27th birthday? On September 27, 2025, the tech giant marked the milestone with a vibrant and nostalgic Google Doodle that lit up its homepage. For millions of users across the United States and around the world, it was a cheerful reminder of how far Google has come—from a scrappy startup in a California garage to one of the most influential companies in the world.

Google’s story reads like the ultimate tech fairy tale. It all began in 1998 when two Stanford PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, launched the search engine out of a garage in Menlo Park. Their mission was simple but ambitious: “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Over the last 27 years, that mission has reshaped how we live, learn, work, and connect.

Today, Google is far more than just a search engine. It powers the way we navigate cities with Google Maps, the way we communicate through Gmail, how we stream content on YouTube, and how billions of people interact with Android devices every day. More recently, Google AI has become a focal point of the company’s future vision, bringing new capabilities to everything from personal assistants to real-time language translation.

The Doodle celebrating the 27th anniversary was, as always, fun and user-friendly. It featured a throwback to Google’s first-ever logo from 1998, evoking the early days of dial-up internet and clunky desktop computers. The artwork blended nostalgia with a forward-looking message, encouraging users to explore Google’s newest AI developments—bridging the past with the future.

“These birthday Doodles always feel special,” the company wrote in its announcement. “This Doodle marks Google’s 27th birthday. We’re celebrating by getting nostalgic with our first-ever logo. Search on.”

For many Americans, Google is more than a product—it’s a verb, a tool, and a daily companion. Whether you’re looking up a recipe, navigating a traffic jam, fact-checking during a debate, or planning your next vacation, Google is seamlessly integrated into your routine.

And while the 27th birthday celebration looked back on nearly three decades of progress, it also served as a subtle nod to the road ahead. With artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and sustainability initiatives gaining momentum, the next chapter promises to be just as transformative as the last.

By the time Google hits 30, one thing is certain: the birthday Doodle tradition will be alive and well—still making millions smile as they open their browsers and start their day.

Events in Goa

Reputation Over Gimmicks: CA Santosh Kenkre Shares Timeless Lessons for Entrepreneurial Success

Tanisha Cardozo

At the centenary celebrations of Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias in Panaji, renowned chartered accountant Santosh Kenkre delivered a thought-provoking talk on what truly drives entrepreneurial success in today’s competitive world. A respected figure in Goa’s financial and business circles, Kenkre used the platform to underscore a vital message: long-term success is built on the pillars of reputation, quality, and discipline — not shortcuts or gimmicks.

“Gimmicks may work in the short term. In the long run, it is quality that sells. Reputation is what keeps you in the game,” Kenkre stated emphatically, pointing to brands like Tata as a shining example of consumer trust and brand loyalty. “If Tata does something, we buy it blindly,” he added, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of trust.

Kenkre, who has served as chairman of the Goa State Co-operative Bank and head of the Goa Economic Development Corporation, also addressed Goa’s cultural discomfort with marketing. “In Goa, we are almost apologetic if not timid in advertising or marketing,” he said, urging local entrepreneurs to shed their hesitation. “Only if your products sell, will you get the money. To sustain a business, as a result of competition, you have to advertise or do marketing.”

He drew inspiration from political and corporate leaders alike. Recalling a 2013 meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Kenkre highlighted five lessons learned in just five minutes — open-mindedness, time management, relationship-building, public relations, and delegation. “These are qualities every entrepreneur must develop,” he said.

From the corporate world, Kenkre invoked the wisdom of Infosys founder NR Narayan Murthy. “Growth was never planned as an ambition, but came from steady increments in quality,” Kenkre paraphrased, driving home the point that quality and fair pricing are the ultimate business formula.

Beyond grand strategies, Kenkre found lessons in everyday systems, too. He noted that households — particularly those run by women — demonstrate some of the most efficient standard operating procedures (SOPs). “The multitasking and systems run by women in our households are unmatched. Businesses have much to learn from that discipline,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.

His lecture served as both a mirror and a guidebook — reflecting what Goan entrepreneurs may lack in marketing confidence but also pointing toward a path of value-based growth rooted in reputation, trust, and discipline. As Goa steps into new economic possibilities, Kenkre’s words offer a grounded, time-tested roadmap for sustainable success.

Human Interest

Goa CM Pramod Sawant’s AI-Generated 3D Image Goes Viral with Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ Tool

Tanisha Cardozo

In the ever-evolving world of digital technology, even political communication is witnessing a transformation. The latest example of this trend comes from Goa, where Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has taken a leap into the future by embracing artificial intelligence. A hyper-realistic 3D image of the Chief Minister, generated using Google’s popular AI tool ‘Nano Banana,’ is currently making waves across social media platforms.

The image, which has been widely shared by the official BJP Goa handles as well as numerous fan pages, presents the Chief Minister in a strikingly vivid and life-like form. From sharp facial features and expressive details to the intricate textures of his clothing and the realistic background, every element of the portrait reflects the remarkable capabilities of AI in creating detailed visual content.

What makes this trend more noteworthy is the accessibility and popularity of such tools. Nano Banana, developed by Google, has quickly become a favorite for those looking to create high-quality 3D images effortlessly. Its growing popularity isn’t limited to tech enthusiasts—it’s now being adopted by political figures and public personalities who see its value in enhancing digital presence and outreach.

The AI-generated image of Dr. Sawant has not only captured attention due to its visual appeal but also sparked conversations about the increasing role of technology in shaping public narratives. With captions calling him the ‘architect of progress’ and the ‘people’s hero,’ the photo campaign sends a strong message about visionary leadership, development, and the seamless blend of tradition and technology. The BJP has linked the visual representation to their broader agenda of shaping Goa’s future through infrastructure, education, and sustainability.

This wave of AI-generated content allows leaders like Dr. Pramod Sawant to connect with the public in new and innovative ways. By stepping into the world of AI-driven media, political figures are expanding their influence beyond traditional formats, engaging audiences who are increasingly active on digital platforms. In a world where visual impact matters more than ever, the Chief Minister’s viral AI portrait is a compelling symbol of this new era of tech-powered public engagement.

International

Nepal Bans Facebook, X, YouTube, and 23 Other Social Media Platforms Over Registration Dispute

Tanisha Cardozo

In a controversial and far-reaching decision, the Government of Nepal has ordered the shutdown of 26 major social media platforms — including global giants Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram — citing their failure to comply with mandatory registration requirements. The decision, announced by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on September 4, follows a seven-day deadline that expired the previous night.

According to the Ministry, the ban will remain in place until the platforms are formally registered with Nepali authorities. The Nepal Telecommunication Authority has been instructed to enforce the ban immediately. Officials stated that multiple requests had been made for compliance, with the final deadline passed without any action from the social media companies.

However, this crackdown has sparked widespread backlash both domestically and internationally. Free speech advocates and digital rights organizations have condemned the move, describing it as an attempt to suppress dissent and limit public discourse. Critics argue that the government’s registration demands are excessively intrusive, requiring platforms to submit to tight oversight and control that may violate global standards of digital autonomy and privacy.

Ujjwal Acharya, Director of the Center for Media Research, criticized the decision as deeply misguided, warning that it threatens Nepal’s democratic credentials. He emphasized that social media is no longer just a political tool but an essential part of modern life, used by individuals and businesses alike for communication, commerce, and creativity.

This is not the first time Nepal has moved against social platforms. In 2023, the government temporarily banned TikTok under similar circumstances. That ban was reversed in August 2024, only after TikTok agreed to register in Nepal. Since assuming power over a year ago, the K.P. Sharma Oli government has faced repeated allegations of authoritarian tendencies and increasing hostility toward online dissent.

Earlier this year, the government attempted to introduce sweeping legislation aimed at regulating all online activity under the pretext of protecting users. That effort was met with significant resistance from civil society and media watchdogs. The current ban appears to be an extension of that same regulatory vision, now enforced with greater authority after a Supreme Court ruling two weeks ago upheld the necessity of mandatory registration for all online platforms operating in Nepal.

The sudden blackout of widely used platforms has sent shockwaves through Nepal’s digital population. Many users posted what they feared could be their last messages before the sites went dark, while others decried the government for undermining basic freedoms.

As the country navigates the fallout of this decision, concerns are growing about the long-term implications for online expression, entrepreneurship, and Nepal’s global reputation as a democratic nation. Whether the banned platforms will eventually comply or push back against the government’s demands remains to be seen — but for now, Nepal’s digital landscape has changed dramatically, and not for the better.