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Jewellery Quarter lights up for Christmas

Christmas lights and festive displays to add retail cheer.




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Sustainable Beauty & Fashion Brands, Shops That Birmingham Residents Can Support

Shopping ethically in the city.




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Plans announced for ground-breaking theatrical partnership

West Midlands announce intention to be National Centre for Musical Theatre.




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Birmingham Heritage Week starts in September

Take the opportunity to see how the city used to be.





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Magical lantern parade at Midlands Arts Centre

Autin Dance Theatre presents Light Up Fest.



  • Dance
  • Family
  • Style and Design
  • Theatre
  • Autin Dance Theatre
  • Light Up Fest
  • Midlands Arts Centre

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Lucy Porter: No Regrets

Actor and comic Lucy Porter explains what she's done wrong.





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Shreyas Srinivasan, Paytm CPO and founder of Insider.in, bids farewell to the unicorn; shares heartfelt message

Shreyas Srinivasan, Paytm's Chief Product Officer, has announced his departure from the company after more than ten years. His exit comes after Paytm sold its ticketing platform, Insider.in, to Zomato. Srinivasan played a key role in Insider.in's growth, from its inception to its merger with Paytm.




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Udaan reports flat revenue in FY24, narrows losses by 19% as focus on profitability continues

“Udaan’s financial performance for FY23-24 reflects its commitment to building a robust, profitable and resilient business. With revenue reaching INR 5,700 crores for FY23-24, we have made significant strides toward profitability, reducing EBITDA burn by 40% year-on-year to ~INR 900 crores,” said Kiran Thadimarri, SVP Finance, Udaan in a LinkedIn post.




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India recalls Flipkart antitrust probe report after Xiaomi complaint

China's Xiaomi had complained to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that the report - which found Flipkart, some of its sellers, and smartphone players in violation of competition laws - contained commercial secrets that should have been redacted, Reuters reported in September.




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ED searches sellers using Amazon, Flipkart platforms in FEMA probe

The action is related to the financial transactions being done by some of the "preferred" vendors and sellers who do business through Amazon and Flipkart like e-commerce platforms.




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Walmart to offer independent drivers new holiday bonuses in battle with Amazon

Walmart is offering new incentives to its Spark Driver network for the holiday season to compete with Amazon in the e-commerce market. The company aims to attract more upper-income households to its Walmart Plus membership by offering faster deliveries and potentially increase advertising revenue.




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Flipkart's logistics arm Ekart sees 5-fold surge in net loss at Rs 1,718 crore in FY24

E-commerce platform Flipkart's logistics arm reported a more than five times surge in its net losses to Rs 1,718.4 crore last fiscal (FY24), compared to Rs 324.6 crore in the previous fiscal (FY23).




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ED to summon Amazon, Flipkart executives as regulatory scrutiny grows

The planned action signals growing regulatory scrutiny of Walmart-owned Flipkart and Amazon when their sales are rapidly growing in India's $70 billion e-commerce market. An antitrust investigation also found the two companies breached laws by favouring select sellers, Reuters has reported.




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B2C commerce startup Wheelocity raises $15 million from Lightspeed, others

The new funding will support Wheelocity’s plans to expand operations across 20,000 towns and villages in southern India over the next year, aiming to reach a user base of 10 million.




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Swiggy hires two more Flipkart execs to boost its senior leadership

In August, Flipkart senior vice president of category and marketplace Amitesh Jha joined Swiggy as the chief executive of Instamart, while Dhruvish Thakkar, a senior director at Flipkart Epharma, moved to Swiggy the following month as assistant vice-president of Dineout – its dining out vertical.




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Flipkart deployed over 10,000 electric vehicles in delivery fleet

The strategic adoption of EVs has resulted in substantial operational efficiencies, lowering the cost per order at the hub level and improving the last-mile delivery speed by 20 per cent, compared to conventional delivery vehicles, Flipkart said.




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Indian luxury beauty market to reach $1.6 billion by 2028: Report

According to a report by Kearney and LUXASIA, India's luxury beauty market is projected to grow to USD 1.6 billion by 2028 and USD 4.0 billion by 2035. This growth is fueled by economic development and an expanding middle class. Brands need to tailor their strategies for region-specific preferences to succeed. Early market entry and expert support are crucial to navigate complexities, the report said.




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US says it intends to shore up support for Ukraine until Trump takes office




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Blackstone in advanced talks to acquire shopping center owner Retail Opportunity

Blackstone is close to acquiring Retail Opportunity Investments Corp, which owns U.S. shopping centers worth $3.4 billion including debt. Other private equity firms, including Bain Capital, are also interested. The deal could be finalized in the coming weeks if negotiations succeed. ROIC has raised rents significantly amidst high inflation, making it an attractive target.




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White collar hiring grows 10 pc in Oct led by oil & gas, pharma, FMCG: Report

Key sectors, including oil & gas (18 per cent), pharma/biotech (12 per cent), FMCG (8 per cent), and IT (6 per cent) emerged as primary drivers of this positive trend, with AI/ML roles showing exceptional growth at 39 per cent year-on-year, the report stated.




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Retail space leasing in malls, main high streets falls 1 pc to 1.63 mn sq ft during Jul-Sep: Report

Retail leasing in India's top eight cities dipped slightly in the third quarter of 2024, driven by strong demand on main streets and limited mall supply. While overall leasing edged down 1%, main streets accounted for 68% of activity, pushing rental rates up in several cities.




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India's consumer price inflation to rise further to 5.81% on skyrocketing food costs

India's consumer price inflation likely surged to a 14-month high in October, driven by soaring vegetable and edible oil prices. Economists predict inflation hit 5.81%, just below the central bank's 6% tolerance limit. A weak rupee and rising global commodity prices add to inflationary pressures, potentially delaying anticipated interest rate cuts.




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Goldman Sachs look to join hands with Bhartias of Jubilant for HCCB stake buy, to finance upto Rs 3500 cr

The Bhartia family and Goldman Sachs are joining forces for a significant deal. They are planning to acquire a large stake in HCCB, the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in India. Goldman Sachs will provide substantial financial backing for this venture. The deal involves a planned future listing of HCCB, allowing Goldman Sachs to exit strategically. This move mirrors PepsiCo's successful strategy with Varun Beverages.




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2024 festive season sees highest gig workers demand driven by logistics, retail sectors: Report

India witnessed a surge in gig employment opportunities during the 2024 festive season, with over 1.2 million roles posted. This growth, a 23% increase from the previous year, was fueled by e-commerce expansion and a shift towards flexible work arrangements. Tier II cities are emerging as new gig hubs, while higher pay is attracting skilled professionals.




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D2C startup Wakefit records 24% jump in its FY24 revenue

Wakefit cofounder Chaitanya Ramalingegowda attributed the increase in revenue to the company’s focus on strengthening its omnichannel presence, with some stores reaching maturity and a new wave of outlets opening, along with the benefits of an automated mattress factory.




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Paint Wars: Dulux shade card may be part of a merged palette

Akzo Nobel India has informed that its Dutch parent Akzo Nobel NV is conducting a strategic review of its portfolio to redeploy capital towards growing its core coatings businesses. The initial focus will be on its decorative paints business in South Asia and various strategic options will be explored ranging from partnerships or joint ventures through to mergers or divestments.




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Furniture rental startup Rentomojo nears Rs 200 crore FY24 operating revenue

Rentomojo reported a 60% rise in operating revenue to Rs 193 crore in FY24. Controlled rise in expenses during the year saw net profit surge more than threefold to Rs 22 crore last fiscal from Rs 6 crore in FY23.




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'Akzo Nobel open for partnership or India ops sell-off '

Akzo Nobel, Europe's leading paint manufacturer, is exploring options to either partner with a larger company or sell its Indian operations. Akzo Nobel's aim is to navigate the consolidation in the South Asian paint market. The company currently holds a 5% market share in India with its Dulux brand and seeks a collaborative approach for future growth.




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Tupperware gets court approval for lender sale

Tupperware Brands has been granted approval to sell its assets to its lenders, enabling the company to exit bankruptcy. Unable to find a buyer to pay off its $818 million debt, Tupperware will transfer its brand name and key assets to investment firms Stonehill Capital Management Partners and Alden Global Capital. The company plans a digital-first, asset-light business model post-bankruptcy.




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India emerging as good opportunity market for Sony's gaming biz, says India MD

Sony India, experiencing substantial growth in its gaming sector due to the PlayStation 5's success, is now eyeing India as a key market. Despite anticipating moderated growth this fiscal year, the company remains committed to expanding its gaming presence, including software and peripherals. Sony India last week filed its annual returns to report over 50.1 per cent growth from its 'other business' segment at Rs 1,363.54 crore, which houses its gaming and B2B business.




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Government mulls 5% cut in electronics imports to boost domestic production from FY25: sources

Although stakeholder discussions are still going on, the 5% cut of the total import quota will be implemented from April 1 of the upcoming fiscal. This cut is based on the data provided by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics.




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Your new premium smartphone could get more expensive

Industry executives said the latest generation chipsets, set to power high-end Android handsets, are already around 20% more expensive than their predecessors due to a more complex circuitry and advanced manufacturing process. High demand for premium handsets is also contributing to improving the product mix of chipset makers towards more high-end chipsets.




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DOMS IPO fully subscribed within one hour of bidding process; retail portion booked 4X

At 11:06 a.m., the public issue was subscribed 1.09 times. The retail category was subscribed 4.08 times, while the NII portion garnered 1.18 times bids. There were no bids from qualified institutional buyers so far.




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Branded stationary going to do really well; DOMS can comfortably achieve 15.5-16% margins

“We have been able to grow a little from 15.4% to 16.7% in H1. But this is coming more from the operational efficiencies point of view. And also a very little from probably I can say, there is an advantage currently where the raw material prices are at most low. This is the advantage we have been able to get in H1. ”




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Growing our online channels further remains a priority for us, says Manos Nikolakis, GM, BIC Cello

Manos Nikolakis, GM, BIC Cello, said, "While e-commerce is growing significantly across the country, the landscape of the Indian market is still heavily reliant on traditional trade. Accordingly, this remains our main sales driver. The lack of digital penetration in semi-urban and rural areas can sometimes create a challenge in the e-commerce space, which means that e-commerce is mostly relevant in bigger cities with a more mature infrastructure."




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India remains fastest growing paper market in world: Report

India's paper market is experiencing rapid growth, with packaging paper and paperboard consumption rising at 8.2% in 2023-24. The market, driven by demand from FMCG, textiles, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, and healthcare sectors, benefits from the ban on single-use plastics. Overall paper demand in India grows at 6-7% annually.




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Lenskart cuts loss by 84% in FY24, revenue up 43% to Rs 5,428 crore

The Temasek and SoftBank-backed company’s operating margins also grew significantly, with Lenskart clocking an Ebitda of Rs 856 crore in FY24, against Rs 403 crore in the previous fiscal. In an interview with ET in October, Lenskart’s founder and chief executive officer Peyush Bansal had said the company is making a $200-million investment in its new manufacturing facility in southern India.




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Cartier owner Richemont's profit miss, China caution hit luxury shares

Richemont, the owner of Cartier, fell short of profit projections for the first half of the year and expressed caution regarding China's recovery, causing a decline in European luxury stocks. The company's sales were impacted by a downturn in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China, where consumer confidence remains low.




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Nutrition startup Nutrabay forays into ayurvedic market, launches Shilajit

He further claimed that the product is launched at a 15 per cent lower price compared to the existing products in the market. “We are retaining lower margins than other brands and it works for us, as we spend much less in marketing,” commented Shreyans Jain, co-founder, Nutrabay.




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ET Exclusive: Estée Lauder will soon start local manufacturing in India, says executive group president

The beauty giant, which manufactures makeup, skincare, perfumes, and hair care products, has been in India for close to 20 years now. It had first launched MAC in the country, followed by Clinique, Estee Lauder and recently The Ordinary—its premium affordable range aimed at recruiting younger consumers.




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L'Oreal third quarter sales disappoint as China spends less on beauty

L'Oreal's third quarter sales rose by 3.4% but missed expectations due to low consumer confidence in China. North Asia sales declined 6.5%. Reduced demand for suncare and dermatological products also slowed growth. Chief Executive Nicolas Hieronimus highlighted the need to excite consumers with new innovations, especially targeting young GenZs.




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Reliance Retail's Tira partners with Nayanthara's 9Skin

9Skin, co-founded by actress Nayanthara, partners with Reliance Retail's Tira to expand into offline retail in India. This collaboration launches the exclusive Skinderella Hydrogel Mask. The partnership aims to offer innovative, natural skincare solutions, now available both online and offline through Tira's network.




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Estee Lauder names insider Stéphane de La Faverie as new CEO, WSJ reports

Estee Lauder plans to announce Stephane de La Faverie as the new CEO, succeeding Fabrizio Freda who is retiring next year. La Faverie, currently executive group president, will take over amid challenging market conditions in China. Jane Lauder will step down from her executive role at the end of the year.




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Boldfit gets Rs 110 cr investment from Bessemer Venture Partners

The startup backed by cricketer KL Rahul will use the funds to enhance product innovation and expand its brand presence. The brand sells its products on ecommerce marketplaces, quick-commerce platforms and through its own D2C channel. It plans to open offline stores within the next 12 to 18 months.




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FirstCry refiles IPO papers, reports December revenue at Rs 4,841 crore

FirstCry’s IPO size will be the same, as per the IPO papers. It intends to raise $218 million (about Rs 1,815 crore) in primary funding through issuance of new shares and divestment of 54 million shares from existing investors.




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India's toy exports slip to $152.34 mn in 2023-24; need strategy to push it: GTRI report

India's toy exports saw a slight decline to USD 152.34 million in 2023-24 from USD 153.89 million the previous year. Despite quality control orders, exports did not benefit much. GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava suggested a more comprehensive strategy to develop the industry and boost exports.




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Govt steps help boost toy exports, manufacturing; more work needed: DPIIT Secy

Government initiatives, such as mandatory quality control orders and increased customs duties, have significantly boosted India's toy exports, but further efforts are needed, according to DPIIT Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. He mentioned ongoing efforts to include the toy sector in the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, with a proposed budget of Rs 3,489 crore, to enhance domestic manufacturing.