In history of marketing no other product has borne greater wrath of regulators or has created more iconic stories then cigarettes. Although with increasing control cigarette advertising has become more subtle, the past century has been marked with enough thrills to make the story a marketing best seller. So let’s take a look at few instances from world of tobacco, a few of which might even leave a bad taste in mouth.

Marlboro Man – Arguably one of the most recognized figures in marketing was this rugged cow boy who stood …

Recently, as part of a second-year marketing elective, I read an article posted by a colleague, which encapsulated a lively discussion between eminent industry personalities on India’s readiness to produce and nurture cult brands. In order to afford this label however, brands must break through the glass ceiling of marketing, so to speak, and acquire an iconic status. These brands must inspire not only customer loyalty, but also customer empathy and connection. It is valuable to note here that this phenomenon must be differentiated from brand evangelism, in which consumers …

FMCG:
1. Did you know that Unilever stalks its customers with GPS trackers secretly placed in laundry detergent boxes? Natural News
2. Smile and you will  get an ice cream. Unilever and SapientNitro have come out with a smile-activated vending machine, as part of Unilever’s ‘Share Happy’ campaign. Business Standard
3. Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) today said it was in talks with Procter & Gamble (P&G) to give up its licence to sell air freshener brand ‘Ambipur’ in India. Business Standard
Personalities:
1. Bollywood’s ad race sparks image fears
Finally, some sense of one image …

FMCG:
1.  Ambush Marketing at its very best. Find out how HUL managed to ambush arch rival P&G’s grand plans in Mumbai. Economic Times
2. Marketing through social media websites is the latest trend, with an increasing number of companies opting for this route. Find out how Old Spice used it to their advantage at My Customer
3. P&G has stepped into the e-commerce market through the launch of its eStore which is expected to have a significant impact on its future prospects. Trefis
Media, Web and Entertainment:
1. With a strong domination in the …