Markathon September 2013 Edition

Dear Readers,

As we receive overwhelming appreciation of our an­niversary issue released last month, we take a mo­ment to thank you for the continued support and participation you have been showing throughout this 5 year long journey. You are the source of our moti­vation and your constant feedbacks help us keep rel­evant to your needs.

As the month of September turned round the cor­ner, the temperatures nosedived and so did the frail Indian economy. The Indian rupee hit the rock-bot­tom even though the unfortunate Subbarao left no stones unturned. Soon the man of the moment Ra­ghuram Rajan came as a messiah to the dying econ­omy and sentiments improved. The inevitable hap­pened as BJP finally nominated Narendra Modi as its presidential candidate for general elections next year. The society at large found some closure at the landmark death sentencing of the four accused in Nirbhaya gang-rape. In the business scenario, noth­ing has been more talked about than the momen­tous acquisition of Nokia by Microsoft that has us geeky customers biting our nails for what’s next in store while Apple fails to make a mark with its 5C’s and 5 S’. HUL’s Pepsodent had consumers at the edge of their seats as it took potshots at Colgate reviving the great ad wars. 
The beauty of things imperfect, incomplete and im­permanent is seeping into business as the ancient Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi gains ground. This month’s cover story ‘Wabi Sabi and Marketing’ is a fresh take on how this novel concept is finding rel­evance in the business world and what marketing and innovation has to do with it. As the author says, ‘things need not always be perfect to be good’. Do read this quirky story and decode for yourself the recipe for perfection, or decide if you need it at all.
For our Vartalaap this edition, we have an exclusive interview with Mr. Vinod Sharma, Assistant Vice President-Sales & Marketing at Alkem Labs Ltd. In a career spanning over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, he talks about his extensive experience in areas of new business launch, turn-arounds in busi­ness unit and in developing new business module through a long term business approach.
Chuckle along as we have in store for you the tangy Brand Story of Dabur Hajmola as it continues to in­dulge the young and the old in a unique manner for over four decades now. Keep guessing as Fun corner eludes you with some of the most quirky and innova­tive print ads ever produced.
With so much in line waiting for you, wait no more and flip through the latest edition. Do keep us posted on what interests you and what doesn’t by writing to markathon.iims@gmail.com and we promise we will come back bigger and better, time and again.

Happy Reading !!

To the new beginnings and for our love towards Marketing.

Cheers!

Team Markathon