“Who benefits if we all go cashless?”, asked a friend* of mine. This is indeed the money question in India’s demonetisation saga with its moving goal posts. “I am not here for the enrichment of Visa, MasterCard etc.,” she added. Apart from convenience and fraud protection, the economic case for an individual consumer is near … Continue reading The real story in India’s demonetisation saga
Tag: technology
Luxury’s talent conundrum
A version of this essay appeared on Hudson Walker International's Opinion section published on November the 4th, 2016. The Luxury sector is facing headwinds. Single digit growth seems here to stay. The behaviour and the expectations of the elusive but coveted millennial consumer remain somewhat a mystery with conflicting trends emerging. For instance, millennials seem … Continue reading Luxury’s talent conundrum
On fancy job titles
This article is the fourth in the Startup Series on FirstPost’s Tech2 section and first appeared on Oct the 19th, 2016. In one of my corporate venturing roles with a large Indian conglomerate, I served as the country manager of a European country. That was also the job title on my card and in my … Continue reading On fancy job titles
Autonomous cars and luxury marques
Aston Martin, James Bond's car of choice (except when he went through a BMW phase), showcased a powerboat at Monaco Yacht Show this year. Writing in the Financial Times, Philip Delves Broughton laments that Bond's legacy is being junked by this luxury marque and outlines the dangers of brands diversifying into unrelated categories, especially those … Continue reading Autonomous cars and luxury marques
Authenticity and Vedic wisdom for luxury brands
Alicia Keys, the talented musician and singer, was in the news recently for having chosen decidedly to eschew makeup. In a monograph in a newsletter, she said she feels no need to cover up any more. She talked about her journey to self discovery and finding her authentic self which did not need to be … Continue reading Authenticity and Vedic wisdom for luxury brands
Motivation as a design assumption
Holacracy. MOOCs. Food labels. Holacracy isn't working. MOOCs have low completion rates, and an estimated 90% drop-out rate. Food labels to help consumers make informed choices show mixed effectiveness and decidedly no downward impact on public health concerns re obesity. Other than not working as well as optimistically assumed in their wake, they have one … Continue reading Motivation as a design assumption
Influencer marketing and the luxury marque
Eight years ago, I was pondering the meaning of "authority" on the web. Fast forward to 2016 and the language has moved on. It is no longer about authority but about influence. Brands, including some luxury brands, are engaging in "influencer marketing". The web is awash with "advice" for luxury brands on the criteria for … Continue reading Influencer marketing and the luxury marque
Luxury watches and tech: who is driving whom?
Luxury products, it seems, are being trampled over by technology-enabled products enticing luxury customers. Apple created its own version of ceramic enforced gold. The real number of the Apple watches in gold casing shipped remains a mystery although an estimated total of 10M pieces are expected to have shipped by the end of 2015. Apple … Continue reading Luxury watches and tech: who is driving whom?
Four For Friday (33)
Nearly everyone has an opinion on "robots". My nerdier friends get excited and talk about the latest advances; my sociologist and anthropologist friends shake their heads and bring up issues of inbuilt prejudices and morality; some of us STEAM types, who operate on cusps of disciplines, see the possibilities and the risks and get alternately … Continue reading Four For Friday (33)
Four For Friday (31)
This week's links on design-thinking and design come right after I shared some observations made on a recent trip to India. Apple is giving design a bad name, writes Don Norman, who established the User Experience Architect's Office later becoming Vice President of Apple's Advanced Technology Group. His co author is Bruce Tognazzini, a usability … Continue reading Four For Friday (31)
