After making their dazzling debut on television during the Indian Premier League (IPL) second edition concluded earlier this year, the highly adorable and popular egg-headed Zoozoos have found their way onto birthday cakes, T-shirts, shoes, comic strips, newspaper mastheads, wedding cards, key chains and now even rakhis. Smart local and Chinese marketers are fast cashing in on their rapport with fans.

E-commerce site Indiangiftsportal.com stocks products that feature the Zoozoos. In a span of fortnight, the website sold over 100 Zoozoo rakhis, according to its MD Manan Sharma. The Zoozoo rakhi costs Rs300 and includes a handmade box, a card, along with credit card and courier charges. The cute Zoozoo characters are made and sourced from China, whereas the attractive rakhi ribbons and threads have been added here.

Meanwhile, their original creator Vodafone Essar will soon come up with official Zoozoo merchandise in collaboration with retail chain Shopper’s Stop. A senior official from the shopping chain was quoted as saying in The Mint publication that they are already in discussions and are very close to finalizing the deal.

The development was confirmed by a sr. advertising executive, according to whom Shopper’s Stop was scouting for reliable suppliers to make quality Zoozoo merchandise. Shoppers Stop is most likely to manufacture as well as market zestful Zoozoo T-shirts, clocks, dolls, bags, mugs etc. These are sure to be among the most popular gift items once they are released in the market, depending on their price range.

The merchandise should be possibly within a couple of months, the report mentioned executive creative director (South Asia), O & M, Rajiv Rao, as saying. Incidentally, Rajiv Rao created the much fancied Zoozoo campaign.

Shoppers Stop has already produced branded accessories and apparel for films like Om Shanti Om and the Saif Ali starrer Love Aaj Kal. They are giving branded character merchandise a try.

The Zoozoo rakhi and other merchandise – branded or otherwise - should make memorable collectibles.

Bookmark to:

Travel firms are wooing sky watchers on eve of the 21st century’s longest solar eclipse. It takes place on July 22. You can opt to watch it with your friends and family from a Boeing above the clouds in Gaya. You may grasp more about the natural phenomenon from experts on the Benares ghats or may even fly to China, attend a workshop and get down to business in Anqing.

Cox & Kings has on offer a special tour package to watch the spectacular event from up close. You can take up a window seat based on your budget on a Boeing 737-700 to watch the solar eclipse. The package costs between Rs 29,000 and Rs 79,000. Cox & Kings has tried this idea for the first time.

The eclipse journey will last for about three hours. The flight will take off from Delhi and hold over Gaya during the eclipse period. The aircraft at a height of 41,000 feet will be intercepting the middle of the eclipse shadow for an unforgettable experience you can gift your family. Those taking the right side seats will get to watch the ‘sun side’, whereas those on the left can witness the shadow on the earth.

Vibgyor Travels is offering a package to inbound tourists for an eclipse holiday to the holy city of Benares. A 9 nights-10 days package comprises eclipse observation with help of experts from the river Ganges. Guides will assist visitors to understand the eclipse better.

If one wishes to enjoy a glimpse from abroad, Space Technology & Education is hosting an ‘eclipse trip’ to the Chinese city of Anqing. According to Amit Verma, several photographic experiments have been outlined on this trip to the eclipse site.

The China tour includes a ride on the Maglev train at a speed of 431 kmph. It comprises visits to Beijing, Shanghai and, of course, the Great Wall. A multimedia enabled workshop will be held for tourists.

Bookmark to:

As is the case with most Chinese festivals, there’s an intriguing legend behind the famous Lantern Festival. It’s the Legend of Yuanxiao. Yuanxiao was said to be a beautiful maid in an emperor’s palace. Despite her opulent way of living, Yuanxiao yearned for her family and wanted to be home during Chinese New Year. The legend goes that the maid lied to the emperor about the God of Fire secretly having forewarned her that he planned to burn down the city. She asked the emperor to make the city appear like it was already burning so the God wouldn’t then bother them. The worried emperor took her warning seriously and ordered that the entire court and city be decorated with colored lanterns.

He also ordered firecrackers to be burnt for giving feel of a big fire. The palace was so engrossed in the preparations that Yuanxiao managed to sneak home!

New Year’s Eve and the Lantern Festival especially, taking a cue from the above incident, signify family bonding. This is the time when all family members gather for eating, dancing and shou sui (staying up all night), to mark the occasion. According to a curious custom, rice dumplings are had at midnight. Hence the Lantern Festival is popularly called ‘Round Dumpling Festival’ Tens of thousands of local people and even foreigners visit the annual exhibition of lanterns of uncountable shapes, sizes and pretty colors to welcome the traditional Lantern Festival.

The Lantern festival marks the 15th day of the 1st month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year (2008) the festival takes place on February 21. It marks the culmination of the fortnight-long Chinese New Year holidays and celebrations. According to the lunar calendar, the New Year of the Rat started on February 7, 2008.

As is the norm, all major festivals in any part of the world set the stage for exchange of gifts. These festivals also act as a perfect means for building and enhancing the brand association for most business houses, allowing them to build a rapport with their clients. Of course, one needs to give a deep thought to the kind of gifts to be offered. The gift should be meaningful enough so that the recipient feels like using or preserving it.

Tags: Business Gifting
Corporate gifting, Worst gifts, corporate gifting for employees, promotional products, business gift baskets, Best business gifts, promotional gifts, gifting etiquette, Gifting occasions, corporate gifts companies

Bookmark to:

There are so many similarities between a popular festival in India, Diwali, and the Lantern Festival in China, which is being celebrated on February 21 this year.

The way sparkle and glitter of Diwali fascinates us all, there is light and joy all around in China on eve of the Lantern Festival. It’s akin to our magnificent festival of lights. Homes are lit up brightly. The skyline is resplendent with the magnificent spectacle of the fireworks.

The Lantern Festival in China, which falls on the fifteenth or last day of Chinese New Year celebrations, is a much-awaited occasion for families to come together and share their joy. As in Diwali, it’s all fun and enjoyment, more so for children in that country. As a tradition, they make lovely lanterns of paper. These are illuminated and it’s a spectacle to witness as these lanterns march up in the sky under the full moon. Often competitions are held and those who come up with innovative and beautiful lanterns receive special prizes. Sometimes a theme is designated by the village or city for participants.

The spirit of any festival is all about reaching out, bonding and spreading the light of goodwill, cheer and happiness, breaking all community barriers. Such festivals bring to the fore a wonderful and warm feeling of community spirit. The festive occasions not only light up the atmosphere but light up hearts too. People invariably give lovely gifts to each other to celebrate the spirit of the festive occasion. The  New Year celebration in China is no exception.

Tags: Business etiquette, Popular corporate gifts, low cost gifts, Business Gifting
Corporate gifting, Corporate gifting India, business gift baskets, Best corporate gifts, promotional gifts, gifting to clients, Gifting occasions

Bookmark to: