Month: March 2014

Categories
Kharcha paani

Mall tenants shifting from Mumbai to smaller cities

More mall tenants are moving to smaller cities, which promise better returns. Mumbai and other metros are seeing this trend.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Mumbai’s spiralling real estate costs and high inflation are jointly pummelling shopping mall tenants – they are now shifting out of pricey Mumbai and other metros’ malls for locations in Tier II and III cities, finds a recent survey by ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India).

“Under pressure of high rentals and low footfalls, one-third of retail tenants at the shopping malls in the large cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata are shifting in tier-II and III cities like Nagpur, Jaipur, Pune, Indore, Lucknow, Ludhiana and Chandigarh among other such cities,”, the survey reveals. Titled ‘Shopping malls increasingly losing shine in big cities’, the trend survey adds that as per estimates, roughly 300 to 350 malls came up in the country over the last two years but 75 to 80 per cent of the spaces in these malls lie vacant. Around the same time, as many as 95 malls have shut shop, according to the survey.

shopping in Mumbai“The major three core benefits for the retailer-tenants to move to smaller cities are lower operational costs and comparatively lesser competition and the novelty value still left in these areas where even the nearby rural population is thronging the air-conditioned halls and getting the taste of comfortable shopping,” says Rana Kapoor, President, ASSOCHAM.

Other such cities where mall-based retailers are moving include Goa, Kochi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Mysore, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, Guwahati, Ahmedabad and Surat and they still hold more potential for growth. “High cost of operation, economic slowdown and wearing down of the novelty [associated with malls] have all combined to reduce the number of foot falls in the malls in big cities. One of the main reasons for the high rentals in the big city malls is the exorbitant land prices and high development costs. Thus, in the foreseeable future, making such malls profitable ventures will remain a challenge,” said Kapoor.

In Tier II and tier III cities, there is greater scope for growth.  Also, larger chunks of land are available in these cities compared with metros, and at lower cost. The shopping trends in metro cities have influenced the consumer behaviour in Tier II and III cities that are now witnessing a major shift from conventional trader-run standalone shops to larger format retail malls.

The trend can be attributed to factors like the dynamic change in the shopping trend, average spending power of the socio-economic classes in the Tier II to VI cities, demand of various products under one roof, increase in brand consciousness are a few factors that multi-brand discount franchising stores drives on, adds the ASSOCHAM survey.

(Pictures courtesy gyaandarpan.com, www.hg2mumbai.com. Images are used for representational purpose only)

Categories
Trends

Mumbai school students are heading overseas

Exchange programmes are slowly becoming popular with school students and parents alike, widening their horizons and enhancing their cultural experience.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Students these days have several things going for them – unconventional work options while they study, a multitude of courses to choose from, and most importantly, the opportunity to travel to foreign countries on short stints as exchange students.

Shubhra BharadwajIt is this last that is slowly picking up pace in our country – and Mumbai is particularly responsive to the trend of students travelling to distant shores to gain life experience and a chance to study other cultures up close. The Metrognome spoke to Ferriswheel’s founder Shubhra Bharadwaj (in pic on left) to gain more insights into the trend.

Excerpts from the interview:

What is the response from Mumbai students like, to the CEPs (Cultural Exchange Programmes)that you plan?

The response is phenomenal. We have used word of mouth as our marketing tool and it has offered extremely satisfying success on all fronts. Schools have supported us whole-heartedly and even the feedback from the people has been great.

Currently, students in Mumbai or any other part of India are not completely aware of such student exchange programes except the ones who have already gone on such programmes. We hope to create more awareness among kids, schools and parents about the benefits of our CEPs for children.

Can you describe the first CEP you planned? Which was the country the students visited?

This first International Children’s Festival was organised in 1996 where the children’s group was taken to Turkey to celebrate the National Children’s Day on April 23. It is the Ferriswheel Youth Ensemble presents- Ticket To Bollywood (5)world’s largest children’s festival that has seen participation from over 30,000 children from 116 different countries since its inception by Kamal Ataturk. Each year close to 50 countries participate in this festival. The gala performance is and was telecast live on all Turkish channels.

The prestigious event bestowed the honour and privilege on individually selected Indian children representing the team, to meet the Prime Minister and President of Turkey, the Honourable Mayor and Governor of Gaziantep, as well the Head of Turkish Parliament, a moment of pride for India.

So children also get to meet heads of State in the countries they visit?

Every time we travel under our CEPs, the children are taken to meet various dignitaries like the Governor and the Mayor of the host city and other heads of States. Every year one child from each participating country is chosen to meet the Prime Minister and President of the host state and is flown in a chartered aircraft. The event gets covered by the local press and media followed by a special dinner for the children.

A few of the heads that we have met earlier through our CEPs are the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, the Mayor of Izmir city, Aziz Kocaoðlu and Governor of Izmir city, M Cahit KIRAÇ.

What do students and their parents look for in a programme of this sort?

They are looking for education through travel, friends, carnivals, different cultures, sports, fun and international exposure. These exchange programmes are short dream lives that children and youth experience towards a future that is wholesome, open-minded and confident. Children get the unique experience of living with the host families and experience their culture on a first-hand basis. More importantly, they get an opportunity to exhibit their culture and represent their country on an extremely prestigious platform.

The objective of every parent and every school is to provide a child with the experiences and tools to develop holistically and learn to be a ‘global citizen’. While parents look for learning and their child becoming more responsible, students look for it as an opportunity to meet children of different countries, broaden their horizons, learn to adapt to new cultures and having fun.

Ferriswheel Youth Ensemble presents- Ticket To Bollywood (2)Thus, such programmes help children develop holistically and learn to be ‘global citizens’. The child learns to be independent and confident, becomes responsible, overcomes prejudices and pre-conceived notions about people of different cultures, gets to intermingle and make friends with children from all across the world. Also, the cultural exchange programme certificate is a great addition to their resume as it helps them in admissions abroad.

Of all the States and cities in India, from where do you see maximum participation? 

We have a strong base in Gujarat and Mumbai for years and now we will be looking at operations pan India. We have a tie up with Italy, Turkey, USA, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic and France for the programme.

How are foreign students able to adjust to life in India?

We only take a group of children from India to International festivals across the globe. We do not invite their children over to our country. The reason why this programme is called Exchange Programme is that the children live with the host families and interact with many children from other countries.

Please describe an interesting incident from the CEPs, which has remained with you till date.

Ferriswheel Youth Ensemble was awarded the best performing group trophy at a prestigious International Youth Festival in Canada through public voting. Our Executive Producer, CEP, Sabeena Kapur fondly remembers her CEP trip to Taiwan. During that trip, the children were sharing their memorable moments with us and one of them went up to her with a handmade card that said, “I don’t miss home because of you and whenever I will celebrate Mother’s Day, I shall think of you.” We were truly touched.

Categories
Tech

Samsung launches Galaxy S5 in India at Rs 52,500

The company also introduced new Gear products for the Indian market. The new S5 comes with several improved software features.
by Manik Kakra | @Manik_K on Twitter

Samsung’s much-awaited Galaxy S5 has officially been launched in India. The new S5 comes with a host of improved software features as well as latest internal hardware Samsung has in store.

Samsung India yesterday launched the Exynos model of the Galaxy S5. This device is powered by octa-core (1.3 GHz quad-core + 1.9 GHz quad-core processor), along with 2 GB of RAM. Packing in 2,800 mAh battery, the phone sports a 5.1-inch (1920×1080) Super AMOLED touchscreen with Gorilla Glass 3 on top, with physical keys placed below the screen. On the back, there is a new 16 MP (fast AF) camera (with an LED flash) that can shoot full HD videos at 60 FPS and also features face detection; while the front has a 2 MP camera with shooting full HD at 30 FPS capabilities.

Gear FirRunning on Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), the new Galaxy flagship also brings in a new tweaked version of the TouchWiz UI. Connectivity-wise, this Samsung device is equipped with microUSB 3.0 (supports 2.0 as well), USB OTG, Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP), an infrared port, WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, WiFi Direct, and DLNA.

Two additions that Samsung has been touted regarding the S5 since its showcasing at this year’s MWC has been the fingerprint scanner and the heart rate monitor. The S5 has a fingerprint scanner on its Home button, which can be used not just for security purposes but also inside various apps. The phone’s heart monitor works through a new sensor deployed alongside the main camera that tries to capture your pulse rate.

The phone can be pre-ordered starting tomorrow for Rs 1,500 and will go on sale on April 11. The Indian market is getting the 16 GB variant and not the 32 GB (expandable via microSD card). It will be available in charcoal black, shimmery white, electric blue and copper gold, and has been launched at a price of Rs 52,500.

Samsung has also launched its new Gear range of products in India. The Tizen-powered Gear 2 and Gear Neo 2, which sport 1.6-inch AMOLED screens and weigh 68 and 55 grams, respectively, have been priced at Rs 21,900 and Rs 15,900. The Gear Fit, which is equipped with a 1.84-inch curved AMOLED screen and weighs 27 g, has been priced at Rs 15,900. All these Samsung products are IP67 water-resistant and dust proof.

Categories
Wellness

The benefits of balancing your chakras

Did you know that balancing your chakras could relieve you of daily aches and pains? Read on to know more.

Ancient yogic texts are steeped in the study of chakras. Despite the immense benefits that the chakra technique offers, their uses and knowledge is not widely known. The study and execution of chakra balancing acts can have many potential benefits like increasing  mental and physical harmony. Did you know that chakra balancing helps to keep common ailments at bay when practised regularly?

Disorientation, physically and psychologically, is becoming a daily occurrence due to increased amounts of stress and other negative energies. Chakra balancing techniques are the perfect antidote to combat the daily fatigue arising through usual routines. In order to get an overview, read on to find four major benefits of chakra balancing.

balancing your chakrasReduces aches and pains: You encounter pain in different parts of the body daily. While the cause may range from injury to over exertion, a majority of these pains are caused by misalignment of your various chakras, like sahasrara, ajna, etc. With proper chakra balancing techniques, you can get rid of common pains like muscle pain, back pain etc. With regular practice, you can help reduce instances of migraines and headaches that are often associated with stress and anxiety.

Improves emotional stability: Chakras deal primarily with emotions. Their study revolves around finding ways to improve emotional stability. You can achieve emotional stability with the help of the chakra balancing tools that help you to use the sensory organs in your body and make you more aware of your emotions. You will learn to look within yourself for strength to face your challenges. You can greatly improve your decision making ability and get back in touch with reality. Get rid of addictions with the help of chakra balancing tools.

Promotes greater healing ability: Practicing chakra balancing regularly will give you greater healing ability from common ailments. You don’t need to rush to the nearest chemists for over the counter medications. You will find the required healing quality within yourself to combat common ailments. This particular ability to heal also deals with your emotional and psychological problems. With this new found healing ability, you can get rid of persistent depression and anxiety problems as well. You will become stronger both internally and externally.

Increases passion: With the help of chakra balancing tools, you will experience increased passion towards your loved ones and life in general. They will give you added vitality to take on your routine tasks with gusto. Chakra balancing helps you get rid of the negativity within you and helps you to unlock the positive thinking and positive way of living.

Learn the power of living in the present with the help of chakra balancing tools. You can find a few retail stores online that specializes in supplying chakra tools straight to your doorstep.

Categories
Deal with it

Know the causes of brain diseases

We often ignore the signs and symptoms of brain disorders, to disastrous consequences. Ignore these brain diseases at your peril.

Brain diseases are one of the most complex ailments known to medical science. Be it Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s or even a haemorrhage, their results are often debilitating and the consequences can be fatal. With heart ailments and diabetes cornering the world’s attention, brain diseases are often relegated to the sidelines.

Often, with our fast-paced lives in the city, we don’t take corrective measures until it is too late. Brain disorders do not discriminate on the basis of age and sex. By being aware of the causes of brain diseases, you can take actions to safeguard yourself.

Known causes of brain disorders:

Blunt trauma. Though powerful, the brain is actually a delicate organ. Blunt force attacks against the brain are one of the leading causes of brain damage. A forceful injury can damage the brain and its tissues. The nerve cells responsible for transmitting the information from the brain to the whole body are also affected. Significant damage can alter the ways the brain functions and communicate with other body parts.

Degenerative conditions. Many brain disorders attack as you age and hinder your cognitive abilities. Examples include Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. While there is no definitive cure for them, maintaining a healthy lifestyle may prolong their onset. Some of them are even hereditary and can affect small children as well. Examples of such diseases include Tay-Sachs disease. A child’s mental and physical capabilities are affected by such ailments.

Infections. There are infections that originate from one part of the body and spread to the brain. Such infections are the number one cause of human mortality rates amongst brain disorder ailments. Once the infection reaches the brain, the case is usually referred to an expert brain specialist or neuro surgeons. Some examples of brain infection include meningitis and encephalitis.

Seizures. There are many factors that contribute to seizures. It can be in the form of infecting bacteria like tapeworm, high blood pressure, strokes and even lack of blood circulation in the brain. Seizures are often debilitating and can lead to fatal consequences if medication is not taken immediately. The incidences of seizures are higher in developing countries than in developed ones. Seizures create a sudden interruption of the blood supply to the brain and increase the pressure on certain areas.

Drug overdose. Overdosing on drugs can create brain disorder symptoms. Even withdrawal symptoms are seen to have a negative effect on the brain. For example, antidepressants addict report the highest number of seizures and the resultant brain damages. If you are consuming drugs like cocaine, now would be the best time to quit using them.

The above five causes show how brain diseases develop. Let this knowledge be a guiding light for you to stay healthy, mentally and physically.

(Picture courtesy news.emory.edu)

Categories
Become

With pluck and a wide smile

Shreya Naik was just 20 when she signed her first artist. Today, she works with prestigious venues all over India.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

She was all of 20 when she started her own business – she had no money, no experience, and no team. “But I had a lot of confidence,” Shreya Naik (25) grins. “When I told my parents I wanted to start my own business as an artist manager, they were stunned. They provided me all the emotional support I needed before I took the first step – and that was the most crucial thing at the time. I started my business on Facebook.”

That kind of seemingly insane confidence, stemming from her stint in advertising and her “keeda for scouting and helping untapped talent” bode well for Shreya, who started Dream Makers Entertainment in 2011 and who did most of her initial work with The Blue Frog, Mumbai, for whom she handles live music programming today. “I can’t really say why I got into artist management exactly. Probably my background in promotion and marketing helped,” she says.

The start

It could all have gone downhill for Shreya – she had no background in artist management, she had no inkling of latest music trends, she didn’t have a portfolio to boast of. “I had no idea of international music. As a child, I watched cartoons in Hindi,” she grins. “So I would be totally lost when musicians would discuss music. I couldn’t even tell the names of all the Pink Floyd band members.”

But, she reasoned, she could learn on the job. “The first artist I signed up was Nigel Rajaratnam. He was also very new. And the first place I sold my pitch to was The Blue Frog. They were really nice to me and quite receptive. My first gig happened with them and funnily enough, most of my work has revolved around them and continues to do so. Now, we work with all small and big music venues across the country,” she explains. She has managed artists like Vasudha Sharma (of Asma fame), apart from about 25 others.

Today, Dreammakers has a team of four handling different aspects of artist management, and puts up gigs all over the country. The company holds the reputation of being one of the best artist management firms in the country today.

On the job

Shreya brought her own creativity and empathy to the job – not having done any of it before probably helped. “I figured that you With Vasudha Sharmadidn’t really need to be married to feel like a wife, you don’t need to have children to feel like a mother. I get really involved with my artists and I love to see them succeed. That’s how I work, at whatever I do – I just go out there and give it my all. And it works well for me,” she says.

Her inexperience could have tripped her up at some point, but she says she has lucky to “never have been caught.” She explains, “Of course, my unprofessionalism also showed up sometimes. I learnt to follow up a phone confirmation with an email. Then there were times when some of my artists suddenly left me for other managers. I’ve shed a lot of tears but I’ve also learnt so much.”

Why do it at all

Apart from the creative perks of the job, the monetary compensation is good as well. “Typically, an artist manager makes anywhere between 10 to 20 per cent of whatever the artist makes. But if the artist’s fee is huge, the manager must be open to taking a lower earning since the overall amount is larger,” Shreya says. “Also, you have to decide after a while how you want to do things – do you have a real find on your hands who can be the sole client you represent? Or do you need to have a variety of artists on your list? This is a decision you will need to make at some point,” she adds.

A person preparing for this profession must also do his or her research well. “An artist manager has to develop sound knowledge about the artist’s work, its strengths, the venues he or she will perform at, the best venues for that artist, the audience, the kind of music the venue is best suited to. The manager has to be on the ball constantly to produce the best results,” she explains.

She adds that a parallel profession for artist managers is music curation or programming. “Most artist managers are curators and programmers as well, it comes with the job. It is another avenue to make good money,” Shreya says.

What’s next

Shreya is currently focussing on her new passion – decoupage, (an Italian art form that involves collaging on any surface), and she has started a new firm, Artsy Fartsy, for the same. “I’m surrounded by music all the time, so this is a good break for me,” she says, adding that she is currently scouting for graphic artists and doodlers. “It helps me unwind and explore my creativity. I’ve been backstage all this time, now it’s my time to be the artist,” she quips.

Shreya can be reached at shreyarnaik@gmail.com.

(Pictures courtesy Shreya Naik)

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