Starcom MediaVest Group today announced that its lead agency Starcom Worldwide has been appointed as media partner

Starcom MediaVest Group today announced that its lead agency Starcom Worldwide has been appointed as media partner by Cotton County , one of the premier Readymade Garments Company. Cotton County was launched in 2004 by INR 2,500-crore Nahar Industrial Enterprises Ltd (NIEL).

Commented Mr Tarun Nigam, Executive Director, India- North & Pakistan, Starcom Worldwide , "Cotton County is one of the leading players in the Readymade Garment segment. Moreover it comes from the Nahar Group making it that much more prestigious. We are extremely excited to start our relationship with them. The fact that Cotton County chose to work with us without a speculative pitch is a further reassurance to us".

Starcom's key role will be to define and communicate Cotton County's brand personalities through strategic, targeted and creative media planning and in the process, its media negotiation entity, India Media Exchange will strive to bring value addition through smart and contextual buying.

According to Company's spokesperson, "It is indeed comforting to partner with Starcom. The organization has not just grown rapidly, but also added a host of new competencies and it still looks that they are well integrated in thought. It is our belief that the need of our business is creative use of multitude of contact points rather than classical media alone and this is where we look forward to benefiting from Starcom's depth of knowledge and width of services. Their refreshing approach towards consumer attention that is so media and investment neutral was one of the key motivators for us to make the decision in their favor."

With over 400 Cotton County outlets in Tier-II & III cities in North & Central India, Nahar Retail recently forayed into Southern & Western India. NIEL is the only Indian textile company to buy raw cotton & sell finished garments with world-class in house, spinning, weaving processing & garmenting, finishing, embroidery & manufacturing facilities.

Starcom's Delhi office will handle the account. The account size is estimated to be approximately Rs. 20 crores.

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About Starcom MediaVest Group

One of the largest media networks in the world in 2006 [RECMA], with billings in excess of USD 25 bn, Starcom MediaVest Group ( www.smvgroup.com), is a marketing communications group with a global staff of more than 5,800 contact architects. SMG's network of 110 offices in 76 countries is committed to delivering engaging and captivating consumer connections for many of the world's leading marketers. In addition to full service media services agencies Starcom, MediaVest and other regional brands, the holding company operates several specialist units that help clients master the dynamic contact environment and changing consumer landscape.

Starcom MediaVest Group in India

Voted as India's 2nd most admired media network and best in tools and research by Brand Equity, Starcom is one of the youngest, largest and most diversified media networks in the country. It has over 160 contact architects across its four full service offices and twelve other offices where its specialist units have an operation. It prides itself on its 'people first' approach at workplace and is known in the industry and in campuses as one of the best places to work in. It has one of the best retention rates amongst media agencies in India.

Using proprietary planning frameworks such as Passion Group Marketing, internationally proven tools such as TARDIIS, local research and superior analytical skills, the agency attempts to build enduring connections between its clients' brands and their customers.

In February, 2007, the network announced a strategic merger of its mainstream media negotiation volume with that of sister network ZenithOptimedia, to form dedicated investment unit India Media Exchange, arguably the second largest buyer in the media market.

In addition to communication strategy development and mainstream media negotiation, the network offers solutions in the area of out-of-home and ambient media [Navia], entertainment and embedded marketing [Starcom Entertainment], digital and wireless marketing [Starcom IP], sports and cause enabled marketing [Relay Worldwide], activation and media supported amplification [ACE] and small town and rural marketing [Xpanse], ambient assets, navigational signage, and retail branding [Enhance] and lifestyle marketing and communication [C].

Besides its media only-clients, Starcom provides media strategy and investment services to the Clients of three Publicis Groupe creative agencies – Leo Burnett, Ambience Publicis and Orchard. Prominent Starcom India clients include Samsung, Aircel, Diageo Radico, Make My Trip, Bharat Matrimony, Cadila Healthcare, Cholayil, Continental Airlines,General Mills, HDFC Bank, HDFC Asset Management, Hatsun Agro, Heinz, Himalaya Healthcare, ING Vysya Life, Jet Airways, JetLite, Kotak Mahindra Group, Oracle, Principal Asset Management , Procter & Gamble, rediff.com, SAB Miller, Singapore Tourism Board, Sun Microsystems, VVF, Western Union, Wipro Consumer Care, World Gold Council, and WorldSpace Satellite Radio.

Contact Details:
Mr. Tarun Nigam
Executive Director, India-North & Pakistan
Starcom Worldwide
Email: tarun.nigam@starcomindia.net

Prerana / Monika
Hanmer & Partners
Tel: 46517700
M: 9873349022/ 9811784695