The newest and hottest brands hitting the shelves today are from motown.
So what if you can’t afford to indulge in a Ford Mustang, the iconic pony car? You can still have a piece of the marque. That was the message Detroit-based auto giant Ford conveyed when it announced the launch of its official merchandise in India. Soon you will be able to sport items from an exclusive apparel line, pick from a range of scale models of its cars and choose from a range of branded car accessories, all of which will feature the famous blue oval.
But Ford is definitely not first off the block when it comes to launching branded merchandise in India. Quite a few brands have already made their presence felt in the market. It is a market currently estimated at about Rs 500 crore and expected to increase as brand-consciousness grows and consumers become more aware of trademarks and copyrights. So, if you are planning a shopping spree this weekend, here are the marques you can look out for.
The Tifosi
When it comes to racing on four wheels and two, there are no bigger names than Ferrari and Ducati. Both companies have an unparalleled racing heritage, and have been for years keen to cash in on it, with merchandising now forming a good chunk of their bottom line. The Ferrari prancing horse is easily one of the most recognisable brands in the world, while Ducati goes with a simpler, more understated logo. Both companies have their apparel lines manufactured by Puma and the lines are available at all Puma outlets. You can choose from a range of shoes, T-shirts, bags and jackets, with prices starting from Rs 1,999. Ferrari also has a long-running partnership with Acer, and the Acer Ferrari-branded performance laptops are quite popular. But one to look out for is the new netbook which will make its way to India soon. Called the Acer Ferrari One, it is priced in the US at $499.
The Raging Bull
Lamborghini does not have the same racing pedigree as Ferrari, but has always trounced the reds by producing cars that are at the cutting edge of design and technology. The golden raging bull thus finds its way first onto a range of high-performance laptops, this time in partnership with Asus. The Asus VX5 Lamborghini lives up to its beefy reputation with a powerful quad core processor and lots of fast memory for high-end graphics. And it certainly doesn’t come cheap at Rs 5,54,400 including VAT. There are also the limited edition aerodynamically shaped Lamborghini pens, of which only 1,000 fountain pens and 963 roller balls have been made — priced at Rs 2,27,200 and Rs 2,37,200 respectively, excluding VAT. The fountain pens have an 18-carat gold nib. Also available are the Crest umbrella (Rs 8,979), Compact Crest umbrella (Rs 4,675) and Junior Gallardo Wellies (Rs 5,236), inclusive of VAT but subject to exchange rates as applicable.
From Deutschland
The German auto giant BMW has an impressive array. It apparel line has collections inspired by yachting, golf, its Formula 1 Team and cycling. There is a separate lifestyle collection. But BMW has gone a step ahead in making this accessible to consumers with its BMW Studio concept. Located at New Delhi’s Janpath, the store is a place for you to check out BMW’s latest cars, memorabilia, merchandising, and even grab a bite to eat: in partnership with Olive, BMW Studio offers a dining experience.
The Hog
This is the event many petrol heads in the country waited years for. But Harley’s entry into India is a reason to celebrate not only because of the motorcycles. The company will be bringing its entire merchandising range to India. Globally, this arm of Harley’s business is said to account for up to 40 per cent of its turnover. It’s not a surprise, since there are enthusiasts who will starve if necessary to get their hands on Harley leather. You will be soon be able to spot a Harley at the mall nearest to you. But this won’t come cheap: a Harley jacket will set you back by as much as Rs 35,000. There will, however, be some cheaper options for aficionados, from key-rings to T-shirts.
| MARQUE OF QUALITY
Ferrari and Ducati: Shoes, T-shirts, bags and jackets starting from Rs 1,999, and the Acer Ferrari One netbook at $499 Lamborghini: High-performance Asus VX5 Lamborghini laptop at Rs 5.5 lakh, limited edition pens from Rs 2.3 lakh, umbrellas and so on BMW: Clothes inspired by sports like yachting, golf, F1 and cycling, available from its BMW Studio outlets Harley-Davidson: Keyrings and T-shirts for those without deep pockets, and leather jackets at Rs 35,000 for the determined |
