Book tells stories of iconic brands from pre-independence era

New Delhi: From consumer goods to consumables, household utilities to toiletries, and heavy industries to medical supplies, “Branded in History: Fresh Marketing Lessons From Vintage Brands”, written by author-filmmaker Ramya Ramamurthy claims to be an “examination of a period of our nation’s history through the brands we consumed”. Focusing on a century bookended by two […]

New Delhi: From consumer goods to consumables, household utilities to toiletries, and heavy industries to medical supplies, “Branded in History: Fresh Marketing Lessons From Vintage Brands”, written by author-filmmaker Ramya Ramamurthy claims to be an “examination of a period of our nation’s history through the brands we consumed”.

Focusing on a century bookended by two movements for independence, the book draws readers into the story of how colonial Indian brands — both home-grown and foreign — were “produced, distributed and marketed between 1847 and 1947, a time when branding as a concept was still in its infancy”.

According to the publishers, besides giving easy takeaways on branding and marketing lessons on how market completion and the early economy of India impacted these colonial brands, the book also offers a “cautionary tale for brands to be mindful of their zeitgeist as they weather waning economies and political transitions in any era”.
“Lux soaps, Jabakusum hair oil, Woodward’s Gripe Water, Atlas Cycles, Dalda, Mafatlal Textiles — these evergreen brands have immortalised themselves by capitalising on emerging trends for almost a hundred years. These popular brands as well as others lesser known — though equally iconic — can teach modern-day brands a thing or two about surviving in a market that is in constant flux,” it said.