City Today News (City today.media)

SBI Card and Landmark Group launch co-branded credit cards

Posted on February 21, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

~Three cards launched- Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card, Max SBI Card and Spar SBI Card ~

~Designed to offer savings on purchases of the entire family across categories including fashion, home furnishing and grocery

Bengaluru, 20th February 2020: SBI Card has partnered with Landmark Group, one of the largest retail and hospitality conglomerates in India, to launch a unique set of retail co-branded credit cards. The three newly launched cards, Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card, Max SBI Card and Spar SBI Card, have been introduced in partnership with four Landmark Group brands – Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max and Spar.

Designed to be a one stop payment solution for the entire family, these cards provide a rewarding shopping experience to cardholders across categories that include fashion – premium and affordable, home furnishing including furniture and grocery. The underlying value proposition of all these cards is the same. Cardholders of any of these cards can avail similar benefits at all participating Landmark brands, thus getting savings and a host of other benefits across a spectrum of categories through a single card.

The new co-brand cards are available in three variants – Base, SELECT and PRIME and cater to consumers across segments from value-for-money to premium to super premium.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Hardayal Prasad, MD & CEO, SBI Card, said, “We are pleased to partner with Landmark Group to introduce Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card, Max SBI Card and Spar SBI Card. Through this tie up we will offer our cardholders a strong savings proposition across key spend categories such as fashion, home furnishing, furniture and grocery on a single card. The newly launched cards bring a one stop payment solution to meet and reward purchase needs of consumers in these segments. This launch will strengthen our retail co-brand credit card portfolio which we have built to fulfil diverse consumer needs.”

According to Mr. Vasanth Kumar – Managing Director, Lifestyle International Pvt. Ltd.: “As a leading retail player in the country, we continuously endeavour to enable a joyful and rewarding shopping experience for all our customers. The co-branded credit card with SBI Card is yet another step taken to fulfil that promise. With accelerated reward points and spend based benefits, these cards will be a win-win for consumers as they shop across various Landmark brands. Offering the best of both the players, the co-branded SBI credit card program will combine the shopping experience, convenience and value that customers have come to know and love from Landmark Group backed by the best-in-class service, benefits and security of SBI Card.”

According to Mr. Shital Mehta – Executive Director & CEO, Max Fashions, “As a leading fashion brand, we want to bring more value to our customers through a co-branded card that rewards users on their purchases. This co-branded card will provide additional benefits to our valued customers thus enabling us to deepen our relationship with them while providing them yet another reason to shop at our stores. Max is very thrilled to be partnering with SBI Card.”

PRIME variant cardholders can avail total savings of up to INR 30,000 annually on this card.

Cardholders enjoy complimentary loyalty membership to Landmark Rewards Program and they also earn accelerated reward points on the SBI Card rewards platform upon shopping with these cards. Cardholders of the PRIME variant of the co-brand cards earn 15 reward points per INR 100 spent at Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max and Spar; 10 reward points per INR 100 spent on dining and movies; and 2 reward points per INR 100 spent on other retail purchases. SBI Card Reward Points can be converted to Landmark Rewards and redeemed across Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max, Spar and other Landmark Brands in India thereby rewarding loyal customers.

The cards also reward customers for their loyalty through various spend based milestone benefits as well as bonus reward points upon card renewal. Customers of PRIME variant can avail savings of up to INR 14500 on achieving milestone spends. The cards deliver value from the point of enrolment itself, offering welcome benefits worth INR 3000 on the PRIME variant. Renewal benefits worth INR 3000 can be availed upon card renewal.

The joining and renewal fee for the Base variant is INR 499 plus GST, SELECT variant is INR 1499 plus GST and PRIME variant is INR 2999 plus GST.

Highlights of Lifestyle Home Centre SBI Card, Max SBI Card and Spar SBI Card

Accelerated Reward Points
- PRIME variant:
  - 15 Reward Points per INR 100 spent at Landmark brands (Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max & Spar)
  - 10 Reward Points per INR 100 spent on Dining & Movies
  - 2 Reward Points per INR 100 spent on other retail purchases (Non-fuel)
- SELECT variant:
  - 10 Reward Points per INR 100 spent at Landmark brands (Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max & Spar)
  - 10 Reward Points per INR 100 spent on Dining & Movies
  - 2 Reward Points per INR 100 spent on other retail purchases (Non-fuel)
- Base variant:
  - 5 Reward Points per INR 100 spent at Landmark brands (Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max & Spar)
  - 5 Reward Points per INR 100 spent on Dining & Movies
  - 1 Reward Point per INR 100 spent on other retail purchases (Non-fuel)

Spend-based milestone benefits
- PRIME variant: Cumulative milestone benefit up to 58,000 RP worth INR 14,500
- SELECT variant: Cumulative milestone benefit up to 34,400 RP worth INR 8,600
- Base variant: Cumulative milestone benefit up to 16000 RP worth INR 4000

Welcome & renewal benefit
- PRIME variant: 12000 bonus reward points equivalent to INR 3000 on payment of annual fees and renewal fees
- SELECT variant: 6000 bonus reward points equivalent to INR 1500 on payment of annual fees and renewal fees
- Base variant: 2000 bonus Reward Points equivalent to INR 500 on payment of annual fees and renewal fees

Airport lounge access on PRIME variant
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership – Up to 4 complimentary visits per calendar year to International Priority Pass Lounges, outside India (maximum 2 visits per quarter)
- Domestic Lounge Membership – Up to 8 complimentary visits per calendar year to Domestic VISA Lounges in India (maximum 2 visits per quarter)

Closed Loop Reward Redemption
- Cardholders can redeem reward points at Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max, Spar and other Landmark Brands in India

Fuel surcharge waiver
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India

About SBI Card

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (formerly known as SBI Cards and Payment Services Private Limited) (“SBI Card”) is a non-banking financial company that offer extensive credit card portfolio to individual cardholders and corporate clients which includes lifestyle, rewards, travel & fuel and banking partnerships cards along with corporate cards covering all major cardholders’ segments in terms of income profile and lifestyle. It has diversified customer acquisition network that enables to engage prospective customers across multiple channels. SBI Card is a technology driven company. Visit www.sbicard.com for more details.

City Today News

(citytoday.media)

9341997936

VIBGYOR High BTM Layout Students Create Awareness about the Hazards of Plastic

Posted on February 20, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru: Many students from VIBGYOR High BTM Layout presented a street play on hazards of single-use plastic at Madiwala Lake, Bengaluru on 15 February 2020. A flash mob of students broke out into a dance to attract the attention of the joggers and walkers. It was followed by the Strike off Plastic Anthem. This is a part of VIBGYORs countrywide, year-long campaign #StrikeOffPlastic- to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic and create awareness among the general public.

Through the street play, the students conveyed how exorbitant and unplanned use of plastic has not only made the environment polluted but also endangered the aquatic and surface flora & fauna. It has also put humans into great health hazards. We must judiciously eliminate plastic out of our lives, otherwise, plastics ingredients which normally do not decompose up to 1000 years, will pervade our oceans and waterways, invade the bodies of humans and wildlife, and cause Ecological disaster.
The students also distributed paper bags made of old newspapers among the joggers and walkers. They encouraged them to use paper bags and minimise the use of single-use plastic bags.

The Stike off Plastic Anthem is written by Grade 4 student Manya Harsha and the music is composed by Music Coach Mr Praveen.
Meanwhile, VIBGYOR Group of Schools students from across India are donating old sarees and dupattas to make eco-friendly bags. These bags are stitched by rural women under HSE Women Empowerment and Self Employment Program.

City Today News

(citytoday.media)

9341997936

Samsung Bets Big on Karnataka With Launch of Curd Maestro™, World’s First Refrigerator That Prepares Curd

Posted on February 19, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

The new 2020 range of refrigerators with Make for India innovations will help Samsung strengthen its market leadership in Karnataka

BENGALURU, India – February 19, 2020 – Samsung, India’s biggest and most trusted consumer electronics and smartphones brand, today unveiled the new Curd Maestro™ refrigerator in Karnataka. The latest refrigerator is the world’s first refrigerator that not only preserves food but also prepares it.

For generations, curd has been an essential condiment paired with varied Indian recipes across geographies; but curd preparation is demanding. Curd Maestro™, Samsung’s Make for India innovation, is resultant of the company’s deep understanding of Indian consumers’ needs over the years, and addresses the pain points of daily curd making. National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) has tested and recommended the process of curd making in Samsung’s Curd Maestro™.

As part of its new 2020 refrigerator line-up, Samsung also introduced India’s First Frost Free Refrigerator with Base Stand Drawer, in which you can store onions and potatoes, and India’s first five-star Direct Cool Single Door Refrigerator lineup based on new 2020 Star Ratings. These new meaningful innovations are part of Samsung India’s ‘Make for India’ initiative based on consumer feedback and insight, and will help Samsung strengthen its market leadership in the state.

In Karnataka, four-star and five-star refrigerators contribute 31% to the business, growing at 24% year on year. This is the fastest growing segment in Karnataka. Contribution of Frost Free refrigerators in Karnataka stands at 40% as compared to 22% pan India, indicating consumers in Karnataka are early adopters of technology, and prefer to buy energy efficient products.

Delivering best in-class technology and India first innovations, Samsung has also addressed the aesthetics demands of the Southern markets with this new line up. In Bengaluru, floral patterns contribute 75% of Direct Cool refrigerator sales. The 2020 line-up comes with a new set of design patterns – Paradise Bloom, New Camellia, Wave and Mystic Overlay, adding to the aesthetics of the product.

“Karnataka is a key market for Samsung, and expect to grow 20% in the New Year, on the back of our exciting new line-up of refrigerators that includes our Make for India innovation Curd Maestro™. Convenience, storage space, energy efficiency and aesthetics are the key features consumers look for in a refrigerator, and our 2020 range addresses all these needs. We are confident the new range of refrigerators will further strengthen our market leadership in the state, taking our marketshare to 34% in 2020,” said Saurav Katyal, Director, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India.

Over the years, Samsung has developed a strong distribution network. In Karnataka, Samsung currently has 1,100 stores from where Samsung refrigerators are sold. In 2020, the company will expand the number of stores to 1,400. It also has the largest customer service network in the industry in India, with 3,300 customer service points including 553 customer service vans that reach every corner of India.

2020 Refrigerator Line-up

Curd Maestro™: Innovation for Everyday Home
Curd Maestro™ refrigerator transcends the conventional refrigerator landscape in India beyond food storage and food preservation. Curd Maestro™ addresses the problems of curd making which are complex, time taking, and tricky, yet an essential food ingredient in an Indian household.

Curd Maestro™ refrigerator ensures that nothing comes in the way of you and your precious family time; enabling curd preparation in five to six hours — five hours for soft curd, six hours for thick curd. One needs to boil and cool the milk and mix the curd culture manually while Curd Maestro™ does the most crucial part of the job — fermentation. It will not only ferment the curd but will store it too. Curd Maestro™ makes curd with the same consistency each time and eliminates all the hassle of curd making in different weather conditions.

Curd Maestro™ refrigerators come with Samsung’s Smart Convertible 5 in 1 Twin Cooling technology and will be available in 244-litre, 265-litre, 314-litre and 336-litre capacities.

Smart Convertible 5in1 Twin Cooling refrigerators come with five modes — Normal, Extra Shopping, Vacation, Seasonal, and Home Alone. The conversion modes are not only the perfect solution to different storage needs but every mode also saves energy. Twin Cooling Plus™ is a truly independent cooling system, with separate airflows in both the fridge and freezer, preventing unpleasant smells from foods moving between the fridge and freezer.

Efficient Space, Design and Technology: Innovation catering to consumer needs

Frost Free Refrigerator with Base Stand Drawer
The latest line-up has been uniquely designed for extra capacity. Consumers can now store non-perishable vegetables in the Base Stand Drawer. This drawer gives the refrigerator a tall boy design preferred by Indian consumers. Catering to the need for varied designs and patterns, the line-up will be available in new design patterns, Paradise Bloom and Wave that add to the aesthetic value of the products and will be available in 253-litre capacity.

Single Door, Direct Cool Refrigerator
Samsung recently launched India’s first five-star Direct Cool Single Door Refrigerators in line with new 2020 Energy norms with capacity of 198-litres.

A solution to long power cuts, the model comes equipped with digital inverter technology allowing the refrigerator to run on a home inverter as well as solar energy with reduced power consumption. The new lineup comes with 10-year warranty on the compressor and digital inverter technology with stabilizer free operations.

Under the ‘Make for India’ initiative, the 2020 line-up is uniquely designed for extra space and also sports the next-gen Horizontal Curve Door design along with the GARO handle, a first for the Indian market. The 2020 line-up comes with new set of design patterns — Paradise Bloom, New Camellia, Wave and Premium Steel — adding to the aesthetics of the product.

Price, Offers & Availability
Samsung’s new 2020 refrigerator lineup is available across all retail channels and on Samsung Shop and will range from INR 17,990 for the new 198-litre Direct Cool Single Door Refrigerator to
INR 45,990 for the Smart Convertible 5in1 Refrigerator. Curd Maestro models will be priced between
INR 30,990 and INR 45,990.

City Today News

(citytoday.media)

9341997936

Beat the Peak from the #VeryFirstStep

Posted on February 19, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

Travelling to the metro cities or taking a day off to apply for visas has become a thing of the past, and here’s why

The strong growth in outbound travel from India is reflective in the rising number of visa applications. Low airfares, third party travel aggregators, better connectivity, and convenient visa applications have been key contributors to this phenomenon. To keep pace with the growing traveler community, VFS Global has developed and implemented a host of initiatives to beat the peak in the travel season.

VFS Global’s optional services are designed to suit the evolving requirements of the new-age traveler, and to make the visa application process more convenient, exclusive, personalized, time saving and hassle-free. Having transformed the overall application process, these optional services are extremely useful to beat the peak.

Premium Lounge
Travelers often encounter issues particularly while filling out the form for their visa application. However, with the Premium Lounge, a trained staff handholds the customer throughout the visa application process, putting them at complete ease. The personalized attention and step-by-step assistance make the Premium Lounge suitable for first time travelers and senior citizens.

Visa at Your Doorstep
Doorstep visa is a landmark service in the visa industry. This technology-enabled service brings the visa application process to the remote locations and hinterlands of India – giving them the luxury of an easy application process. A trained team visits the individual or group at their preferred location to enroll their biometric data and collect their visa application documents. This service is available for Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, France, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, UK and Italy.

Prime Time Service
Students, working professionals and other individuals who may not be able to visit the visa application center during regular working hours can immensely benefit from the Prime Time Service – which allows individuals to apply for their visas without interrupting their schedules. With Prime Time Service, applicants no longer need to take leave from office or school for visa appointments.

eVisa on Arrival
Thailand welcomes more than 1.5 million Indian tourists each year – a number which may be bolstered through the pre-approved electronic Visa-on-Arrival which replaces long queues and endless form filling on arrival. This service does away with most documentation such as flight tickets, accommodation details, financial statements and payments before the journey even begins. Furthermore, for urgent visa requirements for Thailand, travellers can avail online the Express eVOA service for quicker processing, and also get a decision within 24 hours at an additional fee.

Self-Upload for UK Visa
The new self-upload option for UK visa applications replaces the need to carry endless documents for UK Visa applicants. UK Visa applicants can now visit the centre with just their passport after having uploaded documents prior to visiting the Visa Application Centre using their smartphone, tablet or other camera/computing device.

With these services, applying for a visa becomes simple and least troublesome. Those with round-the-clock commitments, those with minimal access to metro cities, those wishing for additional support and a paperless experience – all have their needs addressed. Having taken care of each pressing issue of visa application, the globetrotters can now start their first leg of their journey with ease.

About VFS Global
VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. VFS Global has Swiss parentage and is a portfolio company of EQT, a leading global private equity firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. With 3436 Application Centres, operations in 148 countries across five continents and over 217 million applications processed as on 30 November 2019, VFS Global is the trusted partner of 64 client governments.

City Today News

(citytoday.media)

9341997936

Havells launches Carnesia-I,India’s first intelligent ceiling fan with smart mode

Posted on February 19, 2020February 19, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

India’s first ceiling fan equipped with Smart modewhich sensesthe temperature and humidity in the roomwhile adjustingthe fan speed accordingly
Machine learning will enable insights on usage pattern and support new product development

National, February 19th, 2020:Havells India Limited, a technology led Fast-Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) and Consumer Durable company today launched, country’s first intelligent Fan –Carnesia-I with smart mode. The new fan is one of the most technologically advanced – IoT fan that will add convenience and comfort to consumer’s fast-paced life. The intelligent fan range comes at an attractive consumer price of approx. Rs 4500.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ravindra Singh Negi, President, Electrical Consumer Durables, Havells India Limited said,“Innovation, technological advancement and offering unique features to consumers has been at the core of our product philosophy and Carnesia-I is a great example of that. It is an intelligent fan that can sense temperature and humidity in the room and offer right speed for enhanced comfort to our consumers. With qualitative ‘segment first’ features we are sure that it will further strengthen our footprint in the industry. Based on our philosophy of ‘Making a difference’, we will continue to delight our consumers with feature rich and unique products in the future as well”.

The smart fan range is compatible with voice enabled devices like Alexa & Google Home and can be operated with mobile application. The Carnesia-I comes with multi-user mode- enables access to operate single fan by many users. The ‘Smart Mode’ senses the temperature and humidity in room while adjusting the fan speed accordingly.Apart from this, the fan also offers new auto modes like Sleep and Breeze for night comfort and natural breeze effect. Other features include five-level speed control, timer setting and automatic ON and OFF.
India’s organized fan market is currently pegged at Rs8000 crore. Havells entered the fans segment in 2003 and has today emerged as one of the fastest growing, most trusted and amongst the top two players in the country. The company is currently present in the premium & super premium categories and offers a choice of over 250 SKU’s of high performance, decorative and energy saving fans to quality conscious customers. It enjoys dominant market share in premium and super premium category.

Havells has the most modern manufacturing plant for fans in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. It is India’s first and largest fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing plant where all categories of Fans including ceiling, table, wall, exhaust & pedestal are manufactured under one roof. The current production capacity of the plant is more than 10 million fans annually. The plant is equipped with ‘state-of-the-art’ technology including automated CNC machines for end covers, computerized conveyor assembly line and testing facilities.
In Fan’s Havells is the first company to introduce Metallic colour fans in India in 2004. Havells has also started making its presence felt in the international markets in the fan’s category.

City Today News

(citytoday.media)

9341997936