Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to meet with state counterparts on December 21-22 for pre-budget discussions and a GST Council meeting. Key agenda items include potential GST exemptions for certain insurance policies and rate reductions on various goods. The Council may also consider raising GST on luxury items like high-value shoes and watches.

India witnessed a surge in gig employment opportunities during the 2024 festive season, with over 1.2 million roles posted. This growth, a 23% increase from the previous year, was fueled by e-commerce expansion and a shift towards flexible work arrangements. Tier II cities are emerging as new gig hubs, while higher pay is attracting skilled professionals.

“With customers seeking more personalized experiences, the outlet will provide a holistic experience that will assist them in making the right decisions,” said Saurabh Agarwal, managing director, Kamdhenu Paints.

The brand is expecting at least a 30 per cent increase in corporate gift sales during the festive season, with a growing number of corporate clients opting for bulk purchases.

Rentomojo reported a 60% rise in operating revenue to Rs 193 crore in FY24. Controlled rise in expenses during the year saw net profit surge more than threefold to Rs 22 crore last fiscal from Rs 6 crore in FY23.

Borosil plans to invest Rs 250 crore for expansion and capacity augmentation to meet the demand, in which it intends to invest about Rs 150 crore on a new plant in Gujarat for Borosil Ltd, which is in the business of products such as glassware and cookware, said Kheruka. Besides, at its Jaipur unit, where Borosil has already invested Rs 450 crore to expand the production capacity, it has plans to invest Rs 100 crore for debottlenecking to improve efficiency and increase capacity further.

Godrej Interio aims for a 10 per cent contribution from e-commerce sales by fiscal-end. The company is accelerating digital transformation efforts, experiencing significant online sales growth and expanding reach across 17,200 pin codes. It introduces AI-based 'Visual Search' and an integrated dealer network to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

Bengaluru-based startup Swish, recently raised USD 2 million to scale its 10-minute food delivery operations. "We have raised $2M from Accel plus some angel investors," Aniket Shah, founder, Swish confirmed to ETRetail. Shah founded Swish in August 2024, alongside Ujjwal Sukheja, and Saran S.

Swiggy's IPO, set to be the largest tech offering since Paytm in 2019, is expected to unlock Rs 9,000 crore in employee stock ownership, creating hundreds of crorepatis among its 5,000 current and former employees.

India's retail inflation rose to 6.21 percent in October. This is a significant increase from September's 5.49 percent. Food prices are the main reason for this surge. This is the first time since August that inflation has gone beyond the Reserve Bank of India's 6 percent limit. The rise in onion prices is a major concern.

Coca-Cola India's consolidated profit plummeted by 41.82% to Rs 420.29 crore in FY24, despite a 4.24% increase in revenue, reaching Rs 4,713.38 crore. The company's advertising and sales promotion expenses surged by 35.47% to Rs 1,520.21 crore, while royalties paid to its US parent company also rose.

On its listing day, brokerage firms - Macquarie and JM Financial - became the first ones to initiate coverage on the debutant but came out with polar opposite views. Macquarie's initiating coverage report gave it an underperform rating with a target price of Rs 325, which indicates downside potential of 17% from IPO issue price of Rs 390.

According to early estimates from Counterpoint, shipments in the wearables industry fell 30% on-year in the July-September quarter with nearly every top brand including Boat and Noise seeing sharp declines in numbers. However, shipments of premium smartwatches and audio products nearly doubled, pushing up the average selling price.

Apple could double its iPhone production in India to over $30 billion annually if the US imposes tariffs on Chinese imports. This shift could create 200,000 jobs and increase India's share in iPhone production to over 26%. However, the move depends on US policy and India's ability to address cost and policy challenges.

Indian consumer electronics brand Elista plans to expand globally. The company aims to generate Rs 1,500 crore in revenue by 2026. Elista will expand its presence in over 35 countries in the next two years. The brand recently entered the Tanzanian market.

​​The Umbergaon, Valsad-based company said the issue comprises Rs 850 crore of offer for sale and Rs 350 crore of fresh issue, and will close on December 15. Its chief financial officer Rahul Shah told reporters here that the floor price is 75 times and the cap price is 79 times the face value of the equity shares.

“With this expansion, we are excited to connect with even more individuals and families, offering them a curated selection of products that inspire creativity and enrich everyday life," said Divyanshu Solanki, founder and CEO of the company.

India's Pidilite Industries , which makes Fevicol adhesives and Dr. Fixit waterproofing products, posted a 6.2% jump in fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, driven by lower input costs.

Titan Company's consolidated profit after tax declined by 23.1 per cent in the second quarter of this fiscal. However, the company's consolidated income increased by 26 per cent during the same period. Its international jewellery business experienced a significant income growth of 62 per cent. Caratlane, a subsidiary of Titan, also reported a 28 per cent increase in total income.

Hugo Boss reported third-quarter operating profit slightly above expectations, but acknowledged it won't achieve its 2025 revenue and profit growth targets due to weak demand. Despite cost-cutting measures, the luxury fashion brand faces challenges from cautious consumer spending and a difficult market, particularly in China.

Indians purchased 220 tonnes of silver during this year's Dhanteras-Diwali. This is the highest amount in two decades. The surge in silver sales is attributed to its rising prices and its appeal as a safe-haven asset. Gold sales, however, declined by 15% this year. Experts predict silver prices will continue to rise.

Raymond Lifestyle witnessed a significant 69.72% drop in its consolidated net profit for Q2 FY'25, reaching Rs 42.18 crore. This decline is attributed to subdued demand and inflationary pressures. Despite this, the company remains optimistic about the future, citing recent positive trends in the festive and wedding season and plans for retail expansion and new product launches.

Pernia's Pop-Up Shop is raising funds for its initial public offering. The company plans to use the funds to expand its retail network and become debt-free. The retailer aims to open more stores in Mumbai and Delhi. Pernia's Pop-Up Shop sells designer wear from various brands. The company achieved significant revenue growth in the last financial year.

Trent reported a 46.9% increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 335.06 crore in the second quarter that ended September 30, 2024. Revenue from operations grew by 39.3% to Rs 4,156.67 crore. The company expanded its store footprint, with 800 large-format fashion stores across 184 cities. Also, it opened new stores for both Westside and Zudio brands during the second quarter of this fiscal.

Safari Industries India reported a 25.40% YoY decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 29.66 crore in Q2 FY25, despite a 23.72% YoY increase in revenue to Rs 457.79 crore. The luggage maker's profit before tax also fell by 27.07% YoY to Rs 37.84 crore, primarily due to a significant rise in total expenses, including a 53.

Driven by central bank purchases and geopolitical tensions, gold prices soared to 39 new all-time highs in 2024, marking the highest number in 45 years. The surge, influenced by strong Asian demand and US election anxieties, saw gold reach $2,734 per ounce, prompting predictions of further increases.

Kalyan Jewellers saw a 3.3% dip in consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 130.32 crore in Q2 FY25, compared to the same period last year. Despite this, revenue from operations rose to Rs 6,065.4 crore, contrasting with Rs 4,414.53 crore in Q2 FY24. Ramesh Kalyanaraman, executive director of the company said, "We recorded SSSG in excess of 20 per cent for the Diwali minus 30 days period when compared to the base year. ​​We are upbeat about the ongoing wedding season across the country and hope to end the calendar year on a very strong note."​​​​

Adwaita and Anchit Nayar, leaders at Nykaa, highlight their complementary roles in driving the company's success. They share insights on India's consumer tech and quick commerce growth, Nykaa's rapid expansion in warehouse capacity, and plans for same-day or next-day delivery, leveraging their efficient capital use and market competition to build the category.

Claypond Capital, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai’s family office, also participated in funding for the health and wellness startup, formerly known as Healthifyme. To date, the company has raised $125 million in primary equity.

Indian fragrance and flavour company Sacheerome aims to achieve 30-40 per cent annual growth in the Middle East market. The company plans to make Dubai its second home and establish an R&D center in the city. With significant growth potential in the MEA sector, Sacheerome also targets expansion in Asia-Pacific, focusing on Malaysia.

The startup backed by cricketer KL Rahul will use the funds to enhance product innovation and expand its brand presence. The brand sells its products on ecommerce marketplaces, quick-commerce platforms and through its own D2C channel. It plans to open offline stores within the next 12 to 18 months.

FirstCry's CEO Maheshwari saw a 49% compensation drop. The company plans an IPO, approaching SEBI. Employee benefits decreased, with a Rs 23,000 crore valuation and an expected IPO of $3.5-3.75 billion.

India's toy exports saw a slight decline to USD 152.34 million in 2023-24 from USD 153.89 million the previous year. Despite quality control orders, exports did not benefit much. GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava suggested a more comprehensive strategy to develop the industry and boost exports.

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay a $700 million settlement to resolve a probe by 42 US states and Washington, DC. The inquiry examined the marketing of their baby powder and other talc-based products, which have faced allegations of causing cancer. The settlement addresses claims that Johnson & Johnson deceived consumers about the safety of its talc products.

Jammbo, founded in 2023, presently has about 50 products in its portfolio, focusing on ride-on battery toys such as electric cars and bikes. It aims to expand its portfolio to over 200 products by the end of the current fiscal year. The startup has set up its global presence by entering the UAE market. Further, it plans to expand to the U.S. and the U.K. markets this fiscal.

Prospective performers and their families are invited to learn about Pacific Crest, our 2025 season, and auditions. A brief presentation will be followed by an AUA (ask us anything) session. All […]

The podcasting industry has grown a lot since its birth in 2004, but the core of what a podcast could be and what it could do hasn't changed much. Now, Podcasting 2.0 revolutionizes the industry with highly requested innovations that will help everyone on all sides of the RSS feeds.

The post What Is Podcasting 2.0 and Why Does It Matter? first appeared on The Audacity to Podcast.

Whether you're just starting your podcast or you've been podcasting for a while, you might find some things easier by using better tools. Here are the audio-editing apps I recommend most for podcasting in 2023.

The post Best Audio-Editing Apps for Podcasting in 2023 first appeared on The Audacity to Podcast.

Podcasting 2.0 introduced a new way for your audience to support your podcast by sending micropayments. This is usually measured by satoshis (abbreviated as "sats"), which are one hundred millionths of a Bitcoin. As such a small portion of cryptocurrency, many people might wonder whether the effort is even worth the return.

The post Are Podcasting 2.0 Micropayments Actually Worth It? first appeared on The Audacity to Podcast.

Happy Amazon Prime Day! Here are the best deals we've found for podcasters. These prices are good for only July 11–12, 2023—or maybe even more limited than that! Most of the following deals are available exclusively to Amazon Prime members. Prime Day is over, but the following deals are still available as of 11:15 am...

The post Best Prime Day Deals for Podcasters 2023 first appeared on The Audacity to Podcast.

Check here often for the latest and greatest deals on microphones, interfaces, apps, accessories, and more to help you podcast!

The post Best Black Friday / Cyber Monday Podcasting Deals for Podcasters (2023) first appeared on The Audacity to Podcast.

Get the latest top recommendations for the best podcast-hosting providers, whether you're just starting or you're wanting to upgrade your podcasting tools!

The post Best Podcast Hosting Providers (2024) first appeared on The Audacity to Podcast.

Podcasting 2.0 is revolutionizing podcasting for podcasters, audiences, and developers. Here are what I think are the best features you should be leveraging, if you can.

The post Top 5 Podcasting 2.0 Features You Should Try first appeared on The Audacity to Podcast.

Texas lawmakers began filing bills for next year’s legislative session on Tuesday, submitting a record-breaking 1,500 in the first filing period.

Want to work at one of the Federal Government's "Best Places to Work" and protect the retirement security of millions of workers and retirees? The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's (PBGC) Office of Policy and External Affairs (OPEA) is looking for a DC-area Administrative Support Specialist. The GS-11 position will: Provide administrative support for PBGC' s Advisory Committee, comprised of Presidentially appointed members, including travel, budget, payroll, speaker presentation coordination (including audio/visual support) and meeting preparation. Manage Congressional Correspondence tracking system in a confidential capacity and handling sensitive Congressional correspondence. Work closely with leadership to coordinate a variety of essential services through various PBGC organizations, e.g., budget, procurement, human resources, information technology, etc. Perform research assignments, special projects, and a broad range of administrative functions, including matters of a sensitive nature, for leadership as necessary in executing the missions of the office. The candidate is required to be on-site at least one day per week and may be asked to be onsite to support in-office staff for special meetings and events as needed.

I am currently trying to start a GarageBand project on a Mac, but am having problems with the AVID Quartet preamp (?) on this computer. (This is a borrowed computer and I can't disconnect the Quartet.) Is there anyone in the Back Bay/Copley area who can come in for an hour or two and help me get this set up so I can record?

The 2024 Cinetopia Film Festival rolls on in Ann Arbor! Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins joins WEMU's David Fair to provide an update on the film fest and the new films opening downtown. Plus, Russ brings along filmmaker and Eastern Michigan University alumnus Heidi Philipsen, who talks about her film "Love & Vodka," which closes out Cinetopia this weekend!

Summer may be winding down a bit, but the summer movie season is still going! WEMU's David Fair meets up again with Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins to chat about the latest films and special screenings coming to a theater near you! Plus, the Michigan Theater is hosting not one, but two huge high school reunions!

Whether you prefer the modern age of cinema or the silent era, there's plenty of films worth checking out this weekend and beyond! WEMU's Russ Collins from Marquee Arts gives the full cinematic rundown in his conversation with WEMU's David Fair.