This article is mainly about branding and its various aspects such as re-branding, multi-branding, etc., explained in the context of Havells India Ltd (HIL). HIL is one of the fastest growing electrical firms in India, dealing in circuit breakers, cables, fans, modular switches, etc. Havells has been releasing many advertisements to successfully promote the brand for sometime now, and further, Havells had made certain changes to its brand too. The story of how Havells has been building and managing its branding been focussed.

The journey that started for me, way back in 1958 as an electrical trader in Delhi with a borrowed capital of just Rs. 10,000 has all along been, both challenging and very satisfying. It was my dream fructified as small steps, a passion that kept me going and an ardor to rise above the paradox of hyperbolic inanity that existed in creating a conglomerate in those days. Those days were far-from-opportune for a small trader to compete and survive the volatile, license regime of post-independent India. Yet, gradually and firmly, we defined our dream of setting up a company, which today is a revered manufacturer of electrical and power distribution equipments and is the only electrical company in the country with its range spreading over 11 product categories.

The Havells Group originated as a small trading business in Central Delhi's Bhagirath Place, which is a wholesale market for electrical goods. It was promoted by Qimat Rai Gupta and Surjit Kumar Gupta, who commenced their trading operations in the year 1958. A former teacher in Punjab, the entrepreneur, Qimat Rai Gupta, bought the Havells brand from one Haveli Ram Gandhi, thereby moving up from trader to manufacturer and began manufacturing switch fuse units in Delhi. The company was incorporated as Havells India Private Limited in 1983, and the name was changed to Havells India Limited in 1992.

Havells India Ltd. is one of the largest and fastest growing electrical and power distribution equipment manufacturers, with a product range comprising industrial and domestic circuit protection switchgear, cables and wires, motors, fans, power capacitors, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), luminaires for domestic, commercial and industrial applications, modular switches and bath fittings, covering the entire gamut of household, commercial and industrial electrical needs. Its exemplary growth is evident from the fact that Havells' turnover was just Rs. 49.85 cr in the year 1996-97, and grew to Rs. 222.18 cr by 2001-02. The turnover increased nearly six times to Rs. 1,115.14 cr in 2005-06 and this figure stood at Rs. 2231.17 cr in 2007-08.

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