Luxury and lifestyle magazine Robb Report debuts in India

The India Today Group has partnered with the US-based CurtCo Media to bring the international luxury and lifestyle magazine to India. Govind Dhar has been appointed as the executive editor of the Indian edition.

The India Today Group has partnered with the US-based CurtCo Media to launch the Indian edition of the international luxury and lifestyle magazine Robb Report. The newly-launched magazine will be a monthly, with 12 issues in a year.

In an official communique, Aroon Purie, chairman and editor-in-chief, India Today Group, says about the launch, "India is fast becoming a hub of luxury, with its growing clan of über-rich billionaires and booming businesses. For connoisseurs seeking the very best that life has to offer, Robb Report remains the essential luxury resource."

With an initial print run of 35,000 copies, the magazine is aimed at the premium category consumers, with focus on luxury goods and services available internationally, and in India. Interestingly, the company has not fixed a cover price for the magazine, as it will be available free of cost only by invitation to a restricted list of readers.

Explaining the model, Malcolm D Mistry, publishing director, India Today, says, "What we have done is identified 35,000 most affluential and influential people in the country after much debate, discussion and research. We will, therefore, be sending the magazine to these people, and if we they agree for a free subscription, we will continue sending the magazines."

Since it is an advertising-based revenue model, without subscriptions, the magazine will be high on advertising. The magazine, which will be available in the five metros Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, will also reach out to readers in cities like Goa and Jaipur.

This will be the eight international edition, as the magazine is already available in China, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, Spain, and West Asia, as well as in the US.

Meanwhile, the India Today Group has appointed Govind Dhar as the executive editor of the magazine. Prior to this, Dhar was a freelance writer for several magazines including GQ India, FHM India and Conde Nast Traveller India.

Says Dhar, "With the emergence of luxury goods and services as an important sector in the Indian economy, it is the perfect time to introduce Robb Report to Indian consumers who have the taste to appreciate the finer aspects of luxury living."

Dhar completed his post-graduation in marketing from the University of the West of England in 2004. He started his career as a freelance copywriter with Turning Heads. In 2006, he joined Content Syndicate as senior copywriter and editor. For a year, from 2007-08, he worked as a freelance writer for BindaasDaily.com. This was followed by a short stint with Fusion Marketing Management and Wafi as scriptwriter and story creator.

Dhar worked as a freelance writer and photographer for Rolling Stone Magazine, India, and HT Media's business daily, Mint. He then joined Khaleej Times as travel writer and worked for about a month. He went back to freelance writing for many magazines, including Harper's Bazaar, before joining Marshal Creative Services as copywriter and creative director. After working for two years, he moved to MaXposure Media Group India, where he worked as deputy editor for a cosmetic magazine Estetica, for West Asia and India.