Jamshedpur, Jan. 21: After glittering in the silver frame, it was the turn of Munna Bhai and Circuit to rock the XLRI campus.

Both the characters were a part of the stall that was put up at the Maxi Fair today.

The Maxi Fair, an annual event in the XLRI calendar, is an innovative tool for conducting market research and consumer behaviour research. Games and other fun-filled events were organised in various stalls put up at the fair to obtain unbiased and accurate information about consumer preferences and perceptions.

The secretary of Marketing Association of XLRI (Maxi), Tuhin Jain, said over 4,000 people thronged the fair, which entered its 28th year. The fair was inaugurated by deputy commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni.

According to Jain, seven companies from various sectors, including FMCG, banking, IT and insurance, gave their problems to the B-school this year. However, he refused to disclose the identity of the companies.

A new addition to this year’s fair was a rural Maxi Fair, which was organised simultaneously at Musabani. The new initiative was in line with XLRI’s decision to offer a full elective course in rural marketing. Another interesting concept was a Shilpa Mela, which was organised by Social Initiative Group for Managerial Assistance.

The Shilpa Mela provided a platform for local artisans to market their handicrafts and agricultural products, which was in tune with SIGMA’s mission of social responsibility. The fair for the first time saw participation from NGOs like CRY and Unicef.

“The fair provided a platform for the management students to interact with the local community and has raised the brand equity of the B-School among the visitors,” said Father N. Casimir Raj, the XLRI director.