Gadget makers are betting big on the festive season and some even anticipate as much as 25% jump in sales. At the end of the day, it is festivities for the consumer
If you watch television often, you might have noticed an increase in the number of advertisements appearing on TV? especially those of consumer electronics companies launching new devices and schemes. Indeed, the festive spirit is in the air and it is that time of the year when we Indians love to splurge. And electronic/consumer goods is one category that is generally not affected by gloomy market because a TV, a mobile phone, a computer, a media player are necessities, not luxuries, in today?s world. Now, we have many players in the consumer electronics business but there are some big names that most people flock to during a festive season?Samsung, Sony, LG, Nokia, etc.
Coming to mobile phones, Nokia, which has seen its market leadership go to Samsung, has not only launched variants of its popular phones but is also offering attractive schemes on purchase of its phones. The company has launched the Nokia Asha 308 in a bright golden colour and there are special travel vouchers from 0Yatra.com on purchase of Nokia Asha smartphones. As far as the Lumia range is concerned, Nokia has launched a campaign called ?Celebrate Holi this Diwali with Nokia?.
On these new variants and festive schemes, Viral Oza, director, marketing, Nokia India, says, ?Nokia India has come up with bevy of offers this Diwali on their Asha and Lumia range of phones. For instance, on purchase of Nokia Asha 305, Nokia Asha 308 and Nokia Asha 311 smartphones, consumer will get Yatra.com travel vouchers worth R4,500, which consist of four domestic air ticket vouchers of R750 each and one R1,500 hotel booking voucher. The ?Celebrate Holi this Diwali with Nokia? campaign ensures you get Nokia gear accessories on every purchase of Nokia Lumia?Nokia J Bluetooth Headset free with purchase of Lumia 900, Nokia Purity stereo headsets by Monster free with purchase of Lumia 800 and Bluetooth Stereo headset BH-111 free with purchase of Lumia710.?
Korean digital technology giant Samsung?which is targeting around 25% growth during the festive season?has come up with a consumer promotion for the season called ?Smart Home Celebrations?, which means the buyers receive gifts with the purchase of Samsung audio-visual and home appliance products.
Mahesh Krishnan, vice-president, consumer electronics business, Samsung India, says, ?It is our endeavour to make the auspicious festive season even more special for our consumers by giving them exciting gifts with their purchase of a Samsung product. The gifts available to consumers range from Samsung tablets for our hi-end Series 7 and 8 in Smart TVs and select refrigerators, to mobile phones for select home appliance products.?
He explains that while a consumer gets a Samsung Galaxy Tab with the purchase of 46-inch and above size Samsung Smart LED/Plasma TV models, she gets a Samsung mobile phone with select refrigerators, washing machines or dishwashers. He also adds that consumer promotion and Samsung?s innovative product range will be supported with a multimedia advertising campaign as well as below-the-line marketing activities during the festive season. ?Based on our strong product line up and festival offers, we are looking at a 25% jump in sales during the festival period,? he says.
Sony, the premium electronic goods player, has also introduced a new product line-up across all product categories this festive season. While the Japanese company has developed Indian Picture Settings for its Bravia line-up of televisions, it has also introduced a bundle offer on the Bravia range?that on purchase of any 3D Bravia model, customers can purchase a Sony Blu-ray player at a special price. As far as cameras are concerned, Sony has launched the new Cyber-shot DSC-WX150. Sunil Nayyar, senior general manager, sales, Sony India, says, ?The new camera combines high zoom in a compact design, thereby offering a much more value-added product to the customers. We expect high sales for this particular model during the festive season.?
Sony has also emerged as a major player in the laptop segment with its Vaio line-up. ?Vaio E14A, Vaio T, the Ultrabook and new models of E, S and Z series are our offerings to the consumer this festive season and we will provide free original Vaio backpack on our recently launched ?Spark a Trend? campaign Vaio series,? Nayyar adds.
Sony India, with the integration of Sony Mobile, is now enjoying the success of its recently launched Sony Xperia smartphone, Tipo. It is Sony?s first sub-R10,000 product in the Indian market and is available in single-SIM and dual-SIM versions and the Japanese company is hopeful that it will see even better demand during the festive season.
Here it must be added that Sony has also tied up with Sony Pictures Entertainment for the James Bond action thriller Skyfall. ?The James Bond franchise holds tremendous popularity and power in the Indian market and, with this association, Sony is sure to gain a higher mind share during the festive season. To build on the excitement, Sony has introduced a lucky draw for its consumers called ?This Diwali Bond with Sony?. On purchase of Sony products, customers can participate in the lucky draw and stand to win prizes,? Nayyar says. The company has also introduced zero percent finance offer and zero processing fee for the festive season. ?We are also offering attractive EMI offers on select credit cards as well,? he adds.
Nayyar informs that Sony expects to achieve sales worth R2,850 crore this festive season (September-November) in the Indian market. ?The company has allocated a marketing investment of R150 crore (September-November) to achieve a sales growth of 50% over last year?s festive season sales,? he says.
LG, the other major Korean electronic goods player, is offering, what it calls a true zero percent finance scheme, on selected products to encourage consumers to upgrade to latest products this festival season. ?We have many exciting combo offers during the festive season?like 3D Blu-ray player with 3D movies, 3D camcorder with 8GB USB, etc. We are also offering a 10-year warranty on the compressor of the select models of LG refrigerators and on the motor of select models of LG washing machines,? says LK Gupta, vice-president, marketing, LG India.
As far as new product line-ups are concerned, LG has launched an 84-inch Ultra HD 3D TV that features LG?s Cinema 3D technology, among other products.
Now, the fact remains that since the gap between Diwali and New Year is just about a month and a half, so consumers might wish the festive schemes continue until New Year!
Well, that is not exactly the case. While Nokia?s Oza adds that the schemes will continue until stocks last, LG?s Gupta says that these offers are for the Onam to Diwali season and the festivities end on November 15.
