Sony plans more exclusive retail outlets

By Our Corporate Reporter

CHENNAI, DEC. 15. Sony India, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, Japan, is planning to open more retail outlets in the southern region especially in Tamil Nadu, according to Mr. Takashi Itagaki, General Manager (marketing). He said there were at present 17 exclusive Sony World outlets mainly in Southern and Eastern India. In Chennai the second outlet was inaugurated yesterday at Abhiramapuram. The first is located at Chetput.

According to Mr. Prem K. Nair, Deputy Director, Sales and Services, these franchise outlets had proved highly successful and by the end of this financial year three more would be opened in different parts of the country taking the total to 20. He said Chennai was a buoyant market for Sony in the last two years and average monthly sales from this region were about Rs. 3 crores, with October sales alone at Rs. 5.5 crores.

Besides the exclusive outlets, Sony has 38 authorised dealers and a number of multi-brand outlets in Chennai.

The company had already introduced its latest products such as Wega range of flat televisions and mini hi-fi audio systems in the southern market. Mr. Nair said the demand was growing for the Wega range and in the colour television segment the company's market share was four per cent. But in value terms it was seven per cent as the products commanded a premium he said.

Mr. Itagaki said the company was planning a revamp to a flat CTV line up in the next three years and it expected over 300 per cent growth in the next two years in this segment.

The company was in its market penetration phase and was working towards increasing its market share in colour televisions, audios and visual categories such as Handycams and digital still cameras.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Business
Previous : Tellium eyes Indian market