Consumer Durables

Share Prices

Sales and Market Share

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Trends, Marketing Initiatives and Others

22. Consumers Favour Net Research For Gadget Buys – February 03

Consumers in India prefer to buy electronics through internet: Survey

According to the Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions’ Consumer Electronics Survey, gadget buyers in India are increasingly moving online to research their next consumer electronic products purchase. Nearly 10,000 MSN/Windows Live service users were surveyed across 10 markets — Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand — in a poll conducted by Synovate during August to October 2007 for Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions. The survey revealed that Indian consumers prefer to buy electronic items through the internet, as they could find the latest available models (67%), compare product features (65%) and prices (62%), and could do this at their own ease (61%). Quality and price were the key criteria for purchasing consumer electronics, rather than the brand name. While laptops, mobile phones and MP3 players were among the top three preferred electronic products bought online, the purchase decisions for electronics most often appeared to be influenced by children in the family.

Source: The Hindu Business Line 

23. Consumer Durables Cos See Rise In Demand After A Period Of Lull – February 11

Consumer durable companies report profits despite economic slowdown

In 2007, consumer durable companies in India witnessed an increase in demand despite persistent signs of an economic slowdown.  An analysis of nine listed companies – Videocon Appliances Ltd, Whirlpool of India Ltd, Voltas Ltd, Mirc Electronics Ltd, BPL Ltd, Blue Star Ltd, Hitachi Home and Life Solutions (India) Ltd, Lloyd Electric and Engineering Ltd and Sharp India Ltd – showed that an increase in the demand for high-end products and better cost management helped these companies boost sales as well as profitability. Adjusted profit after tax (PAT) of the nine companies cumulatively grew 55% year-on-year in 2007 as sales rose 19%. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry estimates the size of the consumer durables sector in India at an estimated Rs 35,000 crore, of which Samsung India Electronics Ltd and LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. account for almost 40%. Other factors that boosted growth include the use of technology to reduce costs as well as product prices, aggressive marketing, and expanding the sales and distribution network.

Source: Livemint

24. Shatrughan Sinha To Lend His Brand Appeal To Markson – January 21

Markson signs Shatrughan Sinha as brand ambassador

Markson, the stand-alone company of Delhi-based SNR Electronics Ltd, signed actor Shatrughan Sinha as its brand ambassador. The company recently launched a range of electronics and home appliances.

Source: Exchange4media 

Product Launches

25. Godrej Launches Navigator AC and A Range of Refrigerators – January 24 and February 07

On 6 February, 2008, Godrej & Boyce’s appliances division launched an energy-efficient range of refrigerators in Delhi.

On 23 January, 2008, Godrej Appliances launched a new range of ‘Navigator window air-conditioners’, equipped with ‘i-flow technology’.

26. HP-Based Electronics Firm Unveils LCD TVs, Laptops – January 21

On 20 January, 2008, Himachal Pradesh-based consumer electronics firm, Markson, unveiled a product range including LCD televisions, DVD players and laptops.

27. Lifestyle Home Theatre Systems From Bose – February 06

On 5 February 2008, US-based Bose Corporation launched two ‘Lifestyle’ home theatre systems. Aimed at the premium audio systems market, the two home theatre systems – V20 and V30 – are priced at Rs. 1.69 lakh and Rs. 1.14 lakh, respectively.