Bosch and Siemens Home in retail expansion

Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances (BSH), which operates in India through distributor RBS Home Appliances, is planning to set up 20 exclusive retail outlets in the country in the near future.

Vipul B Raval, managing director, RBS Home Appliances, said: "Siemens home appliances have been in India for the past few years in multi-brand outlets and we now stepping our focus in this sector. For the past two years, we have been consolidating our operations and post this, these exclusive outlets will enable Siemens to increase their market share plus give the best service and care to their customers. We have tied up with Voltas for after-sales service and these retail outlets should contribute 20 per cent of revenue and more than 50 per cent for premium products."

The company during last fiscal had sales of Rs 23 crore and is expecting to grow by nearly 50 per cent following this renewed thrust. In addition to these exclusive outlets, the company intends to be present through 1000 dealer outlets by end of 2005 from the current 300.

Added Friedrich Engelke, director, Regions Africa / Middle East, BSH: "Our current priority is the North American Market and once we consolidate there in 3-4 years, we will have a look at setting up our direct presence in India. Till then, we will be fully supporting RBS in both technology and sales and the position we will be occupying is the premium space."