Consumer electronics major Philips India is planning to expand its 'Philips Arena' outlets in the semi-urban towns of the country. It is planning to open 75 outlets by the end of the year, said S Nagarajan, director, sales and services, consumer electronics, Philips India. |
Arena is a retail franchisee outlet exclusive for Philips' high-end electronic products such as real flat TVs, plasma TVs, DVDs and home theater system. |
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"We are seeing good demand for our high-end electronic products from semi-urban towns. Such demand has traditionally been coming from metros and big cities only. Expanding to semi-urban towns will be a major focus for us," said Nagarajan. |
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The company plans to have 120 Arena outlets in the next three years. |
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"Demand for plasma TV, DVD, real flat screen TV and home theater system has been growing at a triple digit rate in the country. LCD and plasma TV demand have been growing at 1,000 per cent in volume terms in the recent past. Large screen (25 and 29 inches) and real flat screen TVs are growing at 200 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively," he added. |
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It takes an average investment of Rs 15-20 lakh for a franchisee to set up an Arena outlet. The company helps in setting shop, with interiors and promotion work for the outlets. An outlet can generate sales of Rs 20 lakh per month, he said. |
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In line with the changing consumer demand, Philips India has revamped its after-sales services strategy too. It has developed a software, which helps in spooling all the calls reported at service centres to the head office, so that consumer issues are dealt on a priority basis. |
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The company has also developed a repairing software embedded in a laptop, which helps in correcting software-related fault in electronic items. |
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Such faults could be corrected by connecting the laptop to the TV and writing the programme back into the integrated circuit (IC). |
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Philips has opened four regional service centres across the metros to give product related training to its service centre employees. |
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