Venus plans Rs 1.8 cr plant

Amritsar-based company aims to produce 300,000 albums a month

Amritsar-based Venus Albums Company Pvt Ltd is setting up a plant to produce 300,000 albums of all types and sizes per month to meet the growing demands in the domestic and overseas markets. The plant is likely to be operational in July next year.

Talking to Business Standard, Managing Director Harmit Singh said, "We are setting up the plant with an investment of around Rs 1.8 crore."

The company is also launching digital albums (a popular concept in Germany), shortly under the brand name "Parizma" to tap the high end of the market.

"In the existing unit, some 150,000 albums roll out every month. With the second one, running at full capacity, we are expecting 50 per cent growth in the next financial year," Singh added.

"The demand for albums is growing significantly in the domestic and overseas markets. We have a multi-level product range, addressing different market segments. There is a premier category, called the 'Jewel' range. The wedding range also aimed at the high end of the market, for those who specialise in marriage photography," Singh added.

Describing his newly created Digital Album, Singh said here photographs were scanned or directly downloaded to the computer. The digital album range starts at Rs 4,500 and is available in different sizes.

In 1976, Singh started with "Black Paper" albums and now the company has a 30 per cent market share in the organised sector. "We are exporting our products to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, and the US," he said.

Singh said higher freight rates were the main obstacle to the growth of business. "To export we have to shell out Rs 16,800 to send products from here to Delhi and again Rs 28,000 to dispatch them from Delhi to Mumbai, making our products costly in the competitive international market," he added.

PICTURE PERFECT

The company has multi-level product range to cater for different market segments

It will soon launch digital albums under the brand name "Parizma", starting with Rs 4,500

It has a 30 per cent market share in the organised sector and expects a growth rate of 50% in 2006-07

It also exports albums to the Middle East, Africa, Europe, US