With the North-East market “growing exponentially” and, having responded “very well” during the peak of economic slowdown, Amway, the direct selling fast moving consumer goods company, is eyeing big in the region.
In 2010, the company is aiming at 30 per cent growth in North-East and has, for that purpose, intensified its focus on productivity, expansion and extensive training of its distributors across the region.
Speaking to Business Standard, Diptarag Bhattacharjee, Amway’s vice president for eastern region, said in 2009 the region’s contribution to the national turnover was around 7 per cent, which according to him was “very high”. (Amway’s fiscal year is from January to December)
He said the company has plans to spruce up distribution and logistics in upper Assam this year to cater to the growing demand of Amway products in the area, besides opening cluster warehouse in Upper Assam.
As part of its marketing strategies, the company is presently eyeing the rural market, which till few years back wasn’t its turf. “If we have to keep up with the exponential growth strategy of last few years in North-East, we will have to look at rural market and make the company for the masses,” said Bhattercharjee.
He said that business in the region grew by almost 37 per cent last year, which was even more than the state of West Bengal. From Rs. 64 crore in 2008, the business of the company grew to Rs. 88 crore in 2009.
The company might also venture into Arunachal Pradesh this year, Bhattacharjee said. Arunachal Pradesh is the only North-Eastern state where the company presently has no presence.
Amway presently has 10 offices in North-East.
