LMRC Market Watch
Electronics recent news
Retailers at Gitex say sales slower than expectations
Oct 5, 2015 Source: Zawya N.1144
Dubai: Consumer electronics retailers who raked in good sales on the first day of the Gitex consumer electronics retail show on Saturday couldn’t quite match that show on Sunday.
On the sidelines of the show, there are some retailers selling watches and unbranded home appliances, and they said sales left much to be desired in comparison to last year.
PLUG INS announces results of 4th UAE Consumer Electronics survey
Sep, 2015 Source: 7 Days N.845
UAE residents spend an average of AED 4,000 on consumer electronics
Dubai, September: PLUG INS, the multi-brand consumer electronics and IT retailer of Al-Futtaim group has announced the results of the fourth edition of its UAE Consumer Electronics (CE) survey.
Apple’s iPad sales down but other segments grow
July 22, 2015 Source: 7 Days N.845
Apple makes most of its money from the iPhone, but the tech giant disclosed results for other product segments on Tuesday.
Here’s a breakdown:
iPHONES
Retailers aim to cash in on Eid frenzy
July 15, 2015 Source: Gulf News N.728
Expect smartphones to steal limelight, followed by laptops and TVs
Dubai: Key consumer electronics retailers in the UAE are looking to cash in on the Eid shopping frenzy, with most offering good discounts and bundled offers to entice tourists and residents alike.
They expect smartphones to steal limelight, followed by laptops and TVs.
Looking at the economics, Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax, said that this Ramadan has been extremely good.
Retailers aim to cash in on Eid frenzy
July 15, 2015 Source: Zawya N.619
Dubai: Key consumer electronics retailers in the UAE are looking to cash in on the Eid shopping frenzy, with most offering good discounts and bundled offers to entice tourists and residents alike.
They expect smartphones to steal limelight, followed by laptops and TVs.
Looking at the economics, Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax, said that this Ramadan has been extremely good.
Etisalat says Mobily restatement, provisioning to hurt results
Jun 28, 2015 Source: Gulf News N.587
Impact of further earnings restatement to hit 2014 results by Dh616 million before royalty
Dubai: Abu Dhabi-listed Etisalat said on Sunday the impact of further earnings restatement by unit Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) would hit its own 2014 results by 616 million dirhams ($167.7 million) before royalty.
New Sharaf DG store integrates technology
Jun 18, 2015 Source: Gulf Business N.553
Aimed at improving customers’ shopping experience
Dubai: Consumer electronics retailer Sharaf DG has opened its newly renovated store in Dubai’s Times Square Center, which integrates technology to offer customers a better shopping experience.
“We started off on a clean slate and questioned every design, process, technology and organisation structures to arrive at an experience which will inspire customers and help them discover something new every time they visit Sharaf DG, provide a personalised shopping experience,” said Nilesh Khalkho, chief executive of Sharaf DG in a statement.
Sharaf DG brings omni-channel approach to electronics retailing
Jun 17, 2015 Source: The National Business N.586
The newly re-launched Sharaf DG store in Times Square mall on Sheikh Zayed Road. Antonie Robertson / The National
The electronics retailer Sharaf DG unveiled its revamped Dubai flagship store on Wednesday designed to integrate its digital and in-store offerings as it expands its presence across the UAE.
Sharaf DG to open first Egypt store in 2016, plots Gulf expansion
Jun 17, 2015 Source: Gulf Business N.552
The electronics retailer is also looking to enter the Saudi market next year, a senior official said.
Dubai-based electronics retailer Sharaf DG will open its first store in Egypt in the second half of next year, the company’s CEO Nilesh Khalkao told Gulf Business.
“In 2016, we will open our first store, spanning 18,000 square feet in Mall of Egypt,” he said.
Eros Group named best brand in the UAE
Jun 16, 2015 Source: The National Business N.585
DJ Babani, the Eros Group chief executive, centre, celebrates with other officials after being named the Brand of the Year by Superbrands. Picture courtesy Sharon Divan
Eros Group was voted the best brand in the UAE last night after being whittled down from over 12,000 brands to a shortlist of 1,368.
Independent arbiter Superbrands asked the chief executives and marketing directors of the shortlist to vote on the brands with Eros Group, the electronics retailer and distributor, coming out on top.
Jumbo opens revamped outlet
Apr 28, 2015 Source: Retail Me N.244
UAE-based electronics retailer Jumbo has re-launched its Mall of the Emirates store with a fresh, new format designed to take the customer experience to the next level. The 27,000 sqft newly revamped Jumbo retail store features a clutter-free layout to facilitate easy navigation between product categories, designed as a space that encourages customers to browse and explore consumer electronics at leisure.
“Jumbo is a pioneer in organised retail in the region, and we have been improving our in-store and online offerings consistently to create industry-best retail experiences that appeal to the region’s international consumer base.
Jumbo in Dh5.14m revamp of Mall of the Emirates store
Apr 27, 2015 Source: Gulf News Retail N.256
Big-box retailing concept to focus on brown goods, with CEO expecting good return on investment
Dubai: Dubai-based Jumbo Electronics has invested $1.4 million (Dh5.14 million) to revamp its Mall of the Emirates store with the shop-in-shop concept from reputed brands.
“This is our flagship store and one of the most profitable stores for us. The return of investment will be great and [we] expect the store to contribute a lot,” Vishesh Bhatia, CEO of Jumbo Group, told Gulf News after opening the 27,000-square foot store on Monday.
Sharaf DG collaborates with Euronics
Apr 21, 2015 Source: Retail Me N.243
Dubai-based Sharaf DG has collaborated with Euronics, one of Europe’s leading independent consumer electronics retailers’ organisation manages over 10,000 retail outlets across 31 countries. It is the only partner in the Gulf region to have joined hands with Euronics.
This will enable Sharaf DG to bring new products to the region much faster as Euronics gets exclusive products to be launched much faster than the regional launch owing to strong partnerships with major manufacturers and exchange of knowhow on application of latest technologies as well as best practices from top international retailers.
Laser printers to see more growth than inkjet in the UAE
Apr 13, 2015 Source:Gulf News Retail N.216
Market is expected to see 4.5 per cent growth as companies are making a lot of investment
Laser printers are expected to steal the limelight as the market is making a big shift from inkjets, industry experts say.
Ashwin Venkatachari, senior programme manager (imaging, printing and document solutions) at International Data Corporation, told Gulf News that inkjets are predominately used in the consumer space but consumers are now spending more on tablets and smartphones.
Obi Mobiles forays into East Africa, commits to make technology accessible to more people
Apr 13, 2015 Source:Retail me N.212
After its successful launch in the Middle East last year, Obi Mobiles, the technology brand co-founded by veteran marketer and former Apple CEO John Sculley, forayed into the East Africa market last month. Targeting the young and aspirational smartphone users, Obi devices have already resonated well in both Kenya and Tanzania as the brand plans to expand to other African markets over the next few months.
Retailers at Gitex Shopper 2015 expecting double-digit growth
Apr 2, 2015 Source:Kaleej Times N.174
Dubai — Power retailers expect good double-digit growth in sales during the third edition of Gitex Shopper Spring 2015 and investing more into bundles and promotion on latest products this year.
Gitex Shopper is very well established brand and growing year on year in terms of new products, quality buyers, sales and investment, they told Khlaeej Times on the first day of Gitex Shopper.
Mid-range smartphones on the rise at Abu Dhabi Electronics Shopper
March 18, 2015 Source:Gulf News Retail N.116
High-end and entry-level smartphones may dominate the headlines, but it is the mid-range models between Dh500 to Dh1,000 that have a bigger growth story to tell, according to traders at Abu Dhabi Electronics Shopper.
The four-day event, which concluded yesterday at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, was dominated by smartphones from the United States, Europe and Asia. But retailers say high-end devices are becoming less important in the market as the differences in technology and operational functionality become marginal.
Abu Dhabi Electronics Shopper begins
March 18, 2015 Source:Gulf News Retail N.116
Abu Dhabi: The third annual edition of Abu Dhabi Electronics Shopper (Ades) kicked off on Wednesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) with expectations to attract over 70,000 visitors over its four-day run.The event was inaugurated by Shaikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development.
Exhibitors include Plug-Ins, Sharaf DG, Jacky Retail, Grand Stores, Techlink, and Jurassic, among others, and will be offering visitors discounts and products that are exclusive to Ades.
The UAE’s domestic electronics market is expected to increase in value to $4.8 billion by the end of 2015, according to the organisers behind the exhibition.
The event runs until March 21 and is open to visitors from 11am to 11pm.
Saudi Arabian demand for value smartphones drives online sales
March 14, 2015
Growing demand for value smartphones in Saudi Arabia is driving sales at online retailer souq.com.
Six months after its entrance into the region, InnJoo, the Chinese maker of affordable smartphones, said it expects to have sold 400,000 units by the end of this month and that 50 per cent of its sales have come from Saudi Arabia.
InnJoo began selling at a price point of Dh299 in September exclusively through the online market place, and the brand now accounts for 30 per cent of sales in the 5-inch 4G or LTE device category on the souq.
Smartphone wars spread to UAE’s blue-collar workers
March 5, 2015
Jumbo Electronics reported a 10% rise in footfall across the country during Christmas week as retailers look forward to another month-long shopping binge. Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which starts on Thursday, is also expected to be a major draw for retailers as they slash prices to tempt even more shoppers through their doors.
“It is too early to comment on sales numbers for next year, but we do expect positive growth in the consumer electronics market through the year,” believes Nadeem Khanzadah, head of omnichannel retail at Jumbo Group. “At Jumbo, we expect to see sales revenues rise by 20% during DSF 2015 compared to last year with smartphones, tablets and laptops likely to emerge as the top performing categories.”
Sharaf DG chief uncertain whether time has come for smart watches, fitness trackers
March 4, 2015
BARCELONA // The market for wearable technology such as fitness trackers and smartwatches in the UAE remains deeply uncertain, according to the chief executive of Sharaf DG.
Nilesh Khalkho said the electronics retailer’s newly refurbished Times Square store in Dubai will have a dedicated section for wearable technology, including smartwatches and fitness trackers.
But Mr Khalkho, speaking to The National at the Mobile World Congresshere in Barcelona, said that the long-term viability of the market remains unclear.
Jumbo sees 2015 as challenging and unpredictable
February 11,2015
Dubai: Dubai-based Jumbo Electronics expects 2015 to be challenging and unpredictable due to fluctuating oil prices, the status of the Russian rouble and strong dollar.
Vishesh Bhatia, CEO of Jumbo Electronics , told Gulf News in an interview on Wednesday that Dubai can survive because it is making huge investments and a big velocity of trade is taking place, and there are lots of visitors coming in.
“If visitor number falls for whatever reason, it may have an impact. So we are very careful and keeping a close vigil, and at the same time cautiously positive,” he said.
Jumbo records 10% rise in festive footfall
December 30, 2015
Jumbo Electronics reported a 10% rise in footfall across the country during Christmas week as retailers look forward to another month-long shopping binge. Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which starts on Thursday, is also expected to be a major draw for retailers as they slash prices to tempt even more shoppers through their doors.
“It is too early to comment on sales numbers for next year, but we do expect positive growth in the consumer electronics market through the year,” believes Nadeem Khanzadah, head of omnichannel retail at Jumbo Group. “At Jumbo, we expect to see sales revenues rise by 20% during DSF 2015 compared to last year with smartphones, tablets and laptops likely to emerge as the top performing categories.”