Netbook PCs make major inroads in local IT market

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=84975

Netbook PCs make major inroads in local IT market
Mehdi Musharraf Bhuiyan

Ultra portable subnotebooks or netbooks are rapidly gaining popularity in the country’s vibrant PC market as evident from the latest bout of the annual ICT fair currently being held in the city.

Despite lacking some basic features like a built in optical drive, these petite cousins of more familiar notebook PCs are drawing significant attention in this year’s BCS ICT World 2009; owing to their lower than conventional size and price.

Beginning from Tuesday last, the 16th edition of the flagship event of the country’s ICT world ends today (Saturday) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center of the capital.

“A typical netbook- no matter of what brand, usually weighs less than a kg- which is almost half in mass than the lighter ranges of notebooks, while their screen size hardly cross the 10 inch mark”, explains an exhibitor at the fair.

Equally attractive are the price ranges of these ultra portable laptops; which, thanks to fair discounts, has been found to be as low as Tk. 23,500 for some brands.

Netbooks first came to fore in the local market back in 2008; when the Taiwanese high-tech giant duo Acer and Asus brought their groundbreaking Acer Aspire One and Asus EEE PC in the Dhaka outlets followed by their successful launch in international scene.

Other big names in the PC market followed soon and by the beginning of 2009, almost every laptop brand available in the market had their own version of netbooks to offer.

Never before however, these ultraportable subnotebooks have featured so numerously at any big event of ICT in Bangladesh; industry insiders said, which is a significant promotional boost for these emerging segments of PC market.

“I found these netbooks quite smart”, said a visitor after experimenting with one of them for a while, “these machines are so lightweight and handy”, while admitting that he has to get himself used to it before buying a PC without any optical drive.

From the more pricey brands like Apple or Sony Vaio and more popular HP, Dell, Toshiba or Lenovo to emerging names like BenQ, every brand have displayed at least one or two models of netbooks in their stalls. The typical price of these laptops is ranged between Tk. 35000 to Tk. 24000.

“Netbooks can be possibly a big deal in Bangladeshi market”, admits an industry insider, “they may not grab any bulk market share but even then, their cheaper price range is well suited with the emerging markets”. He added.

Apart from netbooks, another major attraction of this year’s fair was Qubee. Weeks after the formal launching of this high speed Internet service in the country, this WiMax provider has unveiled a revamped and less expensive price package for its service on the eve of the fair while offering the visitors free ride to the WiMax experience.

Like any other year, major dealers in the PC market have introduced a range of new models of various brands. These include Acer Aspire 4736Z and 4810Z, Lenovo G450 29492KQ and 294955Q, Intel i5-750 and i7-860 processors as well as Toshiba TECRA M10-P463.

Prices of notebooks can be as much varied as the number of brands and models, so that they range from Tk. 36000 to as high as Tk. 155,000. But an average laptop usually is priced between Tk. 50,000.00 to Tk. 70,000.00.

A number of stalls have been dedicated to selling locally produced multimedia CDs- which offers a wide variety of cartoons and educational software targeted at young children.

A range of computer accessories and digital equipments like USB flash drive, portable hard drive, memory module, flash card, digital multimedia player and photo frame also featured prominently in this year’s fair.

Bangladesh apparel gets flagship store in Paris

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/oct/04/busi.html#1

Bangladesh apparel gets flagship store in Paris

An employee is pictured in the Uniqlo giant flagship store which opened Thursday near the Garnier Opera house. — AFP photo

Business Desk

Bangladesh clothes get stronger ground in the world’s fashion capital Paris with the opening of the flagship store of the leading Asian apparel retailer Uniqlo.

Uniqlo, known for high-quality basics such as affordable cashmeres with quintessentially Japanese craftsmanship, manufactures its clothes mostly in Asia, in China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

According to an AFP report, Uniqlo, a sister concern of the Japanese company Fast Retailer, has opened its flagship store in the heart of Paris on Thursday and announced that it will open 10 more stores there to have enough strength to compete with other brand retailers like Gap, H&M and Zara.

Tadashi Yanai, the billionaire president of Fast Retailing, which owns Uniqlo, told the news agency that he aimed to open ‘five to 10 big shops’ in Paris, where he had originally planned to launch as far back as 2007 or 2008 ‘but it takes a long time to get authorisation.’

The cheap chic brand popular with designer-conscious Japanese youth currently has a store in an office district on the fringes of the capital, and Yanai set no date for the opening of new stores.

But the new Uniqlo flagship is strategically located near the Garnier Opera house in the centre of a busy tourist and shopping district that is also home to large French department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

Similar stores have already opened in New York and London. The next high-profile launch is Moscow in spring 2010. There are currently 875 Uniqlo stores worldwide, 761 of them in Japan.

No cost seemed to be spared in the run-up to the Paris launch, with ads on city buses and the underground and even Paris bakers selling the traditional baguette in paper bags announcing the ‘Tokyo to Paris’ launch.

Referring to its European competitors H & M from Sweden and and Zara from Spain, whose lines sell like hot cakes and whose stores too are close to the new 2,000-square-metre (-yard) shop, Yanai said ‘I think there is a lot of room’ for Uniqlo to muscle into the market.

‘H & M and Zara just sell fashion. We are different, we are offering high quality clothing,’ added Yanai, who according to Forbes magazine is Japan’s richest man.

‘Our philosophy,’ he said, is that ‘a shirt, jacket or sweater are just spare parts which an individual combines to express their personality. That is why we seek to sell very basic but very high quality clothes.’

He added: ‘It is up to us to offer products that are sufficiently attractive to seduce customers,’ citing high-tech items such as clothes made of a fine fabric that gives off heat or a feather-light coat weighing 270 grams (about 10 ounces).

For the Paris launch, customers are being offered cashmeres at less than 40 euros and men’s jeans under 10 euros.

‘We are the only company in the world able to offer products of this quality at low cost,’ Yanai said.

Computer becomes hot Eid item at Barisal : More pleasure than buying clothes

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/09/18/news0662.htm

Computer becomes hot Eid item at Barisal : More pleasure than buying clothes

BSS, Barisal

Computer has become the hot item of an Eid-shopping item in Barisal markets as teenage and young buyers are finding more pleasure in use of internet than buying new clothes- traditionally seen during the Eid festival. The city’s nine poplar computer shops remain overcrowded with young and teenage buyers from morning to night every day.

They search latest versions of computers, different accessories, new game software and also internet connectivity everyday , which is yet to be upgraded in the country’s southern region.

“My cousin is living in Dhaka city and uses internet since long and doing a lot of things with his computer. In fact, computer is not just a tool for use. Something more even a pleasure than that we find in buying any clothes,” Farhan Ahm-ed, a student of class nine of BM school said.

He said that his four other friends also are getting computers as Eid-gifts from their nears and dear ones. “This has encouraged me to buy computer instead of new clothes on the occasion of the holy Eid- ul- Fitr,” he said. Young and teenagers from both rural and urban areas are coming to computer shops along with their parents. Some of them are repairing their existing devices and pressing their parents to buy new one. Most computer sellers said this year they are experiencing a huge demand for computer products from Eid shoppers.

The government’s plans for making the country a digital one and rapid-growing internet connectivity have encouraged young and teenagers to buy computers as Eid gift.

“My 15-year old son Asif is very happy this year with a new computer. I have bought this for him from a local shop at Taka 25,500 as he desired to have a computer as Eid-gift,” Rahman Tarek, a residence of Barisal city living abroad said. He said teenage and young are becoming more interested to use computer as internet technology has bought uncountable pleasures for them and has opened window of opportunity for their future.

“This will bring gro-wth, development and prospect for the nation”.

Sale of Walton refrigerators up ahead of Eid

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=141922

Sale of Walton refrigerators up ahead of Eid
ECONOMIC REPORTER

Walton showrooms all over the country are experiencing growing turnout of customers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the year’s busiest shopping periods. Huge rush of buyers is being seen at the all showrooms of metropolitan cities, district and upazila towns.

Company sources said: “Walton refrigerators have created huge enthusiasm among local customers as they became aware of Walton brand high quality refrigerators, manufactured at Walton Hi-tech Industries in Gazipur, being exported abroad.

During a visit to the Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, the largest shopping centre in the country, people were seen returning home after buying Walton refrigerators.

Sabina Mallik, a customer in the city’s Kathalbagan area said she had bought an 8cft refrigerator at Tk 18,500. About why she chose to buy this brand of refrigerator, Sabina Mallik told the correspondent that she had discussed the matter with her relatives and all had advised her to buy a Walton brand refrigerator, says a press release.

Bashundhara City Shopping Complex’s Walton Showroom Manager Lutfor Rahman said: “A refrigerator is not a thing of luxury now. Due to the impact of globalisation and improved technology, it is now within the purchasing capacity of middle class and lower middle class. RB Group offers every one essential commodities at competitive rates. Walton refrigerator prices are 20-30 per cent lower compared to imported ones.”

He informed that a 10cft Walton refrigerator was being sold at Tk 20,500 while the same refrigerator of other companies was being sold at Tk 30,000 in local market. A 12cft Walton refrigerator was being sold at Tk 23,500 while the same refrigerator of other companies at Tk 35,000.

He claims that the company has set up a service centre at every showroom with a view to providing after sales service, which also attracts the customers.

Sirajul Islam, Additional Director of RB Group of Companies, about the product said, “The Group always has something innovative and new for its consumers.” imported one.

He claims that the company is committed to exchange any sold product if any major fault is seen within five years and to provide five years service after selling. Walton also gives customers a facility of supplying colour, door, handle, etc as per customers’ choice.

One of the main features of Walton brand refrigerators is 100 per cent copper condense as a result there is no problem within two years. Compressors of Walton refrigerators are imported from Malaysia whose gas charge continues at least 10 years, he also claims.

A senior official of RB Group said in foreign countries a customer buys a refrigerator for two or three years. Later, the customer changes the model.

Supermarkets to spread out

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=79168

Supermarkets to spread out

A woman shops for household products in a supermarket in Dhaka. The capital will see another 29 supermarkets this year

Sohel Parvez

Supermarket biggies have attempted a massive expansion drive this year to catch up more shoppers who still depend on unorganised wet markets to buy their essentials.

The rise in supermarkets, according to analysts, will diversify consumer choices and boost consumer spending needed for economic growth, while the wet markets will also witness an improvement in quality and services on increased penetration of supermarkets.

According to operators, 29 more chain retail outlets are expected to come up this year in an attempt to rope in more customers.

Major expansion drive has been taken by one of the leading local conglomerates, ACI. Its concern ACI Logistics is poised to open 17 outlets in the months to May under the brand name of ‘Fresh N’ Near’.

Meena Bazar is set to add five outlets this year to its existing eight, while Rahimafrooz Superstores will add four, and Nandan Mega Shop three in the same year.

“We feel that customers are ready because of changes in their lifestyle, preferences and needs. We want to offer a neighbourhood experience to consumers by opening more outlets,” said a senior official of ACI Ltd, requesting anonymity.

ACI, which made debut in chain supermarket business in mid-last year, has already opened three outlets, thanks to the enterprising spirit of a few big business houses that pioneered in bringing dynamism in the once-overlooked retailing of perishable and fast moving consumer goods.

Local businesses are set to expand branches at a time when some foreign investors such as Bangkok-based retail and hospitality group CENTEL wants to enter the segment.

But a decade ago, the trade was in the hands of thousands of small retailers in the wet markets and grocery shops in cities and remained out of the focus of business conglomerates.

The landscape began to change after 2000 as Rahimafrooz Superstores, operating company of Agora, began to catch up a slice of retailing and wholesale trade, which has been growing annually by more than 6 percent on an average and contributing over 13 percent to GDP since 1999-2000 fiscal year.

In the last eight years, many small and big supermarkets made debut in the trade to attract middle and upper middle class consumers, a section of whom are shifting to the chain stores from the wet or kitchen markets.

Now around 50 chain supermarkets are operating in Bangladesh, recording an annual turnover of around Tk700 crore, according to Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association.

“Consumer confidence is increasing and that’s why many are planning expansion,” said Kazi Inam Ahmed, chief executive of Meena Bazar, a concern of Gemcon Group that operates through eight outlets with six in Dhaka.

Inam said five more outlets would be opened this year. “The whole business is based on volume. The more is the sales volume, the more is the possibility of making profit,” he said.

Supermarket operators said a rise in the organised retailing would offer consumers hygienic foods at competitive prices compared to those of unorganised retailers in the kitchen markets where commodities are sold mostly in unhygienic manner.

“It’s a business to connect consumers with better products and prices, and create a market for local manufacturers,” said Inam.

Mahmud Ur Rahman Shakeb of Nandan Mega Shop said the company plans to open three more stores this year to increase the number to six.

“It’s a good sign. Expansion of outlets will boost consumer confidence and help create market for manufacturers,” said Niaz Rahim, managing director of Rahimafrooz Superstores, which has now four Agora branded stores.

“Once the supermarket culture is established, commodity market prices will see stability,” he said.

Syed Ferhat Anwar, who teaches marketing at Institute of Business Administration at Dhaka University, said a rise in supermarkets would give consumers more choices and allow them to choose independently.

“It will increase consumption and help boost economy,” he said, “But the question is if the market is going to be saturated for too much increase in the number of supermarkets.”

Ferhat however said organised retail shops might lead to an improvement in quality and services in the wet markets.

sohel@thedailystar.net

Bata opens Asia’s largest showroom

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=74361

Bata opens Asia’s largest showroom

Robert Mcdougall, Canadian high commissioner in Dhaka, takes a look on shoes at a Bata mega store he inaugurated in the capital yesterday. Photo: BATA

Star Business Report

Bata, the country’s leading shoe-company, yesterday opened a mega showroom, the largest in Asia, at Bashundhara city.

“The new showroom is spread over 11,000 square feet and is the largest showroom for footwear in Asia. We opened it to present various world famous brands and designs under one roof to our clients,” said JD Hearns, managing director of Bata Shoe Company Bangladesh, at the inaugural ceremony.

“World famous brands, such as Bata, Marie Claire, Hush Puppies, Scholl, Ambassador, Weibrenner, Nike and Bubblegummers would be available at this new mega showroom,” he added. The show room is situated on level seven of the Basundhara city mall.

Robert Mcdougall, Canadian high commissioner in Dhaka, inaugurated the new mega store.

The overall market size of footwear in the country is around Tk 1,700 crore per year, of which Bata holds a major share.

Sales figures for Bata stood at Tk 650 crore in 2008, a 30 percent rise over the previous year. The company sales stood at Tk 500 crore in 2007.

ACI to launch 200 chain-shops as it forays into organised retailing

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?page=detail_news&news_id=56962

ACI to launch 200 chain-shops as it forays into organised retailing

Mushir Ahmed

Leading conglomerate ACI would launch at least 20 value stores across the country in the next four months, making it the first company to foray into nationwide organised retailing, officials said Saturday.

The company has opened two stores in Dhaka’s Wari and Postagola areas as pilot project and would replicate them across the country once its finds the right ’sourcing and price’ chemistry to launch Bangladesh’s biggest chain shop venture.

A top official of the agro-chemical-consumer goods company directly involved in launching the project told FE his company is giving the final touches to Fresh N’ Near what he believes would be the creation of Bangladeshi version of Wal-Mart or Tesco.

“At present we are working with the price propositions. We want to make the chain stores affordable for the mass people, while at the same time keeping things fresh and close to the consumers,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We have already opened up two stores and would open at least 20 by May. Once we find the right chemistry through experimentation, we have a plan to launch 200 stores in prime locations,” he said.