Acer opens 100th retail outlet in Bangalore

Acer India, one of the world's top four branded PC vendors has launched one
more retail outlet in Bangalore and with this they have achieved the 100 mark in
exclusive Acer Mall retail outlets across the country. Acer Malls today are
spread across 60 cities and towns in India. With over 250 retail outlets in
total (exclusive brand shop and multibrand) and a retail footprint in over 100
cities and towns, this landmark of 100 brand stores is testimony to the fact
that single brand focused retailing brings in larger rewards in the long run.
Acer malls today are not just pure play computer showrooms but are full fledged
IT specialty storesproviding a variety of IT offerings for a home/SOHO customer
under the brand umbrella of Acer. Speaking on this occasion WS Mukund, MD, Acer
India, said, “The Acer Malls retail format has been a big success across the
country and played a very significant role in increasing Acer's visibility and
brand equity in the market. Since Acer ventured into retail over two years ago
we have witnessed an increase in customer perceptions about our brand and
acceptability among the student, home and SOHO community.”

Acer Malls are the most elite of Acer's channel and involve the maximum
amount of commitment from the partners. In return they also enjoy significant
benefits over the other retail outlets and normal registered partners. The
objective of the Acer Mall format is to focus on the key company objective of
ensuring profitability and sustainability of single brand outlets. Acer will
continue to focus its energies on the expansion of this channel especially into
the B, C and D category cities. Acer is also focused in achieving a balanced
geographical coverage in the larger cities, looking at the potential of high
traffic areas.

Speaking on this achievement, S Rajendran, GM-Sales and Marketing, Mobility
Display Products Group, Acer India, said, “There has been a significant rise
in footfalls and profitability across the Acer brand stores in the last two
years. Our focus is on communicating the brand personality and superiority of
Acer products and technologies while reassuring the customer of value for money
motto. We are looking at expanding to over 300 quality retail outlets by the end
of the year and will continue to actively look out for retail partners across
the country, especially in the smaller towns as we expand our presence in
interior India.”

Marketing support for Acer Malls is another differentiator and a key
value-add to partners. Acer supports their Acer Mall partners through frequent
ground level activities in high traffic zones across the country to help drive
traffic and sales from these locations to its brand stores.

Acer has successfully accomplished close to 1000 such events across the
country with its Acer Malls in this FY so far.

Acer's expansion plans for their retail channel is a carefully planned
process involving several criteria. Acer Malls contribute to over 70 percent of
the entire sales from the retail channel and make up close to 35 percent of the
company's overall sales. Sales from retail have been growing on an average by
close to 100 percent year on year since 2003. In order to match that success
Acer will be looking at all retail parameters and partner strengths before it
signs on a new retail relationship. As is seen in most mature markets, Acer
plans to work with both its organized retail network and its present retail
channel.

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