Lakhotia Computer Center launches PC

KOLKATA

October 17, 2007

Kolkata-based Lakhotia Computer Center (LCC) Infotech had launched its own
brandof PCs as part of its expansion plan. Lead by Sidharth Lakhotia, the
company is well known for its IT training business, and it later branched out
into software development before entering the hardware trade.

“We have decided to leverage on our brand name which is trusted in the IT
domain for the last 21 years. We see a huge potential in the Indian PC market,
which is why we launched our own brand. We have done extensive homework in the
last five months following which we have taken planned how to sell this brand,”
Lakhotia said.

LCC have launched six models with the entry-level PC based on Cyrix platform
and priced at Rs 9,999. An Intel Celeron 1.3 based PC is available at Rs 11,000
while a Celeron 2.5 platform machine is priced at Rs 14,000. The next three
models are based on Intel PIV, Dual Core andCore2 Duo platform. The company
hopes to sell around 10,000 desktops by the end of this FY. It will also roll
out its laptop range shortly.

LCC launched its PC in Bhubaneswar at an occasion attended by Suryanarayan
Patra, Minister of Information Technology, Orissa. Talking about this unusual
choice of venue for launching his brand, Lakhotia explained that his company's
market research has shown that there is a lot of latent business opportunity for
PCs in the upcountry market.

“Based on our market findings we observed that the Y-o-Y growth is highest
in the upcountry markets which is the latest hot-spot for growth and development
in India. This is why we took the decision to launch our products not in a metro
but in a smaller city,” he explained.

LCC is focusing on Bhubaneswar to help his brand get the momentum for
becoming popular. With several MNCs setting up their offices in the city and an
aware youth population, he is confident that he will be successful in his
venture, especially since LCC also has a good franchisee network in Orissa.

“We have 32 training centers running in the state covering all districts.
Therefore our market knowledge about the state is high, which will help us get
customers,” he added.

Besides leveraging on its existing franchisee network across India to
distribute its product range, LCC has identified certain areas within the
training center premises that it will transform into display areas for LCC PC
range. “We already have an existing network in place with the 300 odd
franchisees that we have for our training centers across the country. We want to
capitalize on that set-up. The concept will provide us an automatic retail
opportunity,” Lakhotia informed.

Apart from this, LCC also plans to appoint an IT hardware channel in each
state to distribute its products. “We are in the process of identifying an IT
channel network, comprising dealers and distributors, in each important
location. Since this is a completely new vertical for us we are trying to absorb
as much market information as is possible and apply proper go-to-the-market
method,” informed Lakhotia.

The company next plans to introduce its brand into the markets of Bihar and
Jharkhand followed by West Bengal and North-East. LCC has appointed two
distributors in Orissa to distribute its range. “We have divided the state in
two territories. To supply in the Eastern or coastal belt Cuttack based
Durgashree Infotech whereas Western Orissa will be managed from Sambalpur by
Vivekananda Guru as our distributor,” informed Lakhotia.

The company has also established service points at Cuttack, Sambalpur, Angul,
Kalahandi and Bhubaneswar at present.