Tech Pac bets big on Panasonic's mobile business

#1 national distributor, Tech Pacific has entered into an exclusive distributorship agreement for Panasonic cell phones and is eyeing at garnering nearly 10% marketshare for this brand by 2005. The company is also confident that Panasonic's mobile business will contribute between 8 to 10% of its overall revenue. With Tech Pac growing about 25% last fiscal, this may translate into a revenue figure of nearly Rs 200 crore in 2004-05. 

"We expect Panasonic to become a very strong brand in our kitty and are confident of increasing its marketshare to 10% in the cell phone business," says K Jaishankar, CEO, Tech Pacific India.

Jaishankar was present on the occasion of Panasonic launching its latest A100 model.
Incidentally, A100 has been launched in India before any other country and the company fficials assure that "the model will mark a revolution in the Indian mini-phone market." 

"We would be launching at least one model every month for the next one year and would target the 'premium entry' segment," says Masaski Ikezaki, MD, Panasonic India.

It should be noted that Tech Pacific has been distributing Siemens' range of mobiles for quite some time. However, Jaishankar emphasizes that both the brands will not conflict and that there will be individual focus on each of them. "Further, the product positioning and target segments are different for these two brands. Hence, we don't see any conflict of interest here," adds he. Currently, Siemens is contributing to nearly 5% of Tech Pac's business.

Jaishankar also hints at some strategic vendor partnerships to shape up in next few months. "We are exploring at tying up with principals in the software and component space. We are seriously considering getting heavily into convergence products like digicams and so on," reveals he.

GOLDIE

MUMBAI