AC sales peak ahead of summer; Walton tops in choice

Economic Reporter: Following the sweltering heat with the advent of summer, the sales of air conditioners have increased across the country as people are thronging the outlets of different brands’ air conditioners to get relief from the summer heat.

In this summer, temperature is comparatively higher than the previous years. Moreover, the weather forecasters are also predicting higher temperature in the coming days.

Thus, the people are gathering the outlets of air conditioners, pushed the sales of ACs to be increased.

During a visit to the capital’s largest electronics market, Bangabandhu Stadium Market, heavy crowd of the people were seen in the outlets of different brands` ACs like Walton, Marcel, Sony Rangs, LG Butterfly, Jamuna and Panasonic.

Talking to the sales executives of those outlets, it was learnt that the sales of local brands` ACs are higher compared to the imported ACs. Moreover, the  air conditioners made by the country’s leading electronics good manufacturing company ‘Walton Group ’ are in the highest demands of customers as the local brand ‘Walton’ is manufacturing world class ACs using the world’s latest technology at affordable prices, they said.

Besides, Walton, for the first time in Bangladesh, is offering a six-month replacement guarantee along with three years service warrantee for its ACs, they said.

The sales executives also informed that the sales of ACs started at the first week of March this year. And, the sales were increased to large scales in April, they said and hoped that they would experience a remarkable growth in the sales of ACs in the upcoming month.

They also pointed out that last year, there was a supply crunch as the demands for ACs increased abruptly following heavy summer heat. Thus this year, they have already created a sufficient stock of ACs to meet the increase demands of ACs across the country.

Analyzing the market situation, Walton has already doubled its production and sales target to meet the ever-increasing demands of ACs. In addition, the local brand has created a sufficient stock of ACs at its factory ‘Walton Hi-Tech Industries Corporation Ltd, at Chandra in Gazipur.

The annual demands of AC in Bangladesh is nearly 1.5 lakh pieces whereas the annual production capacity  at Walton Hi-Tech Industries is about 3 lakh, almost doubled of the prevailing local demands.

Earlier, the local demands were met with the imported air conditioners. At present, high quality ACs are being manufactured within the country.

By the production of world-class high tech ACs, the country’s leading electronics goods manufacturing company ‘Walton’ is not only saving huge amount of local currency from the import bills but also bagging significant amount of foreign currencies through exporting ACs, which are congenial to the weather of importers’ countries.  

Walton is also applying a new technology named ‘Anti-corrosive hydrophilic golden colour fin’ at its AC condenser unit whereas such technology is not available in other brands’ ACs. This feature will enhance durability and operative life of the AC’s heat exchanger, even at salty air environment, sunlight dust, wind or harsh conditions.

Moreover, the local brand is also applying ‘AAA’ technology in its AC to reduce the electricity consumption.

Dwelling on this year’s preparation, Emdadul Haque Sarkar, executive director and head of marketing of Walton, said last year, the demands for Walton brand’s ACs increased abruptly across the country following the sweltering summer heat.

Considering the last year’s demand for ACs, he said this year they have taken extensive preparation to meet the ever growing demand of ACs in the country’s electronics market.

“We have already increased our AC production and created a sufficient stock ,” he said.

Sarker also hoped that this year, Walton will sell out highest number of ACs in the local market.

Uday Hakim, operative director of Walton, claimed that the assurance of exact BTU is the prime specialty of Walton brand’s ACs whereas it was not ensured by the imported ACs.

It would be wise for the customers to buy Walton brand’s ACs if they don’t want to be cheated by purchasing low quality ACs, he said.

He further said that the price of Walton brand’s ACs is 60 per cent lower than other brands’ ACs.

In addition, latest technology ‘Golden Fin’ is being applied in the Walton ACs side-by-side high grade compressor is also used in those ACs, Hakim said adding: “Walton is manufacturing environment-friendly and energy saving ACs at affordable prices with the assurance of highest quality.”

Morshedul Islam, a bank official who came to Stadium Market for buying an AC, opined that Walton brand ACs are better than the other brands` ACs in terms of both prices and quality.

Mahbubul Haque Prince, manager of Sony Rangs Showroom, said the sales of the company’s ACs are quite satisfactory.
He also hoped that the sales will be increased in the coming month with the increase of summer heat.

Md Jahangir Alam, branch manager of LG Butterfly, also expressed his satisfaction over the sales of ACs.

The demands for ACs are increasing with the sweltering summer heat, he said adding they had already taken full preparations to meet the growing demands.

“This year, there will be no supply crunch of ACs as sufficient number of ACs has already in their stock,” he added.

Risingbd/DHAKA/April 23, 2015/Uday Hakim/Mukul