Retailers see solid sales growth

Dubai - Over 35,000 tech consumer choices available at Gitex spring edition

Top retailers expect a double-digit year-on-year growth in sales at the Gitex Shopper Spring as they are showcasing more than 35,000 new gadgets in addition to quality freebies with them.
Eager to snap up the unbeatable deals on the latest must-have gadgets, thousands of technophiles flocked to the Gitex Shopper on its opening day.
The footfall is good in the first couple of hours despite the fact that it's a working day, retailers said. "We believe that sales will be in double digit at the closing on April 2," they added.
"We expect a moderate growth of 10-15 per cent over last year's edition," Sharaf DG vice-president Pankaj Kumar told Khaleej Times.
Sami Al Qamzi, director general, Department of Economic Development in Dubai, opened the show. The show brings together the region's top power retailers, and an astounding range of regional power global consumer technology brands, communication and entertainment products.Visitors spent the first day snapping up deals on the latest smartphones, tablets, laptops, HD TVs, cameras, household appliances and much more.
"There will be definitely a growth compared to last year's Gitex Shopper Spring edition. We are looking forward to a 20 per cent growth in the smartphone category," Emax chief executive officer Neelesh Bhatnagar told this scribe.
Presenting over 35,000 tech consumer choices under one roof, Gitex Shopper Spring has once again attracted global high tech brands, including Samsung, Lenovo, Xbox, Hisense and Huawei and regional heavyweight retailers - Jacky's Electronics, Jumbo, E-Max Electronics, Plug Ins and Sharaf DG, to name a few.
Nadeem Khanzadah, Head - OmniChannel Retail, Jumbo Group, said: "Last year at Gitex Shopper, Jumbo witnessed a 15 per cent increase in sales compared to 2014. Despite the slowed global economic environment, in the region, we expect to maintain momentum in the sector during this season."
Omar Abushaban, general manager of Plug Ins, also expect the same growth momentum this year. "We had a very good Spring Shopper in 2015 where we saw year-on-year growth of almost 15 per cent over 2014. This Gitex we anticipate a 10 per cent jump in sales.
A number of new experience zones introduced this year include the 'Xbox Gaming Zone' and 'This Hot! That's Cool!', offering visitors the opportunity to test and experience the latest technologies, new launches and gadgets that are available for purchase or will be coming soon.
Gitex Shopper Spring visitors are being given an exclusive opportunity to play the latest and highly innovative 'Quantum Break'. "We are bringing the latest and greatest in Xbox to Gitex Shopper this year. Visitors to our stand will exclusively get to play 'Quantum Break' even before its global release on April 5th. They will also experience our latest innovation in Windows 10 and Xbox through continuum, which enables gamers to transform their gaming experience between PC and Xbox," said Kerim Ozbakirci Xbox Lead, Microsoft Gulf.
Mahesh Chotrani, assistant vice president, Jacky's Electronics, said: "We are very optimistic. We have increased our space and hope to get a double-digit growth compared to last year."
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com