National Store plans expansion

Dubai - Citing the current economic environment, National Store currently has no plan to expand regionally.

National Store has adopted cautious approach to expand its network in the region and plans to diversify its portfolio by entering in cinema business, its top officials say.
The flagship firm of JK Sons Group of Companies is all set to inaugurate its biggest multi-brand showroom in Abu Dhabi during first quarter of 2016 and launch another showroom in Sharjah.
"National Store is keen to focus on cinematography business and working on providing extensive solutions to the B2B customers. We also plan to enter the Cinema business as all DSLR now come with relay video quality and new cinema cameras are becoming popular amongst the video professionals," Salah Khoory, general manager, National Store.
About the company's expansion plan, he said the upcoming showroom in Abu Dhabi will be more consumer friendly, interactive and will be equipped with all the necessary photography accessories from major brands.
Elaborating further, National Store director sales and marketing Ateeq A. Shamsi said that National Store has already invested a huge amount and built an office and other facilities in Umm Ramool area under one roof. Canon Academy, which is launched recently to cater to the needs of DSLR camera buyers, is also a state-of-the-art facility which can accommodate up to 80 people. Another venture is a modernised, fully-equipped service centre and warehouse at Umme Rammol area, he said.
"National Store has also signed a lease in Khalidya Mall Abu Dhabi for their biggest showroom in the UAE which will showcase the full range of product line. Another showroom will also be ready within a month on Dubai Sharjah Road in iMall," Shamsi told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of an event held recently.
To a question about the market outlook and growth prospects of the company, he said: "The current market situation is very tough but we do estimate a growth of single digit in 2016. January results have proved that it is possible."
Citing the current economic environment, he said National Store currently has no plan to expand regionally.
About the company's initiatives for e-commerce, mobile shopping and digital payments, he said internally, teams are working to face the challenge, but to launch a fully operated online store might take some time.
"We do intend to start high value Canon equipment rental business soon. In fact, a department was created three years ago to serve online stores. Currently we are serving most of the online stores selling electronics which belong to our partners," he said.
To a question about 50 years of National Store's partnership with Canon, he said the company took a number of initiatives to further its relationship with customers. These included a promotion launch for 50 days where 50 of Canon customers could win a photography holiday to a destination of their choice.
"We do take proper care of all the brands we work with. Most of them are showing reasonable growth and getting right market share. We have worked with German brand Moser and Sandisk from USA which are very popular.
"Also JK Sons Group - of which National Store in the flagship company - has other product lines in food industry. The company has its own brands, Crownline and Kzen and it would love to have more strong brands on its portfolio," Shamsi concluded.
- muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com