Focus on new trends

The portfolio of brands boasts a wide range of innovative products designed to meet consumer needs The portfolio of brands boasts a wide range of innovative products designed to meet consumer needs

Speaking on current trends related to Consumer Electronics and Durables in the UAE market, Kurian Abraham, General Manager (Consumer Electronics), Al Ghandi Electronics said: "We are currently in the holy month of Ramadan and this is an important period for kitchen and other household appliances. We run special offers during this phase. More people today want to prepare healthy yet tasty meals using appliances, which provide convenience and ease of use, and this is particularly true during Ramadan. Philips and KitchenAid have a wide range of innovative products designed around such consumer needs." He cited examples of products such as Philips Air Fryers, Juicers, Grills etc., and the versatile KitchenAid stand mixer. 
As for larger household appliances, also referred as white goods, he said: "We cater to all needs with a vast range of both free-standing as well as built-in appliances with brands such as Whirlpool and Cata. We have seen an upward trend for built-in appliances, particularly in most new residential units as they are aesthetically more appealing and also fall in line with the design trends of Europe and other developed regions. Of course, demand for free-standing appliances is still there and this is higher during promotion periods such as Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Ramadan. There is also an increase in demand for larger capacity appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators. The dishwasher market is also a growing segment, as more people are learning of its water and energy efficiency as well as its convenience." 
Abraham also pointed out that the various UAE regulations and standardisations on product safety, energy efficiency, and restrictions of hazardous substances, will affect the market in a positive way. 
He said: "Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) are regulating most household electrical products and this would mean several products, which do not meet these standards or are not certified by ESMA, will not be sold in the UAE. On the one hand this is a big benefit to the consumer for many reasons, and on the other hand, it is healthier for the market for quality brands and their products." 
When queried on the current market scenario and the effect of VAT, Abraham highlighted: "Consumer sentiment has been low for a while, which can be attributed to various reasons and it is felt that VAT has also affected this. This is borne out by the lower customer footfall in the retail outlets' post VAT implementation. But it is anticipated that there is a large potential for growth and that markets should pick up in a few months' time."
While speaking on current trends in LED televisions, Abraham explained: "We have seen a waning of demand for smaller screen sizes and a rising demand for screen sizes starting from 50 inches and upwards. Smart TV features and Ultra HD resolution is almost a standard requirement for most customers. And now large screen LED televisions with such features and more are more affordable. Our new range of AOC LED televisions, which are manufactured by a leading global manufacturer of LED monitors and televisions, pack the best features at very affordable prices and are very well designed." 

• Supplements