Coimbatore: Even for a tier-two, relatively more industrialized city like Coimbatore, air conditioners (AC) were still a luxury and affordable only to the small better-off sections of the population.
It is not so today in the textile city, as ACs have become affordable that people from a cross-section of the society own and use in their homes.
“A salon, mall, departmental store and offices have ACs. Even educational institutions and hospitals are air conditioned. Being constantly exposed to the air-conditioned environment all the time has prompted people to purchase an AC for their homes too,” V. Nanavel, manager, air conditioners section at ‘Bharath Electronics & Appliances (BEA)’, Gandhipuram said. He has to his credit a decade-long experience in selling air conditioners to domestic customers in the textile city and is positive that the market for the product is all set to grow.
In the backdrop of this, ‘Intex Technologies’, a major consumer electronics company formally launched its range of air-conditioners, offering consumers healthy cooling with the use of eco-friendly refrigerants.
“Ever since we began sales in Coimbatore, we have managed to sell as many as 8,000 pieces of our product. Numbers speak for themselves.” Mr Nikhil Garg, Intex product business head told DC. Next to Chennai, the textile city is the most potential market for the company and Mr Garg is positive despite a four to five per cent market penetration for the segment in Coimbatore, the company will manage to grab a five to six per cent market share for ACs in the textile city in a couple of years.
On the one hand, the nouveau riche middle class in Coimbatore has more disposable income, and on the other hand, corporate houses dealing with consumer durables are offering customers with a plethora of (air conditioner) product options, literally making it like there is one AC for everyone.In Coimbatore there are about 15 retail outlets that sell various brands of air conditioners. “The product does not have many takers this year and there is a drop in business. We are positive that business will pick up in the couple of month's left this summer,” C Manoharan, branch manager at ‘Girias’, Gandhipuram outlet, said.
