Monday, July 14, 2008 Sony still upbeat about ’08 sales
SONY Philippines Inc. vows to maintain its “high-end” quality despite the slowing down of the country’s economy.
Toshiya Kagita, president and managing director, admitted that Sony Philippines’s sales have slowed down in the past two months, although the company remains optimistic about reaching its target for the year.
Kagita was in Cebu yesterday to open the Sony Vaio Concept Store at SM City Cebu Northwing’s Cyberzone.
The Vaio shop is the first concept store outside Metro Manila. It showcases the latest Sony notebooks, Cybershot cameras and some Bravia (TV) products.
Kagita also said the company does not have plans of producing low-cost laptops since it is still able to maintain its market despite the sales slowdown.
“We don’t want to lower the specs (computer specifications) of our products,” he added.
While some might consider the prices of Sony products too high, the company describes them as “value for money,” since buyers “can be assured of their high quality and durability.”
Joel Pe, president and chief executive officer of Scan and Print Graphic House Inc., said most buyers go for Sony because it is a “lifestyle brand.”
He added that after buying one Sony product, most customers become loyal patrons of the brand.
Scan and Print, a sister company of the Silicon Valley Group of companies, is Sony Philippines’ partner and manages the Sony Vaio store in Cebu.
At the Sony Vaio store, customers are promised a more personalized service from sales personnel who received intensive training to be familiar with different Sony products.
Of the Sony Vaiao line of notebooks, the C series is the most popular among students because it comes in different colors.
Pe said the Cebu concept stores have the latest designs and products. “What is available in Singapore can be found in the (Cebu) store,” he added. (DME)
