Marketing: Panasonic targets bigger share in Nigeria, introduces latest devices

Multinationals in manufacturing, electronics and service industries are determined to maintain their grip and even increase their market share in Nigeria as more investors see Nigeria’s big market as attractive. Just recently, Panasonic, Japan’s electronics giant, introduced latest range of products into the Nigerian market at its 2013 dealers’ convention, as part of its determined efforts to play big in Nigeria’s electronics market.

The products include air-conditioners with automatic voltage system switcher system. The introduction of the product is in a bid to bridge energy gap and meet the demand of its consumers. “The new range of room air-conditioners with AVS system is to protect component such as compressor from severe voltage fluctuation in Nigeria,” Masao Motoki, managing director of Panasonic Marketing for Middle East and Africa, said at the convention.

Motoki, who said Panasonic’s Africa marketing strategy is to understand the choice of the consumer, further said the air-conditioner will also help a great deal in tackling the country’s key challenge of air purification and energy related concerns.

It also unveiled a new app to provide Panasonic Viera TV users with catalogue of 5,000 Nollywood movies. This is in partnership with Iroko TV. “The irokotv has been dubbed as the ‘Neflix of Africa’ as it is one of first VOD platforms for the continent,” he said.

At the event, Panasonic released its pro-style shoulder-mount full-HD camcorder HC- MDH2 into the Nigerian market. Equipped with the ‘simultaneous recording’ function, the camcorder allows recording on dual memory devices simultaneously.

With the simultaneous recording function, the captured video can be recorded in dual memory devices at the same time, which means that even if a problem happens in one device while shooting, the video images are always backed up in the other device and this ensures high dependability.

Also introduced at the convention was two new hair trimmers designed for professional, smooth and safe haircut for an Afro-native. The trimmers have new safety blade which is made in a rounded shape, the Panasonic management said.

In its concerted efforts to serve its customers with the best of photography, Panasonic also unveiled two new generation digital still cameras – the DMC – GH3 and the DMC-FZ70. While the DMC-GH3 is a great mirrorless camera for producing short and compelling films, the DMC-FZ70 packs a powerful optical zoom, ultra-wide image capturing capability and superior controllability including manual operation over photo and full-HD video recording.

The convention was organised to showcase latest products, specifically catering to the rising demands of the Nigerian consumers. Speaking at the event, Bhojraj Rupani, promoter, Panaserv Nigeria Limited, said the products come with high quality and reasonable prices.