Dubai: Retailers in Dubai are putting their best foot forward at Gitex Shopper Autumn 2015, the largest and most popular technology retail event in the Middle East, which opens on Saturday.
The main shopping event is celebrating 25 years and with more than Dh3 million worth of prizes up for grabs during the eight-day period.
Some of the key retailers as well as top brands are spending big on promotions, price discounts and marketing to lure customers to the shopping paradise.
“The event has enjoyed extraordinary success from the show’s first edition, and with this year marking the 25th anniversary of the show, anticipation among retailers and consumers is at all-time high,” said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice-president at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
With the consumer electronics market in the UAE continuing to benefit from the strong private consumption and high business confidence in the local economy, the country will remain one of the leading consumer technology markets in the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region.
According to BMI Research, the UAE has the highest rate of household consumption in the Mena region and it is expected to rise to $30,000 by 2017.
“We are excited about Gitex as sales have been slow during the last one month despite Eid Al Adha. We expect huge turnover and footfall during the event,” said Omar Abushaban, general manager for Plug Ins.
Plug Ins expects between 15 per cent to 20 per cent year-on-year growth in sales.
Retailers expect smartphones to be the star product this year also, followed by laptops and TVs.
Even though Eros group is not participating directly at Gitex, it is teaming up with retailers to offer promotions and bundled offers.
“We are anticipating a 15 per cent increase in sales especially with all the new products being introduced at the event this year,” said Deepak Babani, CEO of Eros Group.
He sees the investment in Gitex at four times the usual investment in a month and expects 10-15 per cent growth this year compared to last year.
“New technology and smarter ways to get connected are the biggest factors impacting the latest trends in consumer technology. People want faster, better and easier ways to carry out everyday tasks, which is why our focus at this year will be centred on innovative, entertaining and functional products, including smartwatches and electric scooters that make a difference and add value to the tech-savvy, on-the-go lifestyle in this market,” said Nadeem Khanzadah, head of omnichannel retail at Jumbo Group.
He said that people have been waiting for the offers as sales have been lull during the past two to three weeks.
“As residents are back from holidays, we anticipate good sales to happen at the event to compensate for the last three to four weeks,” he said.
Mahesh Chotrani, assistant vice-president of Jacky’s Electronics, said that people have been waiting for the event to happen. The marketing for the event has been strong as it is celebrating 25 years.
“We hope to maintain the momentum from the previous event this year. We expect more than 10 per cent growth in sales,” he said.
Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax Electronics, said that people in the UAE and the region are passionate about electronics and Gitex provides a unique occasion to fulfil their passion. Millions of people and technology fans converge at one destination to get the latest tech updates and enjoy unmatched discounts and offers across a range of gadgets.
“It’s a real technology bonanza with exclusive hot deals that reward consumers as no other promotional activity does throughout the year,” he said.
Gitex will bring in a “lot of optimism” in the market and will attract a lot of footfall.
“We have budgeted 15 per cent growth but we may end up more as the event progresses,” he said.
Nilesh Khalkho, CEO Sharaf DG, said that Sharaf DG is expecting to grow over 30 per cent.
“’Our Shop All You Can’ promotion is in line with the expectation of our customers where every customer will find value. We have joined hands with leading brands and customers will see a number of exclusive offers,” he said.
Sharaf DG is launching an exclusive range of electronic products including the official merchandise of Harley Davidson in various product segments like Bluetooth speakers, headphones, back packs and others.
“There will be certain exclusive models available with Sharaf DG, which will come with huge discounts to their current prevailing market prices. Along with that we will offer bundled offers which are valuable to the customers,” he said.
Catch the action: timings and prizes
Show timings: 11am — 11pm
Tickets: priced at Dh30 per person. Entry is free for children under the age of five. Student tickets are Dh10 per student per entry.
Tickets available at: ENOC/Eppco headleased sites, Zoom Metro sites and Zoom stand-alone sites.
Prizes
Just by getting a ticket to the show, stand a chance to win Grand prize of a Mitsubishi Pajero and Dell Inspiron 11, 3000 series, two-in-one laptops.
Win Samsung Galaxy A5 every 25 minutes past every hour every day.
Scratch and win a range of Samsung products from Galaxy A8 to 40-inch HD panel TVs to washing machines and microwave ovens.
Spend Dh5,000 and above and win travel packages worth Dh45,000.
Spend Dh2,500 and win special 25th anniversary 25 gram gold coin.
Spend Dh3,500 and win three vouchers worth Dh15,000 each.
Shop for Dh500 with the Sweet App and win half a kilo of gold every day.
