Citizen to introduce high-end wall clocks

Citizen Watches of Japan is planning to introduce its high-end models in India, in response to rising income levels, increasing urbanisation and a lift in the people's propensity to pay.

Though Citizen's 'high-end' pitch will be more pronounced in the area of wall clocks and table clocks (timepieces), it will also push its expansion of the watches range, said managing director of Citizen Watches India Private Ltd Hidekai Nakazaki on Monday.

Nakazaki said the Indian market was now ready for the introduction of globally distributed expensive clocks. "While the wall clocks will be in the price range of Rs 3,000 to Rs 50,000, the table clocks will be priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 25,000," Nakazaki said. The products would enter the market in a major way during this year.

Without putting a number to the sales of these high-end offerings, Nakazaki said he expected a sizeable market response. "The real estate sector in India is undergoing a major change as it is coming closer to global standards in terms of design and décor," Nakazaki said, adding people were constructing huge houses, but don't have the right clocks to adore the walls.

The company expects to cross a sales turnover of Rs 60 crore this year (2006-07) and has projected a 30 per cent rise year-on-year on the back of the newly introduced products.

Citizen will also expand the range of its wristwatches in India with addition of products to the higher end. From the current range of Rs 5,000-Rs 50,000, the company will go towards the Rs 100,000 price mark as it finds the India market ready for these price tags, Nakazaki said.

The company is also redesigning its showrooms across the Indian market to facilitate better customer movement and improved product display. The company currently has 39 showrooms in the country and plans to add four more this month. The number of showrooms in the India market "� comprising India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal "� will reach 160 by the end of the year 2010, Nakazaki said.