Nikon India eyes greater share in Compact & DSLR cameras

Nikon India is eyeing 50 per cent market share in the Digital Single Lens Reflex camera (D-SLR) category and 20 per cent market share in the Compact Camera category by the end of this fiscal.

Also the company which is planning to infuse Rs 62 crore this year on the promotional activities is eyeing break even by the end of FY10.

Hiroshi Takashina, Managing Director, Nikon India,100 per cent subsidiary of Nikon Corporation, revealed Nikon which happens to be one of the major player in D-SLR category cameras in India, having grabbed 45 per cent market share was expecting the sales of D-SLR cameras in India to double in one year.

The D-SLR camera market in India last year was 20,000 units a year and is expected to double to 40,000 units by end of this year.

Partly the sales would be pushed by interest of amateurs and young generation people shifting towards D-SLR cameras compared to compact cameras, it would be complimented with addition of new cameras in this category. Nikon has also opened a Nikon school in Gurgaon to inspire digital SLR photographic efforts, among amateur.

Hiroshi Takashina today launched Nikon COOLPIX Zone in the Chandigarh. ‘Nikon COOLPIX Zone’ a shop-in-shop retail concept that would display the entire range of COOLPIX compact cameras and select D-SLR cameras, aims to grow closer to its customers’ base, and provide customers with an interactive and informative shopping experience. “From 1200 at present, Nikon is targeting 1800 retail outlets for in store branding along with the plan to hire 200 as store promoters in the current financial year to further improve the buying experience”, he said.

The company has eighteen ASCs (authorized service centers) for service support for Nikon customers while three more are in pipeline for the year 2010-2011.The three ASC would be opened in Ludhiana, Ranchi and Raipur.