Testing time for consumer electronics makers ahead of festive season

The months leading up to the festive season will be uniquely challenging for consumer electronics makers

If the past one-and-a-half years has been challenging enough for the country’s electronics and appliances makers, the next two quarters are surely going to test their mettle. With repeated lockdowns, massive loss of sales and a harsh bus­i­ness environment, a large section of the manufa­cturers has already faced the storm. But the current component shortage, logistics hurdles, steep inflation and a possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic are keeping them on their toes.

The industry — spread across categories like personal and household electronics, appliances to smart and computing de­vices — accounts for annual sales of over Rs 3.5