How has 2013 shaped up for Epson India?
2013 has been a phenomenal year for Epson India. We have been able to completely defy the current downward market trend and have grown close to 25 percent in terms of revenue in the first 8 months of this financial year. This actually outdoes our consistent growth of around 20 percent over the last 3–4 years. In the current, supposedly depressed market scenario, this is something that not too many players in the digital imaging industry can claim. Our ability to understand the pulse of the Indian market and to provide products ideally suited for the Indian market incorporating Epson’s winning technologies is a key factor that made this possible. Combine this with the fact that we have an extremely robust sales and support structure along with an ever-stronger brand equity, and it becomes easy to understand why we are able to buck the trend and grow at such a rapid pace.
What are the prospects for 2014?
We are excited and bullish about 2014. We see this high growth trajectory continuing and expect that it will be driven by a slew of very interesting and innovative products coming from Epson to address all the various customer segments. We will not just be providing better products in the existing segments we operate in, but will also be looking to enter segments where we do not traditionally operate, with product offerings that are much better than anything currently available in the market; all this with the Epson guarantee of quality.
What are the new products Epson is likely to introduce in India in 2014?
We will be launching some revolutionary concepts combining new and path-breaking products along with existing Epson products. Some of the segments these products will address are:
1) Small and Micro Lab/Studio in both urban and rural markets
2) Mini lab segments
3) Professional and commercial labs The idea is to create a host of interesting market opportunities for all those customers who have been diehard Epson users all these years, and take them along with us on our exciting growth phase ahead. This will be regardless of how big or small they are. We hope to be able to offer imaging and printing solutions to cater to businesses of all shapes and sizes.
What is Epson’s market share in photo-quality printers — including large-format printers — worldwide, and in India?
When it comes to the photo printer market, Epson has been the leading name whether worldwide or in India. As far as India is concerned by our estimates our market share for everything from 4 x 6 printers to 64-inch printers in the photo market is about 80 percent and we clearly dominate the market.
Would you like to share some innovative technologies used in Epson photo- quality printers?
There are three key elements which go into making Epson prints the most stunning and outstanding you can get. First is the revolutionary Micro Piezo Print Head technology, a trendsetter and pioneer in terms of defining market trends and customer requirements in the photo industry. This technology ensures the highest possible quality for prints. The second are the versatile ink technologies, which go along with the print head. This is what helps in creating the magic in the printed images by making it rich in colours, outstanding in gamut coverage, and thus making the images vivid like never before. The third aspect is the software and print drivers which ensure precise conversion of captured objects to printed Images. This is exactly what makes our new Digital Lab machines the preferred choice for all professional photo labs. At this fair, our focus is on one such beauty of a printer which is set to revolutionise professional photo labs. This printer offers “More Control and More Profit.” With the EPSON SureLab D3000, time saved becomes an asset, while photographic print quality becomes the greatest competitive advantage for professional labs. Now is the opportunity to take control of photographic printing through professional labs, while bringing photography and business to the next level. Imagine printing archival quality photographs clients will cherish for generations, while achieving unmatched colour accuracy, shadow-to-highlight detail, clarity and sharpness. You can accomplish all this, in-house, on pro lab schedule, without lab fees or delays — even during those busy holiday seasons. Even more remarkable is the cost savings you will enjoy on every print. In most cases, you will significantly reduce cost-per-print, while providing far superior quality than you get from the traditional lab. Keeping professional lab workflow simple, we have made SureLab fully compatible with virtually any Microsoft Windows based application by providing standard EPSON Professional Photographic printer drivers. This allows SureLab to print directly from the most popular photographic applications, from Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to Darkroom software.
Rohinton Mehta
