Toshiba expects sales growth this year to be flat

The flat growth is due to the slowdown of sales of information-technology products, especially notebook computers, which have been affected significantly by the surge of smartphone and tablet sales. 

“However, we expect the sales of our IT products to recover next year. Consumers will select the IT products that suit different working purposes,” he said.

Toshiba Thailand is looking at Bt10 billion in sales this year, which is similar to 2012, he said. Last year’s Bt10 billion in sales was up 12 per cent over 2011. 

The company has budgeted Bt500 million for marketing this year, and the same amount will be spent next year, mainly on refreshing its brand image and store decor to a similar concept used by Toshiba throughout the world. 

Adachi said the company would offer more than 100 new product items in the Thai market next year.

He also believes that the Fifa World Cup soccer tournament to be held next year in Brazil will boost the sales of electrical appliances during March and April, especially televisions, sales of which are expected to surge by 20-50 per cent. Sales of Toshiba television products increased by about 30 per cent this year as consumers turned to LCD (liquid-crystal display) and LED (light-emitting diode) sets. 

Adachi expects the overall economy in Thailand to be rebound in 2014, noting that the export sector had recovered somewhat in the third quarter of this year.

He said Toshiba Corporation in Japan was aware that the Asean market was growing very fast, in which Thailand is an important and strategic country. Therefore more products that match Thais’ demands and lifestyles will be added to the market in 2014.

Under the theme “The Warehouse Society”, Toshiba Thailand has provided space in its warehouse to showcase the company’s product innovation, claiming this differentiated it from other brands.