Despite an ailing economy, threats of an imminent downgrade and deteriorating markets, Epson South Africa aims to capitalise on growth opportunities.
It plans to to this by adding to its portfolio of EcoTank products, establishing new offices, creating new jobs, and expanding its eco-friendly footprint.
The first to pioneer ink tank technology in South Africa – Epson’s market-leading EcoTank product has grown in total printer market share over the years. Other emerging market economies that have embraced this technology include South East Asia and India, where ink tank holds 40% of the market share, with South Africa at 18%.
The appeal of ink tank technology has created such a demand that Epson has surpassed the sale of 40 million EcoTank units globally – a clear indication that consumers and small business owners are seeing the cost saving value that these products offer.
Epson South Africa has hinted at plans to further grow its market share within the country by driving its brand and innovation awareness to encourage even more customers to adopt the sustainable and cost-efficient range of Epson printers in their homes and offices.
Having identified South Africa as one of the key growth markets in the CISMEA region, Epson South Africa has established new offices in Cape Town and announced the creation of the role of national sales manager to lead the overall strategy and expansion plan for Epson in the country. The company has promoted Timothy Thomas, former consumer sales manager, to fill the position.
“In addition to managing Epson’s local consumer business divisions, Thomas will now also be responsible for overseeing the business print, projection, business systems, and large format print divisions,” says Jeroen van Beem, director of sales: Middle East and Africa at Epson Europe.
“Thomas managed the consumer sales team at Epson for two and a half years prior to his promotion, developing a retail and channel distribution model to pioneer Epson ink tank printers in South Africa. During this period, Thomas and his team managed to remain ahead of competitors – developing Epson’s ink tank range of printers that would disrupt the printer segment in South Africa.”
“The economy might be sluggish at the moment, but Epson continues to identify growth opportunities through our range of energy-efficient products, which add value to customers’ lives whether in a home or business environment,” says Thomas. “The growth that Epson South Africa has enjoyed over the past 18-24 months, despite current market trends, speaks to the growing need that customers have for new, cost-efficient and eco-friendly technologies.”
To date, Epson has seen year-on-year growth of 30% overall, while Epson’s consumer business has expanded by 64%, driven by significant growth in EcoTank sales. In support of increasing awareness around sustainability, Epson says it remains committed to providing products that reduce environmental impact through power saving and waste reduction.