- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 12 years, 2 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Kodak “very positive” on printer strategy
* Weak economy fears not derailing sales growth plans
* No plans to cut ink cartridge retail prices
NEW
YORK, April 08 – Eastman Kodak Co remains optimistic about its unusual
home inkjet printer strategy, and its inexpensive ink cartridges are
selling faster on average than rival products, company executives said
on Wednesday.The photography company, which has pinned growth plans on
digital systems such as commercial printing and image sensors, said
concerns about a weakening economy have not derailed its plans to
increase sales by up to three times this year.”There is no doubt that
the economic issues are a headwind. But we are expanding the … retail
channels that we are participating in, expanding the number of products
and the number of countries that we are playing in,” said Bob
Ohlweiler, chief operating officer of Kodak’s Inkjet Systems Division.
“We are feeling very positive.”Kodak’s printing plan, launched
about a year ago, calls for consumers to pay higher prices than the
industry average for hardware, but get replacement ink at a bargain.
Rivals such as Hewlett-Packard Co and Lexmark International Inc sell
low-cost printers or bundle them with the sale of computers.Last year,
Kodak sold 520,000 of the new printers, exceeding its initial target by
about 20,000 units. It expects those sales to double or triple in 2008,
and sees sales of $1 billion and break-even profit from this segment by
2010.The line, initially available only at Best Buy stores in the U.S.,
has expanded to Office Depot shops, and can also be found in countries
including France and Canada.Kodak still has a long way to go to catch
HP and Canon Inc , who sell millions of units each year. Moreover, each
hasmany millions of loyal customers with older models who regularly buy replacement ink.
The
weakening economy offers another challenge for Kodak, whose printers
sell for $100-$200, more than rival inkjet printers that are typically
priced at below $75.Consumers who print in high volumes see the value
of Kodak’s system as they buy cartridges priced at less than $20, which
Kodak says is substantially lower than its competitors.Ohlweiler noted
that even if the economy weakens further the company would not cut its
ink prices.”We have no plans on changing the cost of the ink
cartridges,” he said. “We are selling a long term value proposition. To
move price on ink (is) not how we would react to a downturn in the
economy.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.