Cellular company lg phone

LG ELECTRONICS, which has doubled its consumer business in the past two years, claims it is well placed to take the Japanese.

The Korean maker, which aims to increase its business in volume terms by 55% over 2001, believes that 2002 will be "the year of product-driven growth".

John Lougher, LG UK's sales and marketing director, told ERT Weekly at this week's Electrical Retailing Show that the company was 1% ahead of its first quarter target.

"There is no reason why we shouldn't reach our target," said Mr Lougher. "The market still seems buoyant, but there remains a huge amount of price deflation, particularly on VCR and DVD products."

At the ER Show, LG, which has a marketing budget of more than 4 million [pounds sterling] for the year ahead, was the largest exhibitor with a stand measuring 616[m.sup.2].

On the first day of the Show (Sunday), some 30 dealers applied for an LG account. The maker's stand was manned by 34 members of staff, while some 27 orders, for both brown and white goods, were placed.

The maker also used the Show to debut its mobile phone product, which is currently awaiting accreditation with the mobile phone networks. The products will be launched later this year.

However, one dealer enquired at the Show as to whether he could purchase 10,000 of the phones. Unfortunately for the maker, it was unable to meet the request as the phones still need to have this accreditation.

Mr Lougher said: "Going into the mobile phone market is an exciting move and will raise awareness of the LG brand. The mobiles will be perfect for PR brand building."

Meanwhile, May 20 will see the launch of the LG Internet Family, a reality TV-style concept which will see a made-up family live in the window of the world famous Harrods department store in London.

LG, in addition, reported that its head office has increased staff numbers by a staggering 40% in the past six months of 2001.

He added: "The key message to the trade is that LG is here to stay. We've got the people, the products and the energy to really challenge the Japanese brands."