Consumer electronics brands have launched various schemes and offers to boost sales during the festive shopping season amid gloomy market conditions triggered by fuel shortages and closure of border points.

Dealers of various brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, Philips, Himstar, CG, Videocon, Konka and Skyworth are hoping the fuel crisis will be sorted out soon and they will be able to see a growth in sales.

October-November is the peak season for consumer electronics dealers when 30 percent of their total annual sales happen. The promotional schemes they have rolled out include gifts of watches, mobile phones, home theatres, wireless speakers, DVD players and various home appliances.

“Most people wait for the festival season to buy new consumer electronics as they get discounts and offers, but the Dashain festival has started and sales are yet to pick up. On the other hand, we have not been able to provide new goods to customers as our shipments are stuck at the border,” said Subash Shrestha, marketing manager of Nepa Hima Electronics, the authorised distributor of Sony in Nepal.

He added that they were hoping that customers would visit nearby showrooms in the coming days after the fuel crisis eases. The company has launched a festival scheme under which customers get a pen drive, home theatre and headset on purchase of Sony televisions.

Likewise, CG Electronics, the authorised distributor of brands like LG, Toshiba and TCL, and manufacturer of CG brand products, has come up with offers like cash discounts and free gifts. The company will give away a home theatre, pocket photo printer, DVD player, mobile, pen drive, rice cooker or heater on purchase of LG televisions, refrigerators, microwave ovens or air conditioners. Customers get a cash discount of Rs5,100 on purchase of CG refrigerators.

Similarly, the company offers various gifts on purchase of TCL and Toshiba televisions. “The current market conditions are gloomy, and customers have not been able to travel anywhere due to lack of fuel. But we have launched various schemes to boost consumer sentiment,” said Sanjay Rajbhandari, deputy general manager of CG.

Samsung has launched an aggressive marketing strategy offering various assured gifts like Samsung digital camera, Samsung smartphone, Timex wristwatch, Bajaj mixer or Bajaj iron on purchase of specific models of Samsung TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.

“We are receiving good response from customers after the launch of the scheme, but we have not been able to deliver goods to retailers and customers due to the fuel shortage,” said Alok Gupta, product manager of AV (audio visual) at Samsung Electronics Nepal.

Likewise, Binil Bajracharya, national sales manager at Triveni Byapar Company, the authorised distributor of Samsung, Sansui, Panasonic and Yasuda, said that the market had started warming up for the festival. “When we visited various retail showrooms across the country, we found people going to nearby shops on foot as there are few vehicles on the streets,” he said.

The company has launched a festival scheme under which customers will get cash discounts and various gift hampers on purchase of refrigerator, washing machine or LED TVs from brands like Panasonic, Yasuda and Sansui.