Samsung set to open Cebu concept store

CEBU, Philippines - Technology and gadget maker Samsung is going to open in Cebu its fifth destination or concept store in the Philippines in the third quarter of this year to satisfy the craving of high-tech consumers.

The Cebu Samsung Destination store that will be situated in a 35-square meter area of the new wing of Ayala Center Cebu will be managed by Junrex Cellphones and Accessories Inc. and will open around October this year.

According to Junrex Cellphones and Accessories Inc., president Jun Yap, with the head on competition between Samsung and Apple especially in the smartphone and tablets categories, Samsung was prompted to provide the market not only with the display of its latest gadgets but to let buyers experience them before they decide to buy.

Based on a survey conducted by a research entity called GFK Philippines, despite the popularity of iOS, android is still considered the number one operating system used by Filipino consumers today across market segment.

A Samsung Destination store is needed in order to sustain the brand's dominance in the market for the long term, said Yap.

Yap said that the fast turnover of technology updates among mobile manufacturers has heightened the dynamism of the market this year from a slow paced sales movement last year.

"We thought the market has peaked and reached into the level of saturated last year. But technology updates in the mobile gadgets have paved the way for market rebound," said Yap.

This time, he said, people are buying mobile gadgets not for style but also more on functionality.

Samsung is strengthening this niche against competitors while providing wider array of choices among latest gadget offerings.

"People are mobile now. The fast movement of technology and connectivity has driven a lively growth for the industry," Yap stressed.

The upswing market performance in mobile gadgets is expected to continue in the few years while technology innovation is also moving much faster now, Yap said.

Samsung has already opened four Destination Stores in the Philippines, all of which are in Manila.

Junrex has also made partnership with other gadget and technology brands in this type of ventures, like Nokia Concept store and LG, among others. /JMD (FREEMAN)