Not too long ago, the government declared it would phase out incandescent light bulbs and replace them with less-energy consuming, longer-lasting, energy-saving lamps. For the past five years, Akari has been making these lamps available to consumers who want to save on energy and money. Developers such as Ayala Land, Robinsons Land and Megaworld have also followed suit by partnering with Akari, making it the official brand for light fixtures and lamps.
A Filipino brand owned by the Carlson Group of Companies, Akari has become one of the most trusted brands in the Philippine market in terms of imported, energy-saving lamps, switch and electrical panels, rechargeable and disposable batteries, and emergency lights.
Akari CEO Christopher Tiu started to work in his family’s business Carlson Trading at age 19, applying the business know-how he learned from importing products from Japan and China to Akari.
Years ago, when Akari was but an idea, Tiu went all over China searching for a manufacturer that would meet his standards, as well as the industry’s. “I wanted to make sure that the manufacturer would be a company that places the highest priority on quality because I want to provide Filipinos a product that will last and eventually save them more money.”
Tiu also wanted to choose a factory that provided a good working environment for its employees. He found it in a manufacturer in Shenzhen, China, and Akari quickly developed into a brand that currently sells around half-a-million energy-saving lamps monthly.
Since the phrase “Made in China” has attracted a lot of bad press lately, you should know that Akari’s energy-saving lamps and light switch panels are manufactured by one of China’s top 10 electrical manufacturers in a massive factory that specializes in quality, technology, and endurance while using only the best materials available.
Although Akari is imported, Tiu’s company conducts product design, specifications, and quality control — and when we say quality, the product goes beyond the Philippine standard of 4,000 hours because an Akari Energy Saving Lamp can burn up to 6,000 hours. “People can actually save more money when they’re using an energy-saving lamp as opposed to the typical light bulb that lasts only 1,000 hours,” says Tiu. “Moreover, the energy-saving lamp uses 30 to 40 percent less energy than the incandescent light bulb.”
Green is the name of the game when it comes to all Tiu’s products and with government and environmental groups promoting the use of energy-saving devices, Akari is on the verge of becoming a household name in lighting, be it in the typical Filipino home or in commercial and industrial establishments. “All our products are energy-saving. We also provide energy-saving tips on our packaging to educate our consumers on how to save money on their monthly electric bills.”
Aside from lamps, fixtures, and switch panels, Akari is also introducing to the Philippine market the Smart House lighting system, in which all house lights and even electronics such as air conditioners can be controlled with one electric panel. The Smart House comes equipped with a dimming pattern system and photo sensors. “People usually think that automated lighting systems are costly and use a lot of energy, but in fact, the Smart House system will save them up to 30 percent energy. The automated system uses only two electrical wires compared to traditional lighting, which uses several even for one room.”
As with the energy-saving lamps, the Akari Smart House System requires a considerable initial investment but Tiu stresses that both products will save the consumer more money in the long run. A perfect example of the old adage “quality over quantity,” you’ll end up buying fewer Akari lamps versus incandescent light bulbs, which require thorough maintenance and need to be changed more often.
And with light bulbs slowly being phased out, Akari is bound to dominate the market with its energy-saving features, making lighting economical as well as environmental for the Filipino consumer.