Acer grows Q3 notebook sales in SA

Acer has grown its South African notebook sales substantially in the third quarter this year. The company`s unit shipments of notebooks have tripled year-on-year compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures from BMI-TechKnowledge that position Acer as number two in the South African market.

In the third quarter of 2002, Acer sold 2 668 notebooks in SA, giving the company a 10.7% market share. For the same period in 2003 Acer sold 8 417 notebooks, translating into an 18.4% market share. (See results at bottom of the release.)

David Drummond, MD at Acer, attributes the growth to the company`s excellent price/performance product line and positive market sentiment - this despite current economic market conditions.

"Last year, the 10.7% market share put us in fourth overall position in the South African market, and this year we have moved to second position overall.

"Aggressive marketing and distribution strategies have seen Acer leapfrog from fourth placed notebook vendor overall in the local market last year, to second place in 2003. Acer`s diverse product range, with notebooks ranging from basic entry-level that will suit most executives` requirements, to the high-end software applications required for power users in traditional business industries, is currently paying dividends in terms of strong sales," Drummond says.

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Over the last year, Acer has been identified as a technology leader in the mobile sector with a string of early introductions and first-to-market accolades for high-end products including tablet PC and Centrino mobile offerings.

He adds that growth was seen across all sectors of the market, including commercial and retail distribution.

"In line with our channel and retail strategy, we have remained focused on the small and medium-sized business sector with a clear channel strategy and go-to-market plan. At the same time we have made significant investments in customer services and have begun to make inroads into larger commercial accounts. These factors combined makes Acer the fastest growing top five brand in SA with a 213.4% year-on-year growth," says Drummond.

"Our continued expansion in areas where Acer`s presence is still limited confirms that the strategy of offering technologically advanced products, paying special attention to customer needs and our commitment to the indirect channel is yielding returns in terms of valid strength in the South African market," he concludes.