Sharp has officially returned to SA after an absence of 10 years, vowing to eliminate all grey products from the local market.
At the official South African re-launch of the brand in Rivonia last night, Sharp announced the appointment of SCE Distribution as the official local distributor of Sharp Consumer Electronics (SCE).
"There has been limited support for Sharp products in the past decade, but the future will be different with a full range of products and full support," said SCE GM Lawrence Clayton.
"Sharp has been at the forefront of promoting the rapid shift from conventional cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions to LCD, and has recognised SA as one of the most advanced and sophisticated emerging markets with enormous potential for investment," said Mosato Sawada, MD of Sharp Middle East.
Last night's event marked the start of a marketing campaign aimed at re-establishing the Sharp brand in SA and assuring consumers of full support through SCE and its outsourcing partners.
Sharp's visual, audio and home appliances were showcased, with particular attention to the Aquos range of LCD televisions.
"Every step of our LCD television manufacturing process takes place at a single, energy-efficient plant that recycles its own water and generates its own electricity, enabling Sharp to deliver the highest quality at the lowest cost," said Rex Lalic, product manager of Sharp Middle East.
Sharp is banking on the world LCD television market, with the LCD market split with plasma panels growing from 14% to 33% in 2004.
Lalic also highlighted Sharp's technological advances in the fields of solar energy and air purification.
"SA is an extremely promising market, and Sharp is here to introduce products based on our latest technologies as well as develop products that really fit into this market," Lalic concluded.
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