Despite the rapid growth of the market over the coming years, it will be a while before it matches the 2008 peak of EUR2 billion.
“The first positive signs on the electrical and computer retail market emerged in 2011, when it grew to about EUR1.1 billion, 7 to 10% higher than the about EUR1 billion of 2010. Computer and electronics (TV sets mainly) sectors were the growth drivers,” Olteanu says.
“The market will continue its tentative growth in 2012, as well, to somewhere in the neighborhood of EUR1.25 billion.”
He says that although the entire market will grow, LED, LCD and 3D TVs will see the highest increase in sales, as their penetration rate is still low and they are becoming increasingly more affordable for the middle and even lower income people. Sales of computers (notebooks, netbooks, tablets) and smartphones will rise, too.
Flanco expects its sales to increase by almost 30% compared with 2011, when they reached EUR110 million, Olteanu said. The retailer will go ahead with its expansion plan, which it started last year, when it opened 14 new stores for a total of 77.
“We think we’ll have a network of 82 to 83 stores by the end of 2012. This is not set in stone, because we could increase the number if opportunities arise,” Olteanu said.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)