Lexmark to foray into north India

Lexmark India is planning to foray into north Indian market after
establishing its dealer network in southern and western India. Also the company
that started its retail initiative in western India is planning to take forward
this to other parts of the country.

PG Kamath, GM, Lexmark, said, "Our channels are doing much better now
and time has come to make presence felt in other markets also. We will start
with Delhi." The company will foray into the Delhi market next month and is
currently in the process of appointing dealers for that region. It is also
planning to move to nearby upcountry markets.

After kicking-off the retail initiative in Bombay and Pune where Lexmark has
around 30 IT retailers, it is now eyeing other markets. The company is now
planning to move to Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. Lex-mark also intends to take
this initiative to shopping malls.

"We want to showcase our products in shopping malls, but because of thin
margins it is not happening but soon it will become reality. We are in talks
with several retailers," added Kamath.

Lexmark currently has 100 diamond partners and around 300 premium partners.
Its market share in the printing market is still in single digits and the
company intends to grow slowly and steadily and expects double-digit market
share by 2006.

Rahul Gupta

Mumbai (CyberMedia News)