Muzaffarpur: Emerging Market of Bihar

Located in the Bajjikanchal region of Bihar, Muzaffarpur lies on the banks of the perennial Burhi Gandak River. The city is famous for its Shahi lychees and accounts for 70% overall production of this exotic fruit in India. Of late, it has emerged as a brewery hub for the production litchi-flavoured wine. Also an important center for wholesale cloth trade and several big and small industries, Muzaffarpur is deemed as a commercial hub of Bihar. However, being a relatively old city, there are few places of interest here.

As the city happens to be an education hotspot, education and consumer segments are the sole breadwinners for the information technology dealers in the area. Laptops are undisputed in terms of hottest selling products, with sales of desktops also said to have improved in the recent past. Says Rajeev Agarwal of Byte Shoppe, "Volume wise, sales of laptops increase by 15-20% on a y-o-y basis. These days, AIOs are also picking up really well." Dell, Sony Vaio, Lenovo, and HP are shining bright among the brands of consumer preference. "HP laptops comprise 30% of laptop sales we witness," informed Praveen Kumar of Astric Computers India.

Since it is exam time and admissions have closed, the IT market is not buzzing with activity. "Usually at this time of the year, sales fall due to examinations," added Agarwal.

Muzaffarpur is a small market with approximately 23 dealers and no local association. Bihar Information Technology Association (BITA), the state-level association, caters to the town. As per the dealers, the body has been playing its role efficiently and assists in solving issues. "Meetings and issue redressal apart, BITA periodically conducts other activities such as IT fares," added Agarwal.

There is an overall positive sentiment among Muzaffarpur's IT channels. The dealers possess cordial ties with the vendors and no major issues have been reported lately. Also, they are hopeful of stable growth this year. "Awareness among the consumers has increased tremendously. The market is evolving; people have better access to information and look for quality products irrespective of price. I bet for a 10% growth this year," opined Agarwal. Sharing his views, Kumar said, "In the future, the market will pave way for tablets. At least a growth of 20% can be expected."

Market Name: Muzaffarpur

Market Location: Bihar

Surrounding Markets: Patna, ranchi, Gaya

Number of dealers: Around 25

Prominent Dealers: Byte Shoppe, Astric Computers India

Computer Association: Bihar Information Technology Association (BITA)

Business Verticals: Education and SOHO

Annual Turnover: Approximately Rs 7 crore

Interview 1:

Rajeev Agarwal, CEO, Byte Shoppe

What are the top-selling products in your city?

Laptops. AIOs are also picking up.

What are the trends in the market right now?

There is a steep rise in the level of awareness among consumers, majorly because of better facilities of Internet.

What are your market predictions for this year?

We are expecting a stable market ahead; a 10% growth can be easily bet.

Do you face any issues with the vendors?

Except petty ones, nothing major.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Interview 2:

Praveen Kumar, CEO, Astric Computers India

How has the market been in the last 2 months?

The market has been average.

What are the primary growth verticals in Kota?

Education and SOHO are the sole drivers of the market.

What are your market predictions for this year?

The market is paving way for tabs; a 20% growth is foreseen.