Gitex Shopper, the largest electronics exhibition in the region, opens today with dozens of major exhibitors offering amazing deals packaged with heavy discounts and freebies to woo tech-savvy shoppers.

Keeping their tradition, retailers, this year too, have lined up a host of promotions, bundle offers, gift vouchers, giveaways such as buy one get one free, discounts worth thousands of dirhams and freebies such as headphones and speakers, among others. In addition, retailers this year will also be banking on new smart phones launches especially the latest devices from Apple, Samsung and Sony Mobile as major crowd-pullers to the show.

Nilesh Khalkho, CEO of Sharaf DG, revealed to Khaleej Times that they will offer discounts up to 50-70 per cent on various categories during the eight-day exhibition.

"Smartphones will see good sales with various new flagship launches, and laptops are popular at this time - especially convertibles and gaming laptops plus some select new models with Intel 8th-generation processors. This year, we also see good value for customers to upgrade to ultra large screen TVs [75 inches and above] with some aggressive price offers we are launching," he added.

The category of smart home and wearables is growing too, Khalkho said, adding that they're targeting decent growth over last year's edition with various new launches backed by some aggressive planned offers. "We will have our extremely popular TV+BMW package being launched again with Gitex," he revealed.

In addition, Sharaf DG will offer the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus with price starting from Dh2,849 and available in 64GB and 256GB. It's also available at Dh133 per month over 24-month period as part of a flexible payment plan. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is also available for Dh3,399, alternatively at Dh159 per month with a 24-month installment plan.

Niranjan Gidwani, CEO of Eros Group, says this year's strategies are a mix of flat discounts on selected products, value-add offers on new product launches like the Note 8 and gift vouchers on certain stocks.

"The Note 8 will be a hot seller at Gitex. Consumers will also seek out the S8 and iPhone 7 with aggressive pricing. We also forecast some major appliance purchases... being a long-term investment, it is best to buy before VAT comes into effect. We are offering a 'buy one get one free' offer on selected product categories. Our maximum discount is on air purifiers where the customers can save Dh4,500," he added.

"Gitex has always been a keystone event in the consumer electronics calendar. This year, the event is timed just right before the upcoming festive season of Diwali. Also many Filipinos prepare their balikbayan boxes to send back home for the Christmas festivities. Therefore, we expect a 20 per cent growth over last year," Gidwani elaborated.

According to Nadeem Khanzadah, head of omni-channel retail, Jumbo, smartphones will hog the limelight during the show.

Devices such as the Apple iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Nokia 8 and Sony Xperia XZ1 will be the hot products and much in demand from consumers along with gaming laptops, ultra large screen televisions using OLED and QLED technologies and emerging technology products such as drones, smartwatches, VR and others, adds Khanzadah. He expects Gitex sales to grow 10 per cent year-on-year.

Jacky's is also putting its best foot forward, offering bundle offers and discounts up to 40 per cent on all ranges with a key focus on home appliances and notebooks.

"The top and prime category is always notebooks because mobiles are everywhere and it's a daily product. Other top items are home appliances as they make 25 per cent of our space at Gitex. With home appliance sales picking up, we have a dedicated section for it. TV sales are also amazing and there are good offers on that too," reveals Mahesh Chotrani, senior vice-president at Jacky's.

Expecting a 10 to 12 per cent increase in sales this year, Chotrani sees VAT unlikely to have any impact on the minds of the buyers because the discounts offered by exhibitors are much more than the five per cent tax to be implemented.

Considering that this is being the last Gitex prior to the implementation of VAT by the UAE from January 2018 and the clash of Apple's latest iPhone and Samsung's Note, makes it even more important - and interesting too.

The UAE will impose a five per cent value-added tax on gadgets and electronics items and home appliances from January 2018, resulting in increase in the prices of goods, hence, prompting residents to cash in on this last opportunity to purchase the big-ticket items with prices going into five digits. Secondly, the traditional rivalry between Apple and Samsung will grow fiercer with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus hitting shelves in the UAE today to take on the South Korean major's Note 8, which went on sale yesterday.

"We think that consumers will continue to approach Gitex Shopper like the previous shows as people who want to make purchases will continue to buy electronic products, with or without VAT," believes Khanzadah.

The eight-day exhibition will run until September 30 from 11am to 11pm at Dubai World Trade Centre's Zabeel Halls. Tickets are priced at Dh30 per person while students can buy discounted tickets for Dh10. Entrance for children below the age of five years is free. Children below the age of 14 years must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

An icing on the cake is a six-day dream trip to Switzerland worth Dh18,000 to be offered by Jacky's to five couples on a purchase of products worth Dh500. Also, the Roads and Transport Authority is offering a trip to Thailand on buying Gitex entrance tickets with Nol cards.

Source: Khaleej Times