Jumbo Forecasts that smartwatches to be one of the most popular devices at GITEX Shopper 2016

The growing demand for wearable technology and especially smartwatches is set to be one of the dominant trends at the spring edition of Gitex Shopper this year, according to Jumbo Electronics.

Jumbo Electronics, the leading OminChannel retailer in the UAE, will once again have a major footprint at the hugely popular consumer event and anticipates that it will be smartwatches, smartphones and laptops that will generate the most demand and excitement among shoppers.  

Nadeem Khanzadah, Head – OmniChannel Retail, Jumbo Group, says the company is gearing up to handle a major surge from a tech-savvy public whose hunger for the latest and most innovative technology shows no sign of abating. 

Speaking before Gitex that will start on 30th March at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, he said: “We are already seeing a real appetite for smartwatches and wearable technology that is being strongly driven by constantly improving compatibility with other mobile computing devices, ease of use, fitness-focus, aesthetic design and some high-profile collaborations such as Apple Watch Hermès.”

“There is an increasing demand for sleeker, smarter wearable technology among tech-savvy consumers that companies like Apple, Samsung and Huawei are successfully catering to. But our range of smartwatches will be just one product category among a huge and diverse range of consumer electronics products available at Gitex,” says Nadeem. 

GITEX Shopper is one of the most important retail events for Jumbo Electronics every year and the company has been participating since its first edition 25 years ago.  Last year at Gitex Shopper, Jumbo witnessed a 15 percent increase in sales compared to 2014. Despite the slowed global economic environment, in the region, we expect to maintain momentum in the sector during this season.  

According to IDC, smartwatches shipped worldwide is expected to reach a total of 34.3 million units in 2016, and forecasted to reach 88.3million units by 2019. 

 Mr. Khanzadah added: “This edition of Gitex comes following a number of high-profile smartphone launches in recent months including the Apple 6s, Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and LG G5 and these will be very popular at the show. Given the typical short replacement cycle of smartphones in the Middle East and the demand for high-specs and value for money, we also expect mid-range devices to be a top-selling category.”

In the laptops category Jumbo will be featuring a wide range from leading global brands including HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer and Asus at the show. Jumbo is anticipating high demand for Intel 6th generation laptops and 2-in-1 and gaming laptops. 

The range of  televisions being showcased reflect  the growing demand from customers and their preference for  newer technology like OLED, 4K,Ultra High Definition (UHD), and premium sized TVs and from brands like Sony, LG, Samsung, Philips and Hisense. 

About Jumbo Electronics Co. Ltd (LLC):

Established in 1974, Jumbo Electronics Co. Ltd. is UAE’s leading distributor and retailer for IT and consumer electronics. Since its inception, Jumbo has been the chief distributor of the iconic brand, Sony, in the UAE and Oman. Jumbo is also a trusted distribution and retail partner for many of the world's other leading brands including Acer, Apple, Asus, Bajaj, Blackberry, Brother, Casio, Daikin, Dell, Dyson, Gorenje, HP, HTC, Hisense, Lava, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, Obi, Oppo, Ricoh, Samsung, Sennheiser and Yota Devices. In addition, Jumbo offers quality, affordable consumer electronics from its private label brand, Supra. It has an extensive network of retail stores and service centres spread across the Emirates and a growing distribution and retail presence in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Jumbo launched its innovative online shopping portal, www.jumbo.ae, in November 2014, as an online extension of Jumbo’s brick-and-mortar network, showcasing the brand’s definitive retail expertise in local markets. The website features a number of never-before seen features in the region’s consumer electronics industry, including flexible delivery through the ‘Click & Collect’ service, Card-on-Delivery, 2-Click checkout, and other intuitive user experiences.

Jumbo’s Distribution SBU provides specialised services, including Mobility & Solutions for telecom and information technology sectors, as well as specialty consumer goods. The firm’s B2B business focuses on office automation products, managed services and ELV solutions.

Setting new benchmarks in customer service in the markets in which it operates, Jumbo offers uncompromising adherence to quality and unrivalled after-care through Jumbo Serve, its dedicated 70,000sq.ft. service centre in Jebel Ali and 24/7 customer hotline 800 JUMBO.   

Over the years, Jumbo has evolved its flagship retail, distribution and trading businesses to offer services under diverse verticals such as Enterprise, Logistics, Engineering and Light Manufacturing. Through its multi-discipline approach, Jumbo enjoys a presence in core industries across regional markets, including hospitality, retail, construction, education, healthcare, oil and gas, and financial services.