INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS TO DRIVE EXPANSION IN LOCAL SHORES

Global air conditioning, appliance giant Tosot enters Philippine market

MANILA – Amidst the phenomenal growth in the Philippines’ retail sector, a brand of a global leader in air conditioning systems and appliances is set to bring to the country its line of innovative products.

Tosot, a premium brand of Gree, the biggest manufacturer of air conditioners in the world, was officially launched this October.

Tosot Philippines also held a grand launch, where dignitaries and executives of Gree came in full force to support the brand expansion in Southeast Asia.

Tosot Philippines General Manager Tom Balete said the brand intends to compete in the segment of the market which demand innovative and premium solutions for air conditioners, something Tosot successfully did in three continents worldwide.

The move, Balete said, is in response to growing consumer sentiment that prefers quality air conditioner brands, instead of the usual cheap but low quality products that flood appliance centers all over the land.

“We have been observing the market for years now. We noticed that in the past couple of years, many families and businesses have started to upgrade their air conditioning systems to something that goes beyond cooling their rooms. They want efficiency and quiet that cheaper products don’t have,” he said.

He explained that the penchant of consumers to upgrade their appliances could be a direct result of the growth in the country’s retail sector, marked by the increase in the number of middle class families, which allowed premium brands worldwide to enter the Philippines.

In fact, Balete said that in the Southeast Asian region, where the Philippines is a key member, analysts are predicting that the middle class is expected to triple from 525 million in 2009 to 1.74 billion in 2020.

In the Philippines, economists also expect retail to grow its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product to 20 percent in 10 years, which is up by 7 percent from last year’s 13 percent.

The growth should push demand for quality products, instead of price, Balete said.

“Tosot’s entry to the Philippines couldn’t come at a better time. We want to be that alternative premium brand of air conditioners and we will compete in terms of providing really technologically advanced products that will set the bar for air conditioners, especially in terms of energy consumption and area acoustics,” he said.

He said Tosot Philippines will also place priority on products that are ecologically friendly. “Our work primarily focuses on making lives more comfortable at no expense to nature. For every product we create, we think about how it will impact the environment.”

Tosot prides itself of using R-32 & R-410A in its air-conditioning units. These special refrigerants do not contribute to ozone depletion, and allow for lower power consumption and less impact on global warming. Tosot also uses the inverter air-conditioning system that consumes less electricity compared to conventional air-conditioning units. This means less energy, reduced production costs, and an environment-friendly business.

As a premium brand, Tosot’s product lines are made using the best technology available today. The company strives to create a sophisticated and comfortable lifestyle where its clients are.

“The people behind Tosot have worked hard-in-hand over a decade to bring the most innovative appliances possible in order to foster a lifestyle that not only sees to you and your family’s comfort and convenience but also the health and well-being of the environment,”Balete said.

Tosot has eight production bases strategically located worldwide: Brazil, Pakistan, Vietnam, and cities in China that include Zhuhai, Chongqing, Hefei, Zhengzhou, and Wuhan. Its company has an astounding annual production capacity of 34 million units of residential air-conditioners and 4 million units of commercial air-conditioners.

Apart from the Philippines, Tosot is distributed globally in Italy, Canada, Hongkong, Iraq, Russia, Ukraine, and China.

Partners in comfort and well-being

Tosot has also partnered with various institutions to effectively improve the quality of life that includes comfort and well-being, and to bring not only comfort but a great deal of satisfaction.

This includes Don Bosco Technical Institute where Tosot Philippines gets student-trainees for a five-month training program. In turn, Tosot Philippines provides scholarships to these trainees as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Tosot Philippines also works with TUV Rheiland Philippines in ensuring that all Tosot products comply with the Philippine National Standard.

Apart from its showroom, Tosot Philippines has also partnered with and Lazada.com.ph in promoting and selling of Tosot products online.