Fresh from a five-year hiatus, VAIO is back and it is taking the Qatari market by storm, much to the delight of a strong and loyal fan following, according to Nexstgo Company CEO Alex Chung.
On the sidelines of VAIO’s recent launch at FNAC in Lagoona Mall, Chung stressed that VAIO “is very strategic like a business partner”. Being the licensed partner of VAIO Corporation for its Asia operations, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan, Chung said Nexstgo is now eyeing the Middle East region.
“This is the first time that we are venturing into the Middle East, but I believe what is more important is that VAIO, being such a good brand, has many loyal customers in this region. Even after being away from the market for five years, the product remains a top-tier brand because of its good quality.
“Nexstgo knows that VAIO still has a very good image position in the Middle East; a lot of loyal customers and fans of the brand, including reliable partners, such as Fifty One East, have a good relationship with the brand,” Chung told Gulf Times in an interview.
The launch event showcased the latest VAIO laptops in its product portfolio: the VAIO A12, a new generation of 2-in-1 that features a touchscreen and detachable keyboard; the VAIO SX14, which takes business productivity to the next level with more power, bigger display, expanded connectivity, and legendary durability;
The VAIO SX12 is the tiniest VAIO in the market known as a lightweight laptop made for mobility, while the all-new VAIO SE14 guarantees an immersive experience, boasting a 14” full HD resolution display, framed in a slim bezel, for stunning colours and visual details, and a 4-speaker system that offers dynamic audio reproduction.
“VAIO takes with it the reputation of being ‘Made in Japan’ and I believe that represents a lot of things, such as attention to detail, design and quality, which the Japanese are known for. Quality is guaranteed but most of all, it is the brand that represents the identity of the product.
“The Japanese are also very particular about customer care and customer experience, which is definitely the key to the success of a brand. In terms of durability, VAIO, even during its time with Sony, is already a premium and stylish brand. But aside from being trendy, VAIO remains a durable product, which is very important to Nexstgo. We believe in a product that is consumer-oriented and reliable in terms of business usage, and this is what we want to deliver to our customers here,” Chung stressed.
Asked about the Qatari market and what sets it apart from other markets in the region, Chung described Qatar as one of the top-tier markets worldwide, adding that the quality of customers here “is very exquisite, and are known to possess a high purchasing power – willing to spend on high-quality products”.
“VAIO represents premium, which is why we want to ensure the success of the brand in Qatar. Our customers here have very high expectations and we firmly believe that VAIO will successfully meet all the requirements of this high-end market, as well as the rest of the region.
“Qatar is also a forerunner of many technologies, take for example 5G. In terms of infrastructure, Qatar has already successfully rolled-out a lot of technology-related facilities, which is a very suitable image for VAIO to make it a successful brand in the market. Qatar customers love technology, which is why it has the reputation of being among the countries to have a high Internet penetration,” Chung said.
Chung also stressed that Nexstgo is relying on its partnership with Fifty One East and its support for the VAIO brand in Qatar.
“Fifty One East is a very excellent partner because they understand the market, the customer, and more importantly, they provide excellent customer service and aftersales. We are very happy and honoured to work together with one of Qatar’s largest and leading companies in the market.
They have a long history in the local and regional markets, which is a very important requirement when choosing our partners. They have a quick touch point, so without excellent customer experience, then we cannot provide an excellent product to the market; but Fifty One East has a reputable track record with its customers, which is why we believe that our collaboration with them is the perfect partnership,” he said.
