"It does not hold water." So we will kill it

Things apart

Whoever said "Every one is a publisher" count on my backing as well.

Here's a write up, where my efforts are best described considerable. Results were partial. Northerners like it, as for South, this was reminiscent of the Cavery dispute.

So here it goes on photo ink jet printers!

Ink Jet printer manufacturers are sizing up the photo printer market. Luring them is the over 1 lakh analogue studios, mini photo labs in tier II and III tourism hot spots and apparel firms.

While apparel Co’s are leaning on it for precision shades, photo labs are adopting it to add a digital imaging facet to restore photos and process digital snaps. With this, market players Epson, Hewlett Packard, and Canon are upping photo printer sales forecasts.

“Photo printers is certainly the next big thing in Inkjets. This category grew by over 160% in 2003 as compared to 2002. The year ahead could turn even better with new ranges promised by vendors.” Mr. Sanjit Sinha, Head - Hardware Research Group IDC (India) said. “This, coupled with the digitisation, photo printers are set to emerge as the new face of Inkjet printers.”

Vendors add that photo segment numbers would cross 60,000 this year. A significant jump considering they sold just 10,000 in entire 2002-03, according to IDC (India). Epson and HP claim they are already crossing 2500 in monthly photo printer sales.

Further with IDC (India) estimating that inkjets are set to grow at about 18% next fiscal, compared to the 26% growth projection this financial, vendors are pinning hopes on the photo segment. Further the price drop of 10 to 25% is only expected to push these models into the market. According to IDC the market for ink jet stands at around 7.17 lakh units now.

However with the metros, that already have larger processing labs contributing only30% of total sales, firms are eyeing ‘upcountry’ markets. While they are ramping up presence in tourist spots, players are measuring the bundled option too. Epson, for example, has roped in Neoteric as their national distributor, according to G Suresh, Business Manager Epson. Neoteric which distributes allied products like Apple Computers and Kodak digicams is expected to carry Epson closer to studios. HP besides tagging photo printers to strong hardware line is banking on its nation-wide footprint.

However, the focus is shifting to multifunctional photo printers now. Epson has already launched the first variant armed with a scanner. This, according to a knitwear exporter from Tirupur is turning productive for apparel makers as colour mapping and printing is processed together.

Manufacturers are camping at studios in scenic destinations in Kerala, heritage sights in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan for now. They reason, immediate photo processing needs of tourists at these locations would ring in the coffers.