Foraying into the fast-growing retail electrical goods market, Schneider Electric India today launched switches, sockets and distribution systems for home, small and medium business consumers.

The company, which is a part of French major Schneider, expects to have 4,000 retail outlets by 2012.

“The retail initiative kicks off with the launch of ZENcelo and Vivace range of switches and the NeoBreak distribution systems in a phased manner that begins with Maharashtra...,” Schneider Electric India said in a statement.

According to the company, similar roll-outs would be carried out in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu over the next few months. In Maharashtra, Mumbai would be covered in early 2012.

“The national roll-out will be complete by 2012,” it added.

However, financial details were not available.

The market for switches and distribution boards in India — growing at about 16 per cent annually — is estimated to be currently worth around Rs 2,400 crore. Out of the total market, home segment alone is worth about Rs 1,400 crore.

“We are extremely pleased to enter the retail market with a diverse range of products that target the home and SMB segments,” the Schneider Electric India Managing Director, Mr Olivier Blum, said.

All the products across categories will be available under the Schneider Electric brand.

Further, authorised retail partners would be able to place orders round-the-clock, a move that would help in faster delivery of stocks as well as real time tracking of orders and deliveries. For this purpose, the firm has a customised mobile application.

“This application will allow real-time inventory tracking and improved order management and therefore enable significant cost savings for our retailers going forward,” the Schneider Electric India Vice-President (Retail Channel Sales), Mr Balaji Lenka, said.

A specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric India had revenues of about Rs 4,500 crore last year.

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