After TVs, Kodak looks to expand licensed consumer products business in India

After LED TVs, Kodak is now looking to expand its brand licensing business footprint in India by launching products in multiple categories, which includes mobile phones and apparel.

The company, which is scouting for prospective brand licensing partners and distributors in the country, believes India has the potential to become one of its key markets for its consumer products business.

From mobile phones and accessories to LED lights and batteries and from instant print cameras and connected speakers to home automation products and CCTV cameras, the company is looking to launch a host of products through brand licensing partnerships in India.

The company is also likely to leverage on its global licensing partnerships in the apparel segment with H&M and Forever 21, to bring this range to India.

Joel Satin, Vice-President, Global Brand Licensing and CPG at Eastman Kodak Company, said: “I think there is a window of opportunity for Kodak as a brand licensor to come in and supplement what we have in the TV market with other products in India. We are in talks with various potential brand licensing partners. We are looking at five-seven local brand licensing partnerships in India to be able to offer the complete portfolio of our consumer products in India.”

He added: “We hope in the next three-five years, India will contribute about 10 per cent to our overall licensing revenues. We believe it will be among the top three fastest growing markets for us.”

In 2016, the company announced a brand licensing partnership with Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SSPL) to launch Kodak HD LED TVs. Under this partnership, SSPL is also looking to launch Kodak-branded washing machines in the country.

Avneet Singh Marwah, Director, SPPL, said: “Kodak TVs have a 3 per cent market share in the country and we are aiming to increase it to a double-digit market share. We are focussing on strengthening our portfolio in this segment with new technology products like 4K TVs. At the same time, we will be launching the complete range of Kodak washing machines this year.”

Meanwhile, Kodak believes entering the mobile phones segment in a market like India has a huge potential.

“Even though India is a competitive market for mobile phones, we believe a brand like Kodak can make an impact. That is why we are looking at a potential partner who can put in investments behind innovative products, focus on smart marketing and distribution to enter this space.”

Talking about future plans, Satin said in the apparel segment, the company is also keen to collaborate with Indian designers, besides leveraging on its global agreements with fast fashion brands H&M and Forever 21.