KATHMANDU, Feb 2: Sales of washing machines went up this winter, despite power cuts of up to 14 hours a day.
Dealers of major brands like Samsung, LG and Beko said they sold 15 percent to 50 percent more washing machines this winter than in the same period last year, as changing lifestyle prompted many to shed the habit of washing clothes with hand and resort to machines.
According to Binay Tripathi, deputy general manager of Him Electronics, the authorized dealer for Samsung home appliances in Nepal, sales of washing machines soared by almost 60 percent this winter.
"Frequent power cuts have not affected our sales as many Samsung washing machines come with a feature called ´delay start´, which allows users to set laundry timings as per the load shedding schedule," said Tripathi.
Orbit International, the sole authorized dealer for Beko products in Nepal, also saw hike in the sales of washing machines. Jasmine Siddhi Bajracharya, Orbit´s marketing and business development manager, said sales of washing machines increased by around 15 percent this winter.
"This is the result of rapid change in lifestyle of Nepalis, especially those living in urban areas. They now look for convenience and do not mind spending some money to make their lives easier," Bajracharya said.
CG Impex, the sole authorized distributor for LG products in Nepal, also recorded 30 percent rise in sales of washing machines during this winter season. "Features incorporated in most machines that allow users to set the timings and start wash cycle from where it last stopped once the power is back are the biggest pull factors," said Ramesh Shrestha, general manager of CG Impex, which recently introduced LG´s six motion type washing machines that consume 30 percent less energy than other machines.
Washing machines of around a dozen brands available in the market cost Rs 15,000 to Rs 70,000.
Beko introduces new models of washing machines KATHMANDU: Turkish brand Beko has introduced two new models of washing machines in the domestic market.
The newly introduced models of washing machines with 8 kg load capacity are packed with advanced technologies, said Jasmine Siddhi Bajracharya, marketing and business development manager of Orbit International, the sole authorized distributor for Beko products in Nepal.
According to the company, the newly introduced machines incorporate ´Aquafusion´ technology that ensures "no detergent is lost during the wash".
The machine has various features like ´child protection´, which ensures extra hygienic wash for those with sensitive skin, 16 wash programs, which help users to choose different washing methods for different types of fabric, and hi-tech heater, which prolongs the life of washing machine by reducing lime scale accumulation.
The new machines are economical both in terms of water and electricity consumption, said the company. The machines also consume 20 percent less energy than other models of the same segment.
According to Bajracharya, prices of WMB 81241 series of washing machines range from Rs 62,490 to Rs 66,240.
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