AkzoNobel to enhance customer experience

Global paint brands like AkzoNobel and Jotun are all out to tap the Indian market setting up retail paint outlets which will enhance the customer experience.
AkzoNobel India (earlier ICI Paints) plans to set up over 200 paint outlets. The centres, between 100 and 400 square feet, totalling one lakh sqft, will come up in the north and south. They will be established jointly with dealers and the percentage of cost sharing will depend on the segment they address, according to Amit Jain, Managing Director.
Customers can upload photographs of their homes at these outlets and visualise how the walls look using the paint pallet of the 2,400-odd shades on offer. They can also opt for home calls where executives will help them with their choice while providing costing details.
Globally, AkzoNobel owns and operate such outlets. The company has launched two brands, Dulux Weathershield Sun Reflect and Dulux Velvet touch, which leverage the technological and customer focus of AkzoNobel.
The former brand was capable of reducing wall temperature by five degrees celsius. The ‘velvet touch' range brings in the ‘colours of the world', ushering in the best of shades that designers across the globe associate with top cities such as London, Paris, Rome and New York.
Mr Jain said environment concerns rank high on Akzo's list of priorities. Though economies of scale might suffer in the bargain, the company preferred to go for 50 million litre plants rather than the global norm of 200 million-plus litres to ensure that carbon footprints remained low. Smaller plants across locations facilitate easy distribution though it may not look favourable on bottomline in the near term, he said.
AkzoNobel plans to set up a 50-million litre plant either in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka at Rs 100 crore.