LG Electronics India Ltd (LGEIL), which at present has 83 Exclusive and Shoppe outlets in India, is planning to add another 20-25 by the end of 2009.

“We actually have a plan to add 30-40 outlets, but are targeting to launch at least 20-25”, Nabendu Bhattacharjee, regional manager (east), LG Electronics, told FE. One should fulfil a few criteria like location, floor space, potential turnover, financial strength, etc for having such an outlet, he added.

LGEIL is now busy renovating its 45 Shoppe and 38 Exclusive outlets across the country. The company uses such outlets to have a better display of its high-end products. These also act as one-stop shops for all its digital household products.

“The LG Shoppe goes beyond the concept of normal exclusive stores by providing an interactive environment and lifestyle orientation so that customers can actually experience the best shopping experience,” said Pankaj Kumar, the local LGEIL branch manager.

Bhattacharjee, who was here on Tuesday to inaugurate a Shoppe (which has been elevated from an exclusive outlet), said the company already has five such outlets in the eastern region (including two in Jharkhand). It plans to add three more by the end of the year.

The average monthly turnover of a LG ‘shoppe’ is around Rs 1 crore.

LGEIL’s new launches include five to seven models of 21″ & 29″ Slim TVs and a new LCD range, Scarlet, a new range of ‘Spirit’ washing machines, upgraded versions of microwave ovens and two to three split AC models. It plans to launch Jazz, a new-look and feature-rich range of Nimbus refrigerators, and two GSM mobile handsets priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 7,000 in September.

LG Electronics claims its average market share to be around 27%-30% taken all its electronics products together. The company is competing with Sony in the LCD/Plasma category, Whirlpool in refrigerators and Samsung in LCDs and top-loading washing machines.

One of the criteria for starting an LG Exclusive/Shoppe is a minimum space of 2,000 sqft and an investment between Rs 65-75 lakh for the company’s product range alone.

LGEIL, which reported a turnover of Rs 9,500 crore in 2007 (it follows a calendar year), is targeting Rs 11,000 crore in 2008.