Hindustan Machine Tools Ltd., or HMT, as it is popularly known, which branded itself as the ‘Timekeepers to the nation' till it lost ground to stiff competition from private players, is trying to make a comeback and opening sales counters at post offices.
The second such counter in the State was opened at the Mysore Head Post office at Lashkar Mohalla, Ashoka Road, where all the models of the watch company are up for sale.
The sales point was inaugurated by K.M. Raghavendra, JGM, Business Planning, HMT. S.V. Balasubramanya, Senior Postmaster, Mysore Head Post Office, S. Rajashekara, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Mysore division, and Eshwar Nayak, AGM, Sales, HMT, were present.
HMT's marketing tie-ups with post offices is a new initiative in brand building and regaining the market share, Mr. Raghavendra said, adding that they had obtained permission from the Postal Department for opening such counters in different parts of the country.
He said such a counter was inaugurated at the Bangalore GPO last year and had since been expanded to Chennai, Madurai and now Mysore. The Hubli head post office will have a sales outlet in due course and the initiative would be expanded to major post offices in West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in due course.
Ever since the HMT has tied up with the Postal Department, the company registered brisk sales and each sales point was doing a business of Rs.1.5 lakh to Rs.2 lakh per month and the company was optimistic of boosting its revenue and sales further in the days ahead.
HMT has numerous watch models ranging from Rs.400 to Rs.5000 and more and all of them will be on sale at the post office counters.
The company would ensure steady supply to meet the demands for specific models and the old classic Pilot watches were in tremendous demand at most of the counters, Mr. Raghavendra said. The month on month sales have improved and after covering major cities and towns, the concept of sales counter in the districts and rural areas will also be taken up.
