联想:如信贷和经济放慢 欧洲消费出击缓行
作者： FT
责任编辑： 阚智
来源： 《电脑商情报》
时间： 2007-12-19 13:25
Lenovo, the Chinese computer maker, said it may have to scale back its launch into the European consumer market next year, if the credit crisis and economic slowdown worsen.
Milko Van Duijl, president of Lenovo's EMEA division, said the company was monitoring the situation closely and would take a final decision in the first quarter.
Lenovo, which sells desktop computers and laptops mainly to business customers, has been keen to expand in the retail market. It already sells to consumers in China and recently launched small retail sales operations in the US, France and South Africa.
It is planning to expand these to more countries. However, a poor economic climate may force it to alter its plans.
Mr Van Duijl said some launches would still go ahead. However, the company may concentrate more on launching in emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and delay entry into more mature markets in Western Europe, which are expected to be harder hit by an economic slowdown.
"We are on guard. We are really looking at banking signals, interbank lending, and consumer confidence. There is a whole list of countries we would like to launch in, but we need to make sure we will get a return on investment. I am a believer in focus - doing fewer things but doing them right, and only going into markets where we can do well," Mr Van Duijl said.
So far the European market has accounted for about 21 per cent of revenues and about 22 per cent of profits. Lenovo reported a very strong performance for the second quarter, with overall revenues up 20 per cent and profits 178 per cent higher.
"However, the impact from outside Europe is the big question. The growth of retail sales in the US has been less than anticipated," Mr Van Duijl said.
Milko Van Duijl, president of Lenovo's EMEA division, said the company was monitoring the situation closely and would take a final decision in the first quarter.
Lenovo, which sells desktop computers and laptops mainly to business customers, has been keen to expand in the retail market. It already sells to consumers in China and recently launched small retail sales operations in the US, France and South Africa.
It is planning to expand these to more countries. However, a poor economic climate may force it to alter its plans.
Mr Van Duijl said some launches would still go ahead. However, the company may concentrate more on launching in emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and delay entry into more mature markets in Western Europe, which are expected to be harder hit by an economic slowdown.
"We are on guard. We are really looking at banking signals, interbank lending, and consumer confidence. There is a whole list of countries we would like to launch in, but we need to make sure we will get a return on investment. I am a believer in focus - doing fewer things but doing them right, and only going into markets where we can do well," Mr Van Duijl said.
So far the European market has accounted for about 21 per cent of revenues and about 22 per cent of profits. Lenovo reported a very strong performance for the second quarter, with overall revenues up 20 per cent and profits 178 per cent higher.
"However, the impact from outside Europe is the big question. The growth of retail sales in the US has been less than anticipated," Mr Van Duijl said.
