Samsung aiming high with Galaxy launch

Samsung Electronics New Zealand is planning for its strongest launch – and best launch sales – when its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge go on general sale on Saturday, with the lure of a wealth of accessories to bolster reseller sales.

Stefan Lecchi, Samsung Electronics New Zealand head of telecommunications, says the new offerings are the 'reinvention' of Samsung's premier smartphones and have attracted 'really, really strong customer interest through social media' along with plenty of interest from retailers.

The smartphones will be available through Spark, 2degrees and Vodafone's channels, as well as through Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, JB Hi-Fi and selected Dick Smith stores.

"We are expecting really, really strong sales, and we have put a lot of support into the mass retailers to create a strong product experience," Lecchi says.

He says Samsung has been working with retailers to ensure a strong customer experience, with prominent live displays enabling customers to touch and play with the devices.

Lecchi says the Galaxy S6 Edge is expected to appeal to the early adopter market seeking to be a 'the absolute forefront of technology'.

The S6 flat is a mass adoption product expected to appeal to users wanting to upgrade from older Samsung models such as the S3 and S4.

Lecchi says the company also has its eye on converting users from competitive brands to the new offerings.

"We're really confident we can do that with this product," he adds.

"It's got the best camera with the best lens available in market, the best screen, super-fast charging and a new, fresh design, and the technology we have embedded in the phone makes the user experience sublime.

"We're consistently increasing our overall share in the market and that shows that we are converting people to Samsung," he says.

Aware of the need for retailers to make add-on sales, Lecchi says the company has worked to bring in a full range of accessories to support the phones – and retailers sales.

The S6 is wireless charging capability built-in and Lecchi says retailers should look to bundle wireless  charging mats with the phones.

A broad range of covers are also available and Lecchi says Samsung is so proud of the design of the new offerings that it has made an 'innovative clear view cover' so that the aesthetics of the phones are still on show.

"This is one of the biggest product launches of the year and we've got a lot of channel activation behind it.

"It's definitely our intention [to have the biggest sales ever seen for a Samsung launch]," he adds.