Erafone set to grow Malaysian presence

Erafone, one of the largest multi-brand mobile device retailers in Indonesia, is set to make its debut in Malaysia this year in partnership with CG Computers Sdn Bhd. The company will be selling mobile devices and accessories aimed at the wider market. PT Erafone Artha Retailindo vice-president director Jeremy Sim said Penang and Kuala Lumpur will be the first venues where the Erafone and Urban Republic stores are set to open. “We hope to have 10 outlets by year-end and at least 100 Erafone outlets in Malaysia in the next three years,” Sim said at an event organised by CG Computers in Penang, recently.

In June last year, the Indonesian group Erafone Artha Retailindo, a part of Indonesia’s Erajaya Group, signed an agreement to acquire a 60% stake in CG Computers, which currently operates 26 retail outlets throughout Malaysia under the Switch trade name. Sim said that Erafone will be developed alongside the Switch brand and Urban Republic. “There will be a parallel growth for the three trading names.

“We have earmarked a RM8.5mil budget for a total of 15 outlets — 10 Erafone/Urban Republic and five Switch. “We are aiming to have eight mobile phone brands available at the Erafone/Urban Republic outlets set to open in the country,” he said. Meanwhile, CG Computers general manager Winson Wong said Switch’s additional five outlets in Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Kota Kinabalu, Kedah (Alor Setar — Aman Central) and Kuching, would see Switch having a total 30 stores by end of the year. Investing in expansion: Sim says RM8.5mil has been allocated to set up 15 new outlets under the Erafone, Urban Republic and Switch brands and that the growth is expected to create 120 new jobs in the company.

He added that CG computers has a current head count of 320 employees, and the Erafone partnershipwill create an additional 150 jobs. At the same event, CG Computers announced the Switch Epic Giveawa’ contest that ends on Oct 31 in conjunction with Switch’s 20th anniversary. Customers are entitled to a participation ticket for every RM100 spent in any Switch outlet. Prizes consisting of Apple products worth more than RM20,000 will be given to winners.