Philips’ online store for LED lighting is now available in Singapore, the first dedicated direct-to-consumer online shop in the Asia Pacific.
The lighting solutions firm launched the web portal for its Singapore market on Monday, in partnership with Singapore Post (SingPost), which will help deliver the purchased LED lighting products for free anywhere in the city-state.
Singapore’s savvy e-commerce consumer base and reliable service delivery partners make it the ideal market to pilot the initiative, said Philips Lighting Singapore general manager Mieke De Schepper.
The company said it plans to launch four more lighting online retail shops across Asia Pacific within the year, citing demand for LED lights and due to e-commerce gaining ground in the region. In fact, according to the 2013 Global B2C E-Commerce Market Report, e-commerce in Asia Pacific is expected to grow by 29 per cent, which would outpace North America and Europe.
Meanwhile, Navigant Research, which specialises in the clean technology markets, noted that sales of LED lighting systems may increase rapidly over the next 10 years with shipments of LED lamps and luminaires growing to 542 million units in 2021.
LED (light emitting diode) lighting is considered a breakthrough in the lighting industry as it uses less energy and lasts longer than than conventional light bulbs. It also requires less frequent replacement.
Philips said its LED tubes can save over 40 per cent in lighting-related energy costs.
SingPost Group CEO Wolfgang Baier said the new service offers added convenience to shoppers who are looking for more energy-efficient products. Consumers, he added, will benefit from the e-commerce logistics company’s recent investments in 24/7 service delivery.
“With the growing demand for LED lighting solutions in the region, we look forward to rolling out more online stores together with Philips,” Baier said.
Online shoppers in Singapore, including those who browse through their mobile devices can purchase some of Philips’ latest LED lighting products ahead of their launch in regular retail stores, Philips said.
Additionally, shoppers using Apple iPhones and iPads can use an LED lighting mobile application that shows a preview of how Philips’ LED lights would look in their homes through 3D images, helping them to visualise the product before they buy the item online.
