By Rizal Raoul Reyes
Epson Philippines, the local subsidiary of the Nagano, Japan-based technology colossus, is boosting its presence in other market segments to take advantage of booming consumer spending.
In an interview with reporters, Eduardo Bonoan, senior general manager marketing division of Epson Philippines, the company is reaching out to different segments such as label printing, fashion printing, and medical brands printing.
He said Epson Philippines is building its niche in the lifestyle-fashion market as local fashion designers are starting to recognize that its printers are a big help in printing their designs.
Bonoan said recruiting fashion designer John Herrera as an Epson brand ambassador is bringing a lot of mileage to the company especially in the fashion and textile industry. He said the company collaborated with Herrera on the technology side to help him in printing his designs.
?This is the second time that John has tapped Epson?s digital textile printing technologies to create a totally different concept in fashion and design, and we are very happy to collaborate with him once again,? Bonoan pointed out.
?As the brand ambassador of Epson Philippines? Professional Printers Group, he has truly given the world?s attention with his ingenious marriage of art and technology. This latest collection is John?s avant-garde take on our history and roots; a creation that we are confident will put the Philippines on the map once again,? Bonoan added.
Fresh from his victory as Britain?s Top Designer 2017 at the 5th season for his Aguila collection, Herrera will capitalize on Philippine history in crafting new digitally printed masterpieces.
In a statement, Herrera said Epson?s digital textile printing technology enabled him to render parts of the medieval map by Diogo Ribeiro and present designs on opaque and translucent objects.
?The combination of sheer and stiff materials with soft fabrics create new silhouettes will remind us of sailing to new worlds,? Herrera noted.
Ribeiro?s map, which dates to 1529, is the first map in history that included the Philippine islands.
Bonoan said the office market remains the biggest revenue earner for Epson products. Citing IDC?s second quarter report in the current year, Epson Philippines dominated the inkjet printer market with a 61-percent market share.
Bonoan pointed out that one of out every two users of inkjet uses an Epson product. Nevertheless, he reiterated that Epson is looking out for newer markets as well.