
Headquartered in the US, Otterbox cases protect mobile devices and claims to survive the toughest environments. The cases for mobiles and tablets undergo a 238-hour and 24-test inspection before hitting the stores. They come with Drop Certified Drop+ Protection. With the company focusing on the Indian market, Srishti Bakshi, Marketing Manager APAC, Otterbox, shares her plans with Business Today's Nidhi Singal to manufacture Otterbox cases for Indian smartphone brands too.
Q. Otterbox cases are listed on popular e-commerce platforms in India. But are these cases officially available in India?
A. Yes, OtterBox cases are officially available in India. We have three authorised distributors in India - Tirupati Marketing Co (TMC), Lucky Star, J.S. Equipment for offline channels. Our cases are available on e-commerce platforms, including Flipkart and Amazon India.
Q. Do you plan to sell Otterbox products through your own website as well?
A. Yes, all OtterBox products are available on www.otterbox.asia
Q. Is the demand for Otterbox accessories more for the iPhone or for Samsung products?
A. Regionally, we work closely with different OEM partners. We have a very good relationship with OEM manufacturers and have cases for most market-relevant flagship devices. For the Indian market we have high demand for both Apple and Samsung cases.
Q. Is Otterbox open at manufacturing cases for Indian smartphone brands as well?
A. Absolutely, we are in talks with all major Indian OEM manufacturers. India is one of our fastest growing market and we have seen great response to our products online and offline. This year, we will be expanding our offline presence across the region. We are truly humbled by the value Indian customers find in our products.
Q. How long does it take from designing to manufacturing an Otterbox case?
A. We have launched some very successful cases. A recent example is a case studded with Swarovski crystals in partnership with Swarovski. It could take a month to half a year in just designing a perfect case and a lot depends on who we partner with, whether it is a designer or an OEM or a strategic partner like Swarovski.
Q. What kind of warranty or guarantee do OtterBox cases come with?
A. All our accessories come with one-year warranty from the original date of purchase. If the material or workmanship defect arises with regard to any OtterBox product, we either repair it using new or refurbished parts or replace the product with a new or refurbished OtterBox product.
Q. The Indian accessory market is already cluttered with many branded and unbranded accessories. How do you plan to gain market share?
A. Asia has welcomed us with open arms, and so we have begun to create several products that are specially designed for this region, with its markets, in mind. We will continue to expand into the markets and have already started building relationships, growing our online presence on e-commerce platforms and will work towards creating flagship offline stores. We will also be developing our B2B business, which means working with other businesses to make sure they have the protection they need.