Usually, companies start from entry-level products and gradually enter the high-end products market, but there are exceptions like Corsair Memory, who began with high-end server memory 15 years ago. About seven years back, they entered the high-end gaming desktop memory market seeing the increase in the number of extremely enthusiastic gamers. And some three years back, they got into the value kind of memories. Mr. Scott Thirlwell, Director, APAC, Corsair, and Mr. Shane Dennison, Sales Manager, APAC, Corsair, talked at length with VARIndia about Corsair in India during their maiden visit to India.
What is Corsair Memory?
Corsair has been a leader in the design and manufacture of high-speed modules since 1994. The focus has always been on supporting the special demands of mission-critical servers and high-end workstations, as well as the performance demands of extreme gamers. Corsair is one of the trusted suppliers to many computer manufacturers. In the high-density memory solutions, Corsair has always been one of the first suppliers to achieve advanced qualifications on Intel, Tyan and SuperMicro server platforms.
“We also work closely with other major server platform manufacturers to release product that is 100% compatible with their latest server products. Our memories go in synergy with most of the motherboards like Intel, ASUS, Gigabyte, etc. This easy compatibility makes it popular,” informed Shane. Corsair’s flagship memory products are part of the XMS (Xtreme Memory Speed) family, which is designed for the unique demands of the serious enthusiast community. The XMS family includes XMS2, high-performance DDR2 modules that have broken world speed records; XMS Xpert, the first modules with real-time display of parametric data; Pro Series, gaming memory with real-time activity LEDs; and XMS Classic with black or platinum heat spreaders.
Our ValueSelect line of desktop memory brings our quality and compatibility standards to cost-effective products for today’s most popular desktops and laptops. Value Select is available in DDR1 and DDR2. “We also offer a large range of ultra-reliable server memory and memory for laptops and OEM desktop systems,” added Shane.
Corsair Memory is a US-based company. So, it began with capturing the US market. Later on, it shifted its focus to Europe, followed by recently entering the Asian market. Though our products have been available in Asia for quite some time, only one and a half years back the company opened its full-fledged office in Taiwan to cater to the Asian market.
“Our first target was to capture the China market. And, within the first six months, we did a lot of market understanding and in the next 10 months our efforts were able to make us the #4 brand in China,” informed Scott.
Corsair in India
After China, Corsair considers India as the second most important market. India is looked at with very high expectations. “This is our first visit to India, and it is not just a simple visit but a fact-finding mission,” told Shane. For the last one year, Tirupati Enterprises, being the only distributor in India for Corsair, takes care of the availability of its products. During this period, Corsair conducted two road shows in India”– both in association with MSI. And now Corsair wants to replicate the success achieved in China in India also. To begin with, Corsair has conducted an exclusive 5-city road show in India. Beginning from Hyderabad and covering Delhi, Cochin and Mumbai, it concluded at Ahmedabad. Both Scott and Shane were highly impressed with the kind of the response from the IT reseller community of Delhi. An equally encouraging response was received in Mumbai.
Corsair offers 10 years unmatched warranty
Mostly, companies offer 1-year/3-year/5-year warranty, but Corsair gives10 years No-Question-Asked warranty. “If you ask then this is the USP of Corsair, as no other company in the industry offers immediate swap warranty,“ said Scott candidly. To this, Shane added that Corsair is the only company, which replaces even broken (damaged) or burnt memories.
Corsair uses high-end PCBs and ICs. Also, Corsair does a lot of testing, because of which despite the fact that the Corsair memories carry 10 years warranty, still the company has less than 1-per cent return rate.
Finally…
Since its inception, Corsair has been creating memory products that consistently outpace the competition and sweep the awards and accolades of industry experts and users forums. Each product is designed in strict compatibility with leading motherboards and systems, tested under rigorous quality standards and backed by a comprehensive warranty. With a broad spectrum of memory products, Corsair has recently expanded its product line to include a water cooling product under its Corsair COOL brand. When asked what more Corsair has in its plans, Scott replied, “By the end of the next year, we want to have our own Corsair office in India. Next we want to reach the #3 position in the Indian market by then.” As far as global plans are concerned, Corsair wants to close its sales figures at US$500 million in 2007.
