Kitchenware, towels to promote condoms sale

Kitchenware, towels to promote condoms sale
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Dec 12, 2011: Sale of condoms across the state by social marketing wing of National Aids Control Organisation has increased by 50 percent this year compared to last year. Besides increased awareness among public on “playing safe” social marketing teams are motivating retailers across the state with various enticing schemes to sell condoms.
NACO sells two varieties of condoms- Deluxe and Masti under subsidized rates with an aim that condom should be available to everyone in their vicinity. These condoms are being manufactured by State owned Hindustan Latex Limited. While the sale of condoms between July 2009 and June 2010 was 9.1 millions it was 14.5 millions between July 2010 and June 2011.
“There has been a great growth in the condoms sale. Our aim is to make condom available to everyone as part NACO project, especially to those high risk groups. Now you can see our condoms even in a small departmental store or a pan shop,” NACO social marketing state manager Nityanand Das told this correspondent.
As per the marketing strategies the teams look for non traditional outlets other than medical stores to sell condoms. This year they have increased the outlets to 31,000 in all the 23 districts. The teams also provide gifts to the retailers in an attempt to motivate, encourage them to sell NACO’s condoms.
Under various promotional schemes if the outlets buy certain amount of condoms they will be given towels, kitchen ware and bed sheets as gifts. These schemes were also learnt to be introduced to face stiff competition from other aggressive private players in the sector.
“We always try to motivate the customer to buy NACO’s condoms as we get good gifts as per the number of condoms we buy and sell,” said Narayana, who runs a pan shop.