WHIRLPOOL is a familiar name in the whitegoods industry. And so it should be. The company has recently celebrated 80 years in the business, having been established in the United States in 1911. In fact, 1991 was a landmark year for the company as it took over Phillips' major domestic appliance section to become ''Number One'' worldwide manufacturer of these appliances. And Survey Research Hongkong found that, in 1989, Whirlpool had gained a large enough market share to take it to top spot in Hongkong in the sale of washing machines. Yet this company, which has a 234-square-metre area at the Electrical Home Appliances Expo, is not content with conquering one area of the market. According to Ms Rita Cheung of Whirlpool (HK), the company realises that, generally speaking, the consumer does not perceive any major differences between whitegoods of varying brands. ''So, we have decided to concentrate on another area - that of service,'' said Ms Cheung. ''We have introduced what we call Star Service and this includes seven-day delivery, even on holidays, and evening deliveries up to 9 pm. And to better facilitate the process, a new service centre was opened in Tsuen Wan in January this year. Having bagged a sizeable slice of the washing machine market in Hongkong, Whirlpool is now concentrating on the microwave and cooker hood sectors. And the Electrical Home Appliances Expo offers the perfect forum. It will give Whirlpool the opportunity to show off two world-patented features in its new award-winning microwave oven. ''Whirlpool has designed an oven with a double emission system for even quicker cooking. ''The design won a Best Product Design award in Europe. ''As well, we will be displaying our world-patented Crisp Grill microwave oven dish,'' Ms Cheung said. Visitors to the expo can have their photos taken with the Whirlpool fairy and money raised will be donated to the Hongkong Society for the Protection of Children.
