Samsung Brand 'Phasing' Out For Hanwha Techwin

By John Honovich, Published Nov 14, 2016, 11:10am EST

The phasing out of the Samsung brand for video surveillance products continues.

First, it was the corporate name changing from Samsung Techwin to Hanwha Techwin, with Samsung Techwin America and Europe remaining. Then came the switch from Samsung to Hanwha from the American and European divisions.

Now, starts the changeover for on-product branding.

**** *** ***** ******** in * ***** **** "Introduce[s] ****** ******* ******** Security ******** ********", ***** centers ** *** '*******' brand, ********* *******:

** **********, **** *** the ***** ***** ******** with ******* ******** ****** than *******.

****** ********* ** **** that:

** ****** ** ********* Wisenet ** *** *** products ** **** *** the ******* ***** **** continue ** ****** ** existing ********, ********* (*** and *** ********) *** all ********* *********.

**** ** * ********* from ******'* ********* ** the **** **** ****:

****** ******* *** ************ use ** *** ******* brand ****** **** ***********, it ** *** ******** to **** *** ***** name *** ***** ** come.

***, ****** ** ************* that *** ******* ***** will ** '*****' *** but ***** *** ******* over **** ********.

*** ****** **** ** (1) **** ** ***** to *** **** ********* **** step **** **** ******* and (*) *** ********** or ******** ****** ** hang ** ** ******* should ***.

** *** **** ****,******* ***** *** ** 'on ****', ************* *********, ***** *** ******* a *********** ****** ** marketing ********. ** *** other, **** * ******* Samsung ***** ** ****** still ******** **** * relatively ******* '******'.

Comments (17)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

11/14/16 04:32pm

I still believe that it doesn't matter what name it says on the box so the question is not relevant, cut it out completely (the name), take two years to slowly get the name off, it is all to me irrelevant.

Think about this, when they (Samsung/Hanwha) are competing against other similar sounding names such as Dahua and Hikvision, what is the difference? Name recognition, in what - consumer TVs, cell phones? "Oh yeah Samsung makes great security cameras cuz you know - they make great refrigerators...." Sorry I never used that sales pitch.

I get the impression that it is almost somehow implying that "Samsung" is an American company/Brand and now using Hanwha instead, it is a bad thing, because it is now more obviously a Korean company...

The big point to me is that they lied to their dealers. Told us they owned the Samsung brand and everything was good. This is the issue. To me there was no reason to stretch the truth or, - well lie.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 11/14/16 04:37pm

The big point to me is that they lied to their dealers. Told us they owned the Samsung brand and everything was good. This is the issue.

And I won't forget how their sales people went out and attacked IPVM for being 'sensationalistic' about our questioning whether they would keep the Samsung brand.

That said, a lot of people do care about the Samsung brand, not because they believe it's American but because Samsung is consistently in the top 10 or so global brands, and that helps with many end users.

Avatar

Peter Ainsworth

In reply to John Honovich | 11/16/16 09:16am

I had understood that they had an agreement to use the "Samsung" name for up to 3-years post buyout.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Peter Ainsworth | 11/16/16 11:19am

understood that they had an agreement to use the "Samsung" name for up to 3-years post buyout.

Hanwha Techwin has never given any official statement about the duration of the agreement. A few years sound reasonable to me but I do not have any evidence to confirm or deny that.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

In reply to John Honovich | 11/24/16 05:59pm

Hi Peter / John,

The 3 years was also confirmed to me whilst I was in the business.

The decision to move away from the Samsung name is to do with a desire from Hanwha, not any licencing or restriction from Samsung.

In western parts Hanwha is a very little known name, however in Korea it carries similar credibility and strength to the Samsung name, and as such I believe they are moving away from the name to show strength locally in Korea, as a lot of corporate pride is at stake, relying on the name of a rival (in many business categories), so close to home.

Whether the decision is right or wrong, it is very much taken from the other side of the world, influenced by local factors, through Kimchi tinted spectacles, and it was only a matter of time before the order was given for the remote sales offices (USA & Europe) to follow suit.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 11/14/16 04:44pm

Not surprised.

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
11/14/16 04:45pm

Its Amazing what the power of a big brand can do. We once sold branded Hikvision cameras, and now we sell OEM Unbranded Hikvision cameras. The SEO power of having a brand name was very valuable doing the branded version, much easier to obtain new customers.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 11/14/16 04:48pm

Sean, very interesting!

Do you tell them that these are from Hikvision, just unbranded or? I am curious how they respond, how much more challenging it is?

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
In reply to John Honovich | 11/14/16 04:52pm

we dont really mention it unless we are asked specifically. Its the people who notice the housings and stuff that ask. Its challenging for 2 reasons:

#1) you dont get the google juice that you used to when using Hikvision model numbers in your listing and google shopping feeds. This is the biggest bummer

#2) People are skeptical because they think it may be the Chinese version or European version or whatever. This can usually be overcome after a conversation with us.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

11/14/16 04:51pm

I think all the issues Samsung is experiencing would provide a "reason" to abandon the name. Nobody wants a camera that catches fire ;)

Undisclosed End User #4

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 11/14/16 05:31pm

I don't think our (consumer) memories are as good as they used to be... Samsung stuff blowing up will never be a Ford Pinto or a Suzuki Samurai.

Hanwha should milk the Samsung name for as long as possible. The first time I said Hanwha my boss said Say-Wha?

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 11/14/16 05:39pm

Just to note, these cameras are not branded as Hanwha. This is a way of keeping the Samsung name tacitly, as Wisenet was already associated with Samsung.

Clever.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 11/14/16 05:53pm

#2, that's a good point and 'Wisenet' is more English sounding than 'Hanwha'

Undisclosed #5

11/14/16 09:42pm

Delta includes this Samsung warning viral marketing in their reservation emails:

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 11/15/16 12:00am

Yes, travel is restricted to using compatible equipment using genuine Samsung batteries:

Undisclosed Integrator #6

11/15/16 12:09am

Two months ago this would have been an unwise move. Now with Samsung's exploding washing machines and phones all over the news, this give Hanwha a free pass to shut the name down for good.

The average customer remember brands a different way we do sometimes. Had one walk in off the street, only to be scared off by all the Bosch posters we had on the wall. For whatever reason they associated Bosch with being expensive. They make quality equipment in all sectors over the world but it left a mark on this person.

Undisclosed

11/16/16 06:02pm

We sell to small / large enterprise customers. We rely on a "brand name" to to justify the markup it takes to keep the machine running here. When Samsung went to Hanwha, we immediately received two calls from prospective customers that were evaluating our proposals. During their vetting process, they were doing their homework by searching cameras on the net. They saw that the website had changed over to Hanwha. We explained the situation. One of the projects nearly fell through because the "higher ups" were asking our contacts why they were paying so much for a "cheap" Chinese camera.

Executive managers and their directs, have better things to do than listen to us tell them that the camera is the same, or look, they both come from China. I think Hanwha puts out a great product, but people know the Samsung name.

This is horrible in regard to SEO as well.

Unfortunately, we decided to drop the Hanwha line, unless it is specified. In saying that, we do know that Hanwha builds an excellent, feature loaded product at an affordable price. The brand will likely suffer with engineers and consultants as well, but what is Hanwha to do. We are stuck looking for another value line product to supplement Axis and Arecont.

Best of luck to Hanwha.

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,735 reports, 909 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.

Already a member? Login here | Join now
Loading Related Reports