Two warring paint companies Sadolin and Plascon are in a cut-throat competition with lots of mudslinging in an attempt to dominate the crowded market.
Their fight for the paint marker has captivated the public and shaken up the industry.
The beneficiaries have been the customers, who now have a number of choices available to them, the media companies that are minting millions from advertising
Plascon went into overdrive, marketing and advertising Plascon paint as original Sadolin in a new skin.
According to the sale agreement, Kansai Plascon was supposed to market both Plascon and Sadolin Paints concurrently for a year in order for the new entrant not to kill off old Sadolin, in Uganda for over 50 years.
But Plascon had other ideas. It engaged the media, advertising agencies and all Sadolin distributors and sellers, the simple message being Plascon is Sadolin, “same quality, different name”.
This infuriated Akzo Nobel, offered its Sadolin license to Regal Paints, a company already operating in the market.
But this came months after Plascon had saturated the market with its products and negative sentiments as Sadolin products dwindled in the market. By the time Plascon went public, it had done the heavy lifting, including buying off and changing the mindset and marketing language and images of former Sadolin distributors and sellers.
Regal Paints is marketing Regal and Sadolin paints as two separate products, stressing that their Sadolin is the original Sadolin, which Plascon claims it bought and rebranded as Plascon.
This has created confusion with both companies riding on the Sadolin brand success.
The branding of products by both Sadolin and Plascon are similar, except for pricing whereby Plascon products are on the higher side.
A 20-litre bucket of Plascon paint goes for about 258,000 shillings, compared to Sadolin’s at 240,000. A 5-litre tin of Plascon paint is at 55,000 while Sadolin is at 40,000 shillings.
Mildred Tusingize, a sales representative of Sadolin Paints agency, Saltos Handling Services at Hardware City Arcade in Nakasero, says their Sadolin products are original and of higher quality because the license is by the brand owners Akzo Nobel.
Tusingize says although Sadolin sort of re-entered the market, it is slowly but surely regaining ground because the name runs deep.
She admits that Plascon has eaten into Sadolin’s market, but they are continuously sensitising clients on the developments.
Asha Namusere of World Beam Services, formerly a Sadolin agent and now Plascon’s, says Sadolin is now Plascon and that is their narrative to the market.
Indeed The Nile Post witnessed several buckets and tins of Sadolin being prepared for return to the factory.
Namusere admits that all is not rosy for Plascon as getting out the Sadolin name and image in the minds of many clients, especially those from upcountry, will be tough.
Namusere’s marketing line is what all former Sadolin dealers, now Plascon’s, propagate in a choreographed manner; a testament to Plascon’s marketing efforts to dominate the market.
Some Regal Paints agents are still holding onto Regal products not mixing with Sadolin, an apparent attempt to watch the market.
Interestingly, many Plascon sellers, without any prompting, suspiciously said if one is not interested in Plascon paint he or she should go for Peacock Paints because, as they put it, “the new Sadolin is Regal”.
Ali Ssali, the sales and marketing manager of Kyengera Trading Store opposite Nakasero Market, said as far as he is concerned Sadolin is now Plascon.
Tusingize said they are aware of the mudslinging of Sadolin Paints, adding that it is only a matter of time before, as he put it, “the truth comes out”.
Other paint products are also ramping up the market and they include, among others, Peacock, Royal and Dura Coat.
