Samsung's 'Washing Machine, Dryer, AirDresser' Trio of Garment Care Sees Sharp Sales Increase in Q1

Sales of both dryers and washing machines increased by about 60% year-on-year with the introduction of Grande AI
Sales of the clothing purifier 'AirDresser' also increased by more than 50% year-on-year

A Samsung Electronics model is introducing the Samsung Grande AI dryer and washing machine at the Samsung Digital Plaza Gangnam Main Store.

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Samsung Electronics announced on the 21st that its three major clothing care appliances?washing machines, dryers, and Air Dressers?showed a significant increase in sales in the first quarter of this year.

According to the company, the Samsung Grande AI (Artificial Intelligence) dryer and washing machine each surpassed 30,000 and 20,000 units sold respectively within about two months after their release on January 29. Additionally, fueled by the popularity of the new products, cumulative sales for both washing machines and dryers in the first quarter increased by nearly 60% compared to the same period last year.

The Grande AI dryer was the only product in the industry to receive a Grade 1 certification under the Dryer Energy Consumption Efficiency Rating system implemented by the Korea Energy Management Corporation starting March this year. The company explained that consumer preference for energy-saving products is driving the sales growth trend.

Furthermore, the Grande AI features “All-in-One Control,” which allows operation of the dryer from the washing machine control panel as if they were one unit, and “AI Course Linkage,” which automatically recommends drying courses tailored to the washing course. These features have led to a 60% rate of customers purchasing both washing machines and dryers together, contributing to increased washing machine sales as well.

The Grande AI dryer is praised not only for its innovative AI functions but also for its hygienic structure free from concerns about rust, dust, and residual water, as well as its faster drying time enabled by the largest compressor and heat exchanger capacity in Korea.

Additionally, the “Air Sterilization+” function can remove 99.9% of bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus from clothes, and completely eradicate house dust mites in bedding, allowing hygienic management of not only clothes but also bedding. This performance has been certified by Intertek, a global product testing and certification organization.

The Air Dresser, which allows easy management of clothes contaminated after going out, also gained great popularity. Sales in the first quarter increased by more than 50% compared to the same period last year.

In particular, the large-capacity model, capable of managing long clothes as well as family members’ garments all at once, accounted for 75% of Air Dresser sales, driving overall sales. The Air Dresser is uniquely recognized in the industry for adopting a dedicated fine dust removal and odor decomposition filter for clothing.

Moreover, it has received certification from the British Allergy Foundation for its ability to eradicate house dust mites and remove mold and allergy-causing bacteria, and from Intertek for its performance in removing pollen and harmful substances from dry cleaning (perchloroethylene).

Lee Dalae, Executive Director of Samsung Electronics’ Home Appliance Business Division, said, “We hope consumers can conveniently manage not only washing and drying but also the hygiene of clothes that are difficult to wash at home with Samsung’s clothing care appliances.” He added, “We will continue to introduce various products that contribute to innovation in clothing care.”