The China Household Electrical Appliances Association announced yesterday in a report on competition within the industry that Haier's refrigerator and air conditioner sales ranked as most competitive, The Beijing News reports. In washing machines, Little Swan tied with Haier for first place, and Changhong placed first in the television category. The report looked at retail sales in domestic outlets, and evaluated product brands on sales qualities like outlet location and product display. According to the association, China's appliance manufacturers are relying more and more heavily on distribution channels - shopping centers in particular - for their sales strategies, yet the sector has not undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of point-of-sale conditions, choosing instead to rely on traditional marketing strategies like lowering prices and including free gifts with purchases.Link: http://economy.thebeijingnews.com/0392/2006/0224/011@162947.htm