Buying a Canon printer or genuine Canon ink is easy in big cities, but things can be very different in smaller towns. People may have to travel to a larger market or wait several days for a printer or ink to arrive.
Canon India now wants to make its printers much easier to find. The company plans to more than double its consumer printing network to over 10,000 active retailers across 700 cities by the end of 2027.
The idea is simple. Canon wants its printers, ink and support services to reach more homes, schools, offices and small businesses outside the major metro cities.
The announcement was made in New Delhi on October 1, 2026. Canon says its consumer printing business has been growing at a double-digit rate year on year, and smaller cities are becoming an important part of that growth.
Table of contents
- Canon India Retail Expansion at a Glance
- Why Tier II, III and IV Cities Matter for Canon Printers
- What Is a Canon PIXMA Zone and PIXMA Zone Lite
- Canon’s Omnichannel Strategy Explained
- BizBee and Canon Passport Support Retail Partners
- Canon Printer Service Center and Ink Availability
- Canon Printer Price: Popular PIXMA Models to Consider
- What Canon India’s Leadership Said
- Why Printers Still Matter in India
Canon India Retail Expansion at a Glance
Here are the main numbers behind Canon India’s expansion plan.
| Initiative | Current Status | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Active printing retailers | Roughly half the target as Canon plans to double the network | Over 10,000 retailers |
| Cities covered | Not disclosed | 700 cities by end of 2027 |
| PIXMA Zones | More than 400 active | Over 500 PIXMA Zone Lite stores to be added this year |
| Canon Passport reseller partners | Over 5,000 active | Continued growth |
| RetailChamp sales staff | 400 | More than 1,000 |
| Retail Display Incentive Program | Over 1,000 partners | Ongoing |
| System Integrator partners | Expanding | More than 500 nationwide |
Why Tier II, III and IV Cities Matter for Canon Printers
Indian cities are commonly divided into different tiers based on factors such as population and economic activity.
Large metros such as Mumbai and Delhi fall under Tier I, while Tier II, III and IV include smaller cities and district centres such as Nashik, Hubballi and Bareilly.
These smaller cities are becoming important markets for printers.
Students need printers for assignments, forms and admit cards. Small shops need them for invoices and labels, while many people also operate photocopy and printing businesses from their homes.
Buying a printer in these locations can still be difficult. Customers may not always get a chance to see the printer working before buying it. Finding the correct ink or getting technical support can also be a problem.
By expanding to 700 cities, Canon plans to improve product availability and make trained sales staff and service support easier to access without customers having to travel to a metro city.
What Is a Canon PIXMA Zone and PIXMA Zone Lite
PIXMA is Canon’s popular range of home and small-office inkjet printers.
A Canon PIXMA Zone is a dedicated area inside a retail store where customers can see Canon printers on display, check how they work and get help from trained staff.
Canon currently has more than 400 active PIXMA Zones in India.
The company now plans to add more than 500 PIXMA Zone Lite stores this year. These are smaller retail setups designed for towns where a full-size PIXMA Zone may not be practical.
This can make the buying process much easier.
For example, customers can compare cartridge printers with ink tank models, check the print quality themselves and understand the running cost before deciding which printer to buy.
Canon’s Omnichannel Strategy Explained
The word omnichannel simply means selling products through several different channels while trying to keep the buying experience connected.
Canon’s network includes local resellers, large electronics stores, e-commerce websites, quick commerce platforms and business-focused partners.
Canon also operates Canon eSHOP, where authorised resellers can showcase and sell Canon products online.
This can be useful in smaller towns because customers get another trusted way to buy products while reducing the risk of accidentally purchasing fake or grey-market stock.
A customer could discover a printer online, visit a nearby shop to see it working and then purchase it either online or directly from the store.
BizBee and Canon Passport Support Retail Partners
Expanding a printer network is not just about opening more stores. Canon also needs trained people who can properly explain and support its products.
That is where programmes such as Canon Passport and BizBee come in.
The Canon Passport Program already has more than 5,000 active reseller partners. It works as a digital rewards, training and engagement platform for retailers selling Canon products.
Canon has also introduced BizBee, which focuses more on business customers.
The platform gives System Integrators and Value Added Resellers access to incentives, technical certifications, training, digital tools and business resources.
A System Integrator is usually a company that creates complete technology solutions for organisations such as offices, schools and government departments. This may include printers, networks, computers and software.
A Value Added Reseller sells products along with additional services such as installation, customisation and maintenance.
Canon plans to expand its System Integrator network to more than 500 partners across India, especially for enterprise, education and government customers.
Canon Printer Service Center and Ink Availability
When people search for Canon printers online, two common concerns are finding a nearby Canon printer service center and getting genuine Canon printer ink.
A larger retail network should help with both.
More retail stores can mean better availability of ink bottles and cartridges. Customers may also get easier access to trained staff who can help with printer setup, drivers and basic troubleshooting.
Canon is also expanding its RetailChamp programme.
The company currently has around 400 RetailChamp sales personnel and plans to increase this number to more than 1,000.
These employees are trained to explain Canon products at retail stores, which should help customers understand different models and features before buying.
Canon says its existing service network already covers more than 632 towns and over 19,000 PIN codes, supported by more than 325 printer repair centres.
As the retail network expands, customers in smaller cities should also find these support options easier to access.
Canon Printer Price: Popular PIXMA Models to Consider
Canon already has several PIXMA printers available in India, ranging from affordable cartridge-based models to higher-capacity ink tank printers.
| Model | Type | Best For | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA E477 | Cartridge, Wi-Fi all-in-one | Students and light home printing | Print, scan and copy at a low upfront price |
| Canon PIXMA MG2577s | Cartridge all-in-one | Occasional home use | Simple, compact and easy to set up |
| Canon PIXMA G3010 | Ink tank, Wi-Fi all-in-one | Families and home offices | Refillable bottles keep cost per page low |
| Canon PIXMA G3770 | Ink tank, Wi-Fi all-in-one | Small offices and photo printing | Built-in LCD screen and high page yield |
The Canon PIXMA E477 uses replaceable ink cartridges. Canon lists the printer at an MRP of Rs 6,495, with printing speeds of up to 8 pages per minute for black and 4 pages per minute for colour.
An ink tank printer works differently. Instead of replacing small cartridges, users refill larger built-in tanks using ink bottles.
Ink tank printers usually cost more initially, but their cost per page is much lower. This makes them better suited to people who print regularly.
The Canon PIXMA G3770 is one of the more feature-rich options listed here.
It comes with a 1.35-inch LCD screen and supports Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint and Mopria for printing from smartphones and other devices.
Canon recommends it for a monthly print volume of around 150 to 1,500 pages.
You can see the latest offer on the G3770 here.
Canon claims one complete set of G3770 ink bottles can print up to around 7,600 black pages and 8,100 colour pages.
For a home office or small business that prints almost every day, those numbers can make an ink tank printer much more economical over time.
If you already have a Canon G series printer, keeping an extra set of genuine Canon PIXMA ink bottles at home can also be useful.
For printing photos, using Canon glossy photo paper can produce much better colours and finish compared to regular paper.
If you are thinking of buying a printer as a gift, our earlier article on Canon PIXMA G3770 as a photo printing gift explains how it can turn smartphone photos into physical keepsakes.
What Canon India’s Leadership Said
Toshiaki Nomura, President and CEO of Canon India, said India continues to play an important role in Canon’s long-term growth plans.
He highlighted areas such as education, digitisation and infrastructure development as major factors driving demand in Tier III and Tier IV markets.
According to Nomura, the target of reaching more than 10,000 retailers shows Canon’s intention to invest ahead of future demand while bringing its products closer to customers through trusted local stores.
These stores are expected to offer both hands-on product demonstrations and expert guidance.
C Sukumaran, Vice President of Canon India, also highlighted the importance of Canon’s channel partners.
He pointed to programmes such as Canon Passport, RetailChamp and BizBee, which are designed to improve partner skills and help sellers better understand local markets.
BizBee will focus particularly on business partners and System Integrators by providing training, certifications and other tools required for enterprise, education and government projects.
Why Printers Still Matter in India
Printers may sound a little old-school in a world dominated by smartphones, but there are still plenty of situations where paper is needed.
Students print school projects and exam forms. Businesses need GST invoices and shipping labels. Home sellers need packaging documents, and families still enjoy printing their favourite photos.
Canon appears to believe that a large part of the next wave of printer demand will come from outside major metro cities.
The company’s imaging business has also remained active. Earlier this year, Canon introduced products such as the Canon EOS R6 V full frame video camera.
People printing photos may also notice that colours on paper sometimes look different from what they see on a computer display.
Our article on the BenQ PD2732U monitor that tackles print vs screen colour explains how professional displays are trying to solve this issue.
If Canon manages to achieve its 2027 target, customers in smaller district towns could have a much easier experience.
Instead of travelling long distances, they may be able to visit a nearby shop, check a PIXMA printer in person, buy genuine ink and get help when something goes wrong.
For printers, where after-sales support and ink availability can be just as important as specifications, that wider retail network could make a noticeable difference.