Global reputation for Lankan toys

by Shirajiv Sirimane

Sri Lankan soft toy products have a global reputation and the 'Made in Sri Lanka' tag on these products is an additional advantage to market them," Managing Director Paradise Toys Wattala, Sri Lanka Arnold Fehn said.

He said that though similar Chinese and other cheaper products are available in the market for at least 40 percent less than Sri Lankan manufactured products, parents still prefer to buy Sri Lanka soft toys. "This is because parents would not compromise quality for price as they want to give the best for their child," he said.

However in contrast Sri Lanka is soft toy market is price conscious. "Parents would always look for the cheaper toy and this is the reason why we have not launched our product range in Sri Lanka" he said.

He said that they use non toxic material and their colour schemes (ACO) are not prone to cancer. He said that they change their toy manufacturing range regularly which gives their competitors and imitators hardly any time to copy their designs.

Paradise Toys with their parent company, Fehn Gmbh and Company KG, established in 1945 also has a factory in China. "Chinese employees are more obedient while Sri Lanka workers are more innovative, creative and skilful and they can switch to a new design in next to no time," he said.

He said that their innovations, new designs, quality finishing and the small administrative workforce is the key to their success. "We have only six administrators to control a 1100 staff", he said. The staff are provided with hostel, lunch, transport facilities, interest free loans and an annual bonus.

He said that the factory is now air conditioned and their electricity bill per month alone is around Rs. 1.2 million. "This is because we have to avoid perspiration on the finished products keep the factory free of dust and to give a better working environment to the workers," he said.

According to General Manager Neil Fernando they manufacture over 400 varieties and over 10,000 pieces per day. The designs are supplied by Sri Lanka and Germany. The company has also acquired and they have invested Rs. 1.5 million for the latest laser fabric cutting machine.

Paradise Toys, a BOI approved company commenced operations in 1995 and they have invests over Rs. one billion so far. Paradise produces baby educational soft toys to teach colours, melodies, feelings and noises to the babies.