Brandix fetes top executives

Glamour and glitz fused with inspirational presentations at the second annual awards gala of Sri Lanka’s top apparel exporter Brandix recently.

Themed ‘Dream,’ the event honoured 50 of the Brandix’s best executive employees, referred to as associates across the Group, for their achievements and commitment to values as well as tangible contributions to the growth of business.

Addressing some 1,300 associates present at the BMICH, Brandix Chairman Ken Balendra focused on the theme of the event and the value of vision. Quoting from motivational material, he stressed that “a visionary is not deterred by the size of the dream.”

“Any success you have in life,” Balendra said, “must begin with a vision. You must have a picture in your mind of exactly what you intend to produce.” Brandix CEO Ashroff Omar said the US$ 320 million Group, which completes five years under the Brandix identity in 2007, had recorded its best ever performance last year, achieving top and bottom line targets. “All 22,000 plus associates came through wonderfully,” he said.

A feature of the event was that many of the stage acts were performed by groups of Brandix associates who had mastered choral singing, comedy and dance routines to entertain their peers. An unusual fashion show at which models displayed a new range of convertible apparel with a futuristic theme was one of the highlights of the ‘Brandix Nite 2007.’

The awards presented recognised three ‘Young Leaders,’ ten associates for ‘Values in Visible Action (VIVA) and three cross-functional teams designated ‘Master Bla- sters.’ Brandix, which comprises over 25 fully-integrated manufacturing facilities, is backed by strategically located international sourcing offices. Brandix facilities in Sri Lanka comply with global standards and practices that go beyond the requirements of its stakeholders. Brandix is a member of the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) Certification Programme and firmly adheres to its principles, ensuring that apparel is produced under lawful, humane and ethical conditions. Brandix also follows SA 8000 social accountability standards and has been awarded the Occupational Safety & Health Assessment Series (OSHAS): 18001:1999, an accreditation that encourages continuous improvement in workplace health and safety.

Brandix pioneered the concept of total solutions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry and is Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter with a consolidated annual turnover of over US$ 320 million.

The Group is a preferred solutions provider to some of the world’s best brands, including Gap, Marks & Spencer, Victoria’s Secret, NEXT and Abercromble & Fitch and specializes in casual bottoms, intimate and active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread, accessories and hangers, and offers wet processing and finishing and fabric printing.

Over the last three years Brandix has invested Rs 3.1 billion and in the last year alone the Group has invested more than Rs 1.1 Billion to expand its Sri Lankan operations.

Peradeniya campus, RPD training programme begins

Richard Pieris Distributors (RPD) has joined hands with the Peradeniya University Faculty of Engineering to support planned and targeted industry centric training programmes for members of the technical profession.

The first of this series was held recently at the university. The training session was targeted at plumbing technicians where they were trained in advanced plumbing methodologies and techniques by the resource person chartered engineer and consultant P.A. Gamini de Alwis.

This industrial training programme is spearheaded by the Engineering Design Centre (EDC) of the Peradeniya University, Faculty of Engineering.

Explaining the objective behind these training programmes, Engineer Services of the Engineering faculty S.M. Dissanayake said: “Though there are a multitude of technical professionals in Sri Lanka we sometimes come across instances where a dearth exists among them on latest technical know-how.

In order to bridge this gap, enhance their productivity and to build relations with the technical community, the EDC has imitated this programme.”

This programme was sponsored by RPD’s water solutions division that trades in Arpitec water pumps, PVC pipes and Plastishells water tanks.

A spokesperson for the company said; “We were happy to join hands with EDC of Peradeniya University, as RPD as a company is dedicated to technical development and innovation.

By participating in such programme our company plans to become a vehicle that distributes the latest technical know-how to grass roots levels of our community and specific industry professional. We have had discussions with the ECD and are planning to give our fullest co-operation for their future projects.”

Fifty participants took part in this recently concluded programme representing various institutions such as Technical Colleges, Water Board, Municipal Council, Pradeshiya Sabhas etc.

Hutch offers convenient reloads

Hutch Me2U is the latest Value Added Service to be introduced to Hutch customers. This service offers a customer the convenience to transfer funds from one Hutch connection to another Hutch connection.

“Me2U” gives all Hutch users the ability to transfer ‘air time’ from one Hutch number to another through a simple SMS feature.

This facility will enable any customer, who may have a difficulty to get to a reload point, have his/her phone reloaded or topped up from a friend or family member.

Commenting on this new value added feature Manager SMS Business Development, Chryshanthus Anandan, stated “It is a simple SMS mechanism that could be followed by anyone.

Through “Me2U” Family and friends can top-up each other’s mobile accounts, employers can top-up their employees’ mobile accounts and Parents can top-up their children’s mobile accounts”.

“Our customers are heavy users of SMS and they are quite tech savvy. Since this facility is made available through a simple SMS feature which is supported by all mobile phones it is possible for anyone to re-charge at anytime, at any place and for any amount”.

It also allows parents to control and monitor children’s mobile phone usages and employers could control their employees’ mobile accounts. Hence this becomes an easy and convenient control mechanism as well. What’s more, it would cost the same value of an SMS for each transaction and the receiver has no incoming charge for receiving funds”.

Further explaining the security measures followed by the network Anandan went on to explain that initially there will be a default password.

Subsequently the user may change the password for their convenience and security. A customer’s per transaction value can vary from as low as Rs.1 to the highest value of Rs.500/- per day.

We have enabled this facility to all SIM’s and a SIM change will not be required.

Currently hutch offers its customers Value Added Services such as SMS, CLI, MCA, Call forwarding, Call Waiting, Call conference facility, Ring tone and Picture message downloads, operator logo downloads, cricket updates, exchange rate information, international SMS and Hello Tunes (Caller Ring back tones) and Hutch Voice SMS.

Hutch GPRS is also in the pipeline to be launched and will be availed to Hutch customers within the next couple of weeks.

SriLankan Holidays brings sizzling Summer Fun in Dubai

Its summer, and sizzling on the top of SriLankan Holiday’s ‘Mega 999’ vacation hot list this season is Dubai - with an extravagant array of special events and promotions that promise to leave you with a world of memories.

SriLankan Holidays’ offers an opportunity to catch a glimpse of old and modern Dubai.

This holiday however begins in Sri Lanka, with SriLankan Holidays taking care of all needs, including visa within seven working days.

SriLankan Holidays General Manager Amith Sumanapala said, “One of the most tiresome chores of most holidays is getting the visa stress that you don’t need. For your part, all you have to do is decide when you want to go, what more you want to do and how much longer you want to enjoy your experience in Dubai. We will take care of the rest,” he said.

SriLankan Holidays has also put in place a comprehensive web based booking system and a network of travel partners, offering travellers’ easy access to holiday offers and instant confirmations for their tour, hotel and travel bookings, adding extra nights, additional tours and hotel upgrades.

Skills goes fourteen, keeps up with the race

What makes a successful advertisement or advertising campaign? We have all witnessed the power of advertising. We appreciate the creativity, the impact, the information that is imparted and yet, with the vast array of ads which appear in a variety of media, how many are really remembered? How many have been effectual?

To make an impact in the advertising arena, skills, founded by Sri Sangabo Corea, established an agency of international standards within a local focus.

“The road thus far has been competitive yet exiting; we have witnessed various changes in the manner and styles of advertising, and have managed to keep up with the race and at times been a few steps ahead of the rest,” Managing Director of Skills, Ananda Samarasinghe said. With the milestone of 14 years under their belt, Skills looks to even further expansion to service their clients better.

Taking into account the current realities of the advertising industry, Ananda Samarasinghe, along with his fellow directors, L.D. Ganegoda and Priyanga Jayaweera, had this to say about the current advertising trends.

“There has been a lot of talk as of late in regards to the level of accountability that an advertising agency should have when working with an advertiser on its branding and campaign endeavours.

Since the Merger “Mania” of all the big players in the advertising industry has been in full swing there have been a lot of accounts in review and accounts jumping from one agency to the next.

“So what are the advertisers actually looking, for, are they looking for new ideas? Are they looking to build or rebuild their image? Could be. Or are they in search of the agency that steps up to the plate and says “Hey, we’re partners in the growth of your company and it’s our responsibility to help increase your sales revenue and if we can’t then we shouldn’t get paid,”.

Simple thought but not 100 per cent realistic because there are a lot of cost associated with developing branding ideas and then launching the initiative. But there has to be a comfortable medium that would make sense to both the ad agency and the advertiser.

“It doesn’t change the fact that when an advertiser brings in an ad agency, they don’t do that just to create a cool commercial and a catchy line, they do it to help increase their sales revenue.

“Maybe that is why there are so many advertisers looking for that right agency, they are looking at smaller independent shops and are seeing results, they are asking the bigger agencies for that special something for their brand and wait for the proposals to roll in. Competition brings the best out in all of us and that’s what advertisers hope for when they call for pitches.

They look for that one thing that sets one agency above the rest for their brand.”

This in-depth understanding of what an advertising agency should be and what agencies are in actuality is what has helped Skills Advertising and Marketing survive these past fourteen years.