Tea with Nandadeva Perera

HR development to overcome challenges

Hiran H. SENEWIRATNE

Sri Lanka is fortunate enough to be geographically located next to India, which is one of the fastest emerging economies in the world, Chief Executive Officer/ Director, Vogue Jewellers Limited, Nandadeva Perera said.

He said Sri Lanka could get huge market opportunities through the Free Trade Agreement with India, which would enable to cater niche markets.

Perera said India’s rapid economic development would surely benefit the Lankan economy due to the close proximity to the Indian sub continent. With the expanding of the Indian middle class, most of the Indians tend to travel to Sri Lanka bringing a lot of business opportunities.

Under these circumstances the buying power of the Indian middle class is increasing, paving the way for Sri Lankan markets in the country, he said.

Q: What is the main focus of the jewellery business?

The main focus of our business is bridal jewellery, as a wedding is a grand occasion in anybody’s life and it is once in lifetime. We sincerely believe that life should begin with the best cultural and traditional practices.

We are enjoying a substantial market share in the bridal jewellery business and always give prominence to the culture.

Unfortunately, our people tend to do away with culture and embrace fashion. Sri Lanka is blessed with a rich cultural heritage and we should not compromise our cultural values just for fashion. We always give quality products guaranteed for generations.

Q: International gold prices are going up considerably impacting the local gold prices as well. Under the present circumstances how do you survive in the industry?

Gold prices have been doubled in its value within the last five years. With these challenges we have come out with a strategy to manufacture jewellery with less weight maintaining the attraction of the product.

Our products are guaranteed for lifetime and our Managing Director personally involves in quality control activities. When we design bridal jewellery we design differently to suit the bride.

Currently, we enjoy a 50 per cent market share in the bridal jewellery business. Our target audience is top end of the market and we do not focus on the lower end.

Q: Today, under the present economic conditions family owned businesses are facing a lot of challenges with the outcome of new business strategies and models. How would do you look at that situation?

Vogue Jewellers Limited is a family owned business for more than four decades. Sarath Hemachandra founded it way back in 1960. Now we have realised and understood the business challenges we have to encounter.

Therefore, we have identified the importance of the human resource factor. To maintain the market leadership we have built a strong professional team in our organisation for decision-making and day to day operations.

We have also provided training and development for our employees. Today we have a workforce of 300, dedicated to the organisations.

Q: What do you think of regulatory bodies like Gem and Jewelry Authority and Export Development Board to regulate the jewelry sector?

Both authorities or regulatory bodies are doing well and the industry is quite pleased with them. Sri Lanka is one of the best producers of Blue Sapphire, which has enormous potential for the export market. Now we are looking at avenues to penetrate into the export market.

Q: What are the future plans in the business?

There are many jewellery shops in the country but the difference is that we manufacture and design jewellery not merely for commercial purpose.

Now we have already started a structure with the vision to set up a one-stop-wedding place in the future which means we provide services like hotel reservations and bookings, flower arrangements and many more.

Q: What is your philosophy in life?

My philosophy is to achieve a mental status that all the people who come in contact with me go back happier and for them become a better person with the experience.

I think we have to inculcate good qualities in our personal life including gratitude and gratefulness. I have to mention my cricket Guru/Master in Charge at Nalanda Vidyalaya Premasara Epasinghe, and quote him “When a great score comes right against your name, it doesnt matter whether you won or lost but how you played the game”. He was a great teacher and an inspirator in my life, whom I will never forget.

Q: You are an outstanding school cricketer at Nalanda with a lot of exposure at the local and international level. Therefore what is your opinion on Sri Lankan cricket administration?

Since I captained the Nalanda Cricket team and represented the Hong Kong national team representing two Mini world cups I would like to tell the Cricket administration of Sri Lanka to focus only on development of cricket and they must have a plan for the future.

They should stay away from politics and people with talent and ability should be given a chance.

Q: What is your opinion on resolving major problems in Sri Lanka?

My answer is a quotation on Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy where he said that “difference between what we actually do and what we are capable of doing, can solve most of the world’s problems”.

If we are sincerely dedicated towards solving problems in the country we could and citizens and political authorities should sacrifice in resolving problems.

Q: What is the country you like to visit most?

I have visited more than 16 countries in the world. But Sri Lanka is the country that I like the most because of the natural beauty and the people. Our country’s bio diversity cannot be equaled to any country in the world.