BANKING

CIM rejuvenates retail excellence

In an attempt to understand the changing landscape of retailing and shopper marketing, the Retail Sector Market Interest Group of The Chartered Institute of Marketing Sri Lanka Region organised a Retail Summit, recently, at Waters Edge. Nearly 80 participants availed themselves of this valuable opportunity to be enlightened on the four pillars of modern trade with local and international perspectives.

Head of the Retail Market Interest Group of CIM Sri Lanka Region, Ravi Jayawardena, inaugurated the summit giving an insight into the changing landscape of modern trade in Sri Lanka.

Customer Development Director of Unilever Asanga Ranasinghe, Trade and Marketing Director of Ogilvy Action, Ms. Manita Khuller, Consultant - Supply Chainlabs, Teilman Nieuwoudt and Head of the Retail Market Interest Group of CIM Sri Lanka, Ravi Jayawardena at the symposium.

In an interesting and thought-provoking address on shopper understanding, Trade and Shopper Marketing Director of Ogilvy Action, Asia Pacific Region Manita Khuller, stated that shoppers often make their buying decisions at the store, and are often influenced by store location, shelving, promotions etc.

She further stated that with the development of retailing, the store has become a marketing medium and over 50 per cent of the purchase decisions in some categories are made in-store. Quoting examples from supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol shed stores, she elaborated on the differences in shopper expectations at each channel and how to optimise the assortment and layout, in order to drive sales.

Her presentation ran through several case studies of leading retail stores and brands, enlightening the participants on the changes in the landscape of retailing and modern trade around the world.

Consultant - Supply Chainlabs, Vietnam Teilman Nieuwoudt, based his presentation on supply chain management, an integral part of modern trade. His presentation identified the key processes and flaws in an organisation and discussed the recent development in the area, such as the need for improved consumer service, better integration amongst the processes, decreased inventory, shared performance management information, improved partner connectivity, aligned processes and increased collaboration etc.

As he emphasised on collaboration, Nieuwoudt explained certain channel conflicts which have resulted from cultural differences, poor alignment, accountably issues, competing partners, lack of leadership and communications, technology barriers, unclear benefits etc. His presentation also ran through 4PL services, chain mapping, selecting and using the technology for supply chain excellence etc.

Customer Development Director of Unilever Sri Lanka and Head of Corporate Integration and Market Interest Groups of CIM Sri Lanka Region Asanga Ranasinghe, addressing the audience elaborated on Point of Purchase (POP) and how retailers could exploit POP in converting shoppers to buyers.

He stated that the brand owners have a competitive edge over private brand owners, who lack innovation. Therefore, he urged brand owners to be innovative which would help them to successfully negate the competition from private brands owned by retail chains. Talking of the difference between shopper, consumer and customer, Ranasinghe stated that organisations often try to understand the consumer but fail to realise the significance of shopper, who makes the ultimate buying decision.

In his presentation, Ranasinghe explained how retailers have evolved into strategic partners of brand owners and the interdependence of the two parties; as he urged the need for collaboration.

He spoke of two golden rules which were critical for collaboration, ie, understanding the shopper and understanding the business model of the retailer. Ranasinghe’s presentation enlightened the participants on the recent developments in retailing and modern trade in Sri Lanka, illustrated with success stories of renowned brands and retail stores.

This Retail Summit was organised with the objective of inculcating best marketing practice in the retail industry, thereby contributing towards the development of the retail industry of the country. It was one of the most recent initiatives taken by the CIM MIG - Retail Sector in pursuit of their vision.

HSBC expanding thro Singer outlets

HSBC is constantly striving to give enhanced benefits and convenience to their customers. With this in mind, HSBC offers its credit cardholders a convenient way to make credit card bill payments through 300 Singer outlets Islandwide.

Customers can now make credit card payments at all Singer locations, including, Singer PLUS, Modern Homes, Singer Mega and Sisil outlets, covering Colombo, Gampaha, Negombo, Rathnapura, Kandy, Nuwaraeliya, Badulla, Anuradhapura, Dehiaththakandiya and Mahiyangana, at a nominal fee of 0.75 per cent of the deposit value.

Head of Sales and Retail Distribution at HSBC Nadeesha Senaratne stated, “Our intention is to ensure that our valued customers, who do not reside in close proximity to a HSBC branch, are not unduly inconvenienced.

It is with this purpose that we tied up with Singer as the largest single channel in Sri Lanka with a wider outreach to assist them to perform their transactions in their own locality. I am happy to say that this service is working really well, as our customers living in the suburbs and remote parts of the country have responded very positively to this initiative”.

The Bank has also expanded its third party networks to 838 access points around the country, with Cargills, Lanka Bell, Commercial Bank, Sri Lanka Post, and Abans being the multiple Banking channels.

In addition, customers can also bank through alternate HSBC automated service channels - 24 HSBC ATMs, Phonebanking and Personal Internet Banking services, and 37 EasyPay machines.

Commercial Bank felicitates long-serving staff

Forty eight staff members of Commercial Bank of Ceylon, who completed 25 years of service and 18 staff members who retired from service this year, were honoured for long and dedicated service to the Bank at an award ceremony held recently.

The long-serving award recipients with the Commercial Bank Chairman Mahendra Amarasuriya.

The ceremony themed ‘Strength and Stability’ was held at Holiday Inn Hotel with Chairman of the Commercial Bank, Mahendra Amarasuriya as the chief guest.

Amarasuriya gratefully acknowledged the valuable work done by award winning members of staff during past 25 years and the sacrifices their families have made to make their work life significant.

He also focused on the changes the Bank has experienced since these staff members joined 25 years ago. He commented on the inevitable fact of “change” and the need for the Bank not only to react when changes take place but also to plan for and manage change pro-actively. “Since the Bank was mindful of this fact and had the support and loyal service of the staff, the bank achieved wonderful results,” Amarasuriya said.

Among the staff who were felicitated for 25 years of service were the current Managing Director of the Bank Amitha Gooneratne and Deputy General Manager (International) Jegan Durairatnam. The Deputy Chairman of the Bank B.R.L. Fernando also graced the occasion along with representatives of Corporate Management and other invitees.

HNB launches safe drinking water and sanitation programme in Mannar

With latest research highlighting bowel diseases as one of the most critical health issues in the country, HNB embarked on an ambitious safe drinking water and sanitation programme that saw its very first project being completed in Mannar. The village of Siruthopu in Mannar recently received access to a proper source of safe-drinking water when HNB stepped in, distinguishing themselves yet again as a bank whose interests go beyond business.

A well was built and a tank set up along with six taps in a central area of the village, providing the much-needed solution to dire water and sanitation problems faced by the people in the village.

The people of Siruthopu had next to nothing to come back to, but received a somewhat solace when a NGO pitched in to build houses for them. Safe drinking water and sanitation however remained a burning problem as their only source of water came from a bowser that found its way to the town daily to fill a single plastic tank out of which over 75 families received water.

That water too was not safe for drinking and was the cause of many cases of bowel and other diseases, and sickness became an everyday experience for the people of this area.

The plight of the people living in Siruthopu was brought to the Bank’s notice by HNB’s Mannar Branch Manager and steps were immediately taken to determine what the Bank could do for the people.

On November, 15 the grateful locality of over 75 families received a steady mode of clean water that would be sufficient for all. “Water and sanitation is as important as a roof over your head, maybe more so. The project in Mannar is the first of a series of similar projects that will be instigated in various needy areas of the country,” said Managing Director Hatton National Bank Rajendra Theagarajah.

Similar projects to provide safe drinking water and sanitation will be taken up in Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Chunnakam and Kataragama in the immediate future. This project was initiated with the guidance of Deputy General Manager - HR & Administration J.R.P.M. Paiva who is heading the CSR initiatives of the bank. Providing safe drinking water and sanitation is a key millennium goal identified by the United Nations Organisation.