Ornamental items capture export market:

Spices spur entrepreneur to do wonders

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Creative people can do wonders in any field they are engaged in. When it comes to business a creative person can create new concepts, add value to products and earn foreign exchange.

Zulfikar Hashim

The Managing Director Nature Crafts, Zulfikar Hashim who manufactures and exports ornamental items using Sri Lankan spices, grains and other local materials won a merit award from the National Craft Council in 2007 and several other awards. He was interviewed by The Daily News Business. An old boy of Sylvester's College, Kandy, Hashim joined the Topaz and Tourmaline Hotel as a receptionist soon after his Advanced Level examination.

After a few years he moved to a hotel in the south where he was fascinated with the beauty of coconut trees and its value to people.

"When I had free time I used to watch people in that area plucking coconuts.

They plucked all the coconut strainers from the tree and discarded them. The idea of creating something worthwhile from these Matulu came to my mind", he said. "I first made photo frames and greeting cards using these Matulus with a few decorations. I gifted them to my friends on their birthdays and on other occasions. I never thought of doing a business of this nature then, he said.

Popular

While doing this over a period of time, these products became popular by word of mouth and he was called upon to undertake small orders. Encouraged by this, he started creating new products suitable for gifts. This made a fairly large customer base for him and he continued to develop it further.

In the meantime, he got an opportunity to work in a hotel in the Maldives for a short period. He took some of his products to the Maldives and sold them like hot cakes. Thereafter, the real business idea dawned on him.

"I was invited by one of my brothers to join his motor vehicle business in Japan during this time and I quit the hotel job to join him. But I made it a point to take my own products to Japan. As anticipated there was a big demand for them.

However, I returned to Sri Lanka after some time as the motor vehicle business did not attract me. Then I started my pet job of manufacturing ornaments again and registered it as a company in 2000, he said.

He made contacts with the Chamber of Commerce, Craft Council and other related organizations to promote his business. He participated in the National Craft Exhibition in 2006 for the first time. A customer from Japan who visited his stall gave him several orders from time to time and the business progressed gradually. His products became popular in a number of hotels that had spas and provided ayurvedic treatment.

Hashim started in a small room at his home in Kandy with an investment of less than Rs. 5,000 and today has five employees working under him. He has exported these products to Japan, the Maldives and Singapore.

Employees turn out exquisite ornamental items.

His product range includes photo frames, herbal curtains, cash boxes, greeting cards, hotel stationery, air freshners, menu cards, wall hangers and mirrors decorated with Sri Lankan spices, grains, Ayurvedic herbal, coir, and flowers.

Good market

Asked about the barriers faced, he said, "I am sure that I can create a good market in foreign countries for my products. I do not have a place to build a factory, and I do everything at home. I am somewhat reluctant to undertake large scale orders immediately because of financial constraints. If I have a plot of land in Kandy with some capital I can put up a factory and expand production while giving employment to poor people, This is still a cottage industry, he said

"I was planning to migrate with my wife and daughter but, now that the war has ended I gave a second thought and abandoned the idea because I want to do something significant for my country with my talents. Had I gone abroad all what I built would have come to an abrupt end.

I am aware of the demand of this industry in countries such as Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. It will be great if the Government could give me a helping hand," he said.

Asked about the secret behind his success, he said, "It was my creativity and dedication. My parents and wife supported me immensely, he said.