ADVERTORIAL

Charter House launches Grohe’s Rainshower Icon Collection

Having won the coveted ‘Red Dot’ best of the best award at the World’s Architect Festival, Grohe’s Rainshower hand shower has dazzled discerning customers around the world. Now, as Grohe’s exclusive Sri Lankan distributor, Charter House is bringing timeless style and luxury to fans of premium bathware with the limited edition Rainshower Icon collection.

A byword for elegance and eco-friendliness, Grohe is the world’s number one single-brand manufacturer of luxury sanitary fittings. The chic new Rainshower Icon collection, exclusively from Charter House, further enhances the company’s reputation for premium quality, technology and design by focusing on the fun factor.

Coming in six different colours, the aesthetically pleasing new collection allows customers to match their handheld shower head with their individual taste and bathroom design.

The Rainshower Icon collection blends form and function in a masterful display of design and colour. Featuring a ring-shaped design, an ultra-flat profile, and an ergonomic handle with a high-gloss chrome finish, the handheld shower head makes an immediate impression.

The Rainshower Icon collection goes beyond looks, however; it also turns heads with its ingenious design innovations.

The patented Grohe EcoButton, which is incorporated into the groundbreaking design in a contrasting colour, allows users to reduce water consumption by up to 40 percent without making the shower any less enjoyable.

With a portfolio of world-renowned brands including Grohe, Inda, and Bravat, Charter House focuses on enabling customers to express their design essence through bath and kitchenware. The company’s extensive range of bathroom solutions, which includes sanitary ware, bathroom accessories, shower enclosures, and commercial fittings, are statements of designer elegance.

Customers who are keen to experience the Grohe Rainshower Icon collection can visit the Charter House Lifestyle showroom on Havelock Road, Colombo 5. Also known as the Charter House Design Centre, the showroom, which is centrally located and boasts ample parking, allows customers and design professionals to view the company’s award-winning products in luxurious comfort.

A selected range of products can also be viewed through Charter House’s island-wide authorized dealer network.

Year 2011 full of opportunity for UA

Union Assurance (UA) concluded the year 2010 in a positive note. Union Assurance stepped into 2010 with a new brand promise and a number of innovations in service delivery as well as internal processes, and it’s all about making the best of the opportunities opening up in 2011, UA Chief Executive Officer Dirk Pereira said.

In overall business terms, 2010 has been a very good year for Union Assurance. Pereira said that the upbeat outlook in the post-war setting and improved macro conditions and economic circumstances have led to sharp growth in both life and general insurance segment of the business.

General insurance is also expected to improve further, because of duty reductions and infrastructure developments taking place in the country.

“At the same time, we’ve done a lot of work to raise our skill levels, improve our processes and enhance training and development. On the back of a very positive macro scenario, we’ve really worked on the fundamentals of the business, to accommodate growth.

“We also initiated many innovations internally in 2010, to improve workflow and processes via technology,” Pereira said. These innovations will help UA gear up for higher volumes and greater opportunities in 2011.

Marketing and Distribution General Manager Rukman Weerarathne said that the awards and recognition that UA has received in 2010 reflects the business growth and customers’ regard for the brand.

“Among other accolades, we were endorsed with an AA Brand Rating from Brand Finance. We also won the Gold Award in the insurance sector and the Silver for management practices at the National Business Excellence Awards conducted by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.

“And we won top awards from the South Asian Federation of Accountants and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

“These awards confirm our position as one of the most trusted insurers in the country and reflect also the care we put into our internal practices and processes,” said Weerarathne. UA’s innovations in 2010 include Union Challenger, a product designed to challenge ageing, and Motor Reload, which uses mobile technology to deliver services.

“Distribution is the key in growing the business. We will further invest on our distribution channel to exploit the opportunity for 2011, along with further expansion island wide.

“We were the first private sector company to move into Jaffna during the ceasefire in 2004. We predicted good times ahead always, so we’ve been investing heavily in the north and the east. We will continue to do that, while expanding throughout the rest of the country,” he said.

“Our rapid expansion will create new job opportunities in the market and also uplift the way of life for many Sri Lankan families. Union Assurance was endorsed as one great place to work by Human Recourses Professionals Sri Lanka in Association with Hewitt Associates India by awarding the HRM Award”, Pereira said

Emirates promotes Dubai Shopping Festival

The 15th annual Dubai Shopping Festival starts on January 20 and runs until February 20. Emirates has teamed up with beach and city hotels to offer a free-night stay during the Festival. Travellers who book a four-night stay will receive one free night.

Launched in 1996, the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival attracts visitors from around the world and has been supported by Emirates since its inception. “Emirates supports the Festival as part of our on-going mission to support Dubai as the ultimate tourist destination,” said Emirates Network Passenger Sales Development Senior Vice President Russell Sheldon. “Tourists can find every major brand in the world in Dubai, which has approximately 14 million square feet of shopping space in its malls, including the worlds’ largest shopping centre — the Dubai Mall. In addition to shopping, the choice of restaurants is also impressive. Our packages are designed to help make a Dubai stay more affordable,” he said.

Packages can be purchased through travel agents and Emirates offices worldwide, and include a choice of hotels, airport transfers and buffet breakfast. Participating beach hotels in Dubai are The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Mina A Salam and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina. City hotels include the Grand Hyatt, Dubai Marriott, Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, The Address Dubai Marina, The Fairmont Dubai, Shangri-La Hotel, Raffles, Taj Palace Hotel, The Palace - Old Town, Premier Inn Dubai International Airport, Four Points by Sheraton, Al Manzil Hotel, Qamardeen Hotel, Marco Polo Hotel and Highland City Hotel. Apartment hotels include Dubai Marriott - The Harbour Hotel and Suites and Pearl Residence.

Prices start at $ 55 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. The package includes accommodations for four-nights for the price of three, airport assistance on arrival at Dubai International Airport, Arabian Adventures welcome pack, airport transfers to and from the hotel by private car, breakfast daily and all taxes and service charges. Car rentals through Budget Rent a Car can be added to the package for an additional fee.

Sampath opens second branch in Vavuniya

Situated in the Northern Province, Vavuniya was often referred to as the gateway to Vanni. With the war coming to an end, this town has become a major supply location for development projects. With this in mind Sampath Bank opened its 170th branch at the Vavuniya Bazaar. This was in addition to the branch that was opened in Vavuniya in January 2003.

With the opening of this branch at No 5 and 9 Horawapathana Road, Vavuniya, Sampath Bank looks forward to provide a service that will truly benefit its people. With a varied product base, the bank is equipped with the latest technology to reduce processing time for transactions. Its fully automated on-line services also adds up to the convenience of carrying out transactions at ease.

The branch offers a full range of banking services which include savings accounts for minors and senior citizens, current accounts, foreign currency services, leasing facilities, pawning, personal, home and trade loans, fixed deposit schemes, all of which comprise many innovative value additions designed to benefit customers.

Having made tremendous strides as one of the leaders in the banking sector, its performance was amply rewarded when Sampath Bank was adjudged as the “Bank of the Year 2010” for the second consecutive year by the prestigious Banker Magazine of London’s Financial Times.

The Banker award is considered as the global Oscar for banking and has been designed to reward and promote industrywide excellence of the global banking community.

This award is a testament to the strong management and prudent risk management approach of Sampath Bank. As a leader in the banking community Sampath looks forward to be of service to the community in Vavuniya.

Oriflame goes online

Sarath Malalasekera

Oriflame online branded as “V3” will benefit the Sales Consultant and give value added service to the customers. Its a “World Class Service”, said Sri Lanka Oriflame National Sales Manager Virginia Corera at the launching of the Oriflame Online V3 at Colombo’s Ceylon Continental Hotel, recently.

Oriflame is an international beauty company founded by two brothers -Roberts and Jonas - and their friends in 1967. Oriflame is now selling direct in more than 60 countries worldwide. Its wide portfolio of Swedish, innovative beauty products inspired by nature are marketed through a sales force of over three million independent consultants, who together create annual sales exceeding $ 1.3 billion, Virginia said.

Sri Lanka Oriflame National Sales Manager Virginia said that Oriflame Lanka (Pvt) Limited is a BOI approved company since its incorporation in 1997. A member of the World Direct Selling Association, the corporation prides itself on its ‘multi-level’ marketing technique - a system which enables individuals to be a globally recognized organization and earn a commission-based income from home.

The conglomerate is also one of the co-founders of World Childhood Foundation and ‘The Foundation of Goodness’ in Sri Lanka, part of their extensive CSR drive in the South-East Asian Region.

The Oriflame business model is based entirely on ‘direct selling’ and their extensive network of 17,000 members within the country.

Oriflame prides itself on its organic model of a constantly growing and evolving company, built on a network of people, with 8,000 employees, Virginia said.

Oriflame Online ‘V3’ will prove to be an up to date and an innovative way of opening new avenues to the Sales Consultants of Sri Lanka. Oriflame Sri Lanka is making a large investment to switch to online to further its business and bring more efficiency to day-to-day operations of more than seventeen thousand Sales Consultants located in different parts of Sri Lanka, Virginia said addressing the media.

Oriflame Sri Lanka Marketing Manager Kisani Dahanayake said “We are enthusiastic and excited about the launch of Online V3 and positive that it will take our business to a new level.”

Sri Lanka Oriflame Finance Operation Head Lasantha Fernando and IT Manager Ravindra Bandara also participated at the launch.

Grameen felicitates dedicated staff

Grameen Micro Credit has been in the forefront in eradicating poverty in Sri Lanka by providing small scale loans to the deserving poor. Over the period of 10 years it has made a huge impact on the rural economy in particular and the Grameen concept has gained world recognition.

Under the theme of ‘Poverty Free Sri Lanka’ GMCL has handed over Rs 22 billion with a impressive recovery rate of over 98 percent throughout the ten year period, commencing 2000 to over 375,000 households making their lives better.

A strong leadership and a dedicated workforce are some of the key factors that has made GMCL gain the number one private sector micro finance provider in Sri Lanka.

GMCL commenced its operation in 2011 by felicitating its dedicated workforce at a colourful event held on January 3, 2011.

Employees who have worked for more than three years were awarded recognition certificates under three categories, bronze for those worked over three years, silver for those worked for over five years and gold for those worked for 10 years from its inception.

DVB in Pettah, Embilipitya

DVB in Pettah, Embilipitya