Advertorial

Triad wins for third time

Best TV Commercial of the Year:

CIC’s ‘Biththara Wee’ advert won the TV commercial of the year accolade at the SLIM Nielson People’s Awards held last night - a commercial which was the brainchild of ad agency Triad (Pvt) Ltd. This is the third year that Sri Lanka’s top creative agency and third consecutive times Chillies winner bagged this award - the first two years being for its iconic ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ national campaign.

The SLIM Nielsen Peoples Awards is organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing in association with the Nielsen Company, and is a local symbol of achievement that accolades creations which are nominated by the nation’s people themselves and are therefore a true reflection of the pulse of the people.

‘There are two ways of judging effective communications,’ said the Triad Executive Director and Brand Strategist Michael Holsinger. ‘One is through the creativity of the campaign, and the second is through how effectively it managed to engage the consumer in its message. Therefore for us as an agency, winning a People’s Award only emphasizes the latter - as it clearly reflects the impact the advertisement had on its audience. This win only adds to our strong and long-standing reputation and reconfirms our creative supremacy in the industry,” he said. For Triad, CIC Agri has been a valued client for several years and the agency-client partnership they share has made the CIC brand portfolio reach new heights.

According to the team at Triad, one of the key reasons for this is the belief the client has in the agency’s creative capability and its ability to deliver real business solutions. Adding that CIC is also a very forward thinking company that encourages innovation and insightful thinking and new ideas which can set a new standard in the market place, the Triad team is proud to share this success with their client - who to them is an extension of the agency and their valued partner in the brand building process.

Triad being a leading creative communications company, which has over the years has been recognized and rewarded for its creative and effective communications, has set a new pace in the marketing communications industry and is proud of this achievement made through teamwork, an aspect which every employee firmly believes in and espouses each day.

The team now eagerly looks forward to meeting the challenges of 2011, retaining their leadership whilst offering brand centric, consumer driven, locally relevant communication ideas in both conventional and non-conventional media platforms.

RRL shares expertise with organizations

The growing business and economic development sector in the post war context in Sri Lanka is opening new doors of opportunity for the launch of new organizations. Taking advantage of these emerging opportunities, a group of high calibre professionals with long and rich experience in senior positions in leading organizations in Sri Lanka and abroad have come together to share their wealth of expertise with organizations.

Rainbow Resources Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, (RRL) is a vibrant new organization that has been recently set up to offer high quality training and specialized consultancy services.

RRL specializes in communications and media development, human resource development, project management, and corporate social responsibility.

The RRL team is led by Manique Mendis, a well-known communications specialist.

With an impressive track record covering over two and a half decades as a leader in business and socio-economic development in Sri Lanka, Manique has initiated Rainbow Resources Lanka, with a group of like-minded professionals with accomplished credentials.

Having started her career as a journalist, Manique has functioned as the Public Relations and Information Communications Head in several private and public sector and international organizations.

The other members of the team are: Organizational Development Specialist Dr Mahim Mendis, Human Resource Specialist Swinitha Coswatte, Program Expert Sheila Richards, Foreign Correspondent and Media Trainer Amantha Perera, Public Relations and Event Management Specialist Shyamala Fernando and Administration and Logistics Specialist Surangani Adhihetty.

Having worked in many leading organizations both in the private and public sectors and international organizations, Manique and her expert team are ready to add value to the operations of organizations to facilitate in finding solutions to complex organizational challenges by sharing their specialized expertise and skills.

RRL services in communications are focused on public relations, event management and development of promotional material cater to all organizational needs in this area.

Services include the designing of communication strategies for organizations.

Activities undertaken are organizing press conferences, developing media relations, drafting press releases, organizing field visits for media personnel, organizing press coverage and developing news and feature articles.

RRL also undertakes development of websites, data bases and stakeholder relations management.

In the sphere of event management, activities undertaken are organizing of seminars, workshops, conferences and business meetings from the concept stage until the end inclusive of all post event activities by reporting on the proceedings, producing reports on various meetings, promotional events; product and company launches, cocktail receptions, formal dinner parties, theme parties, concerts, awards ceremonies and decor.

“The unique value addition that we offer to event management is that we do not just take charge of logistics.

Due to the rich level of expertise and experience within our team, we offer specialized input to develop concepts and present the themes and subject matter featured in the event in a creative and out - of - the box manner. As such, we are involved in developing the event as a whole.

“We are partnered by top logistics service providers, as smooth and efficient handling of logistics and the best technical support is a must for an event,” said Manique.

RRL also undertakes designing of promotional material; newsletters, company profiles, leaflets, brochures, annual reports, banners, audio visual material and promotional gifts and souvenirs, photography and video filming of events, developing and presenting tailor-made TV programs as per client’s needs, Translating, editing and copywriting - in Sinhala, Tamil and English and communication through news featuring articles on development issues to highlight ground situations and the voice of communities at grass roots level who face challenges of post war development and socio-economic problems.

Business solutions from Nations Factors

Many businesses today are saddled with inadequate working capital driven by the need to extend credit ranging from thirty to ninety days.

This stifles their growth, and precludes them from capitalizing on the many opportunities in the market. Such businesses could look at obtaining a facility from Nations Factors, the factoring arm of Nations Trust Bank PLC. (NTB).

Through a factoring facility, customers have the opportunity of obtaining up to 85 percent of the value of the credit invoice upfront while the debtor (entities to whom the customer supplies) could still enjoy the entirety of the credit period.

Nations Trust Bank Chief Manager Factoring Sheahan Daniel said “As a nation we are well poised to enjoy a period of prosperity and growth hitherto unseen, fuelled by a people enthused by the prospect of freedom and lasting peace.

Businesses need to grow: they need to thrive; this translates into enhanced income levels and an improved quality of life for all Sri Lankans.

This is where we come in, by allowing businesses to grow and to enter new markets by satisfying the myriad needs of a vibrant customer”. Nations Factors is no new entrant to the factoring sphere in Sri Lanka. In fact, it is one of the companies that pioneered factoring in Sri Lanka.

This wealth of experience that it has amassed over almost a decade in existence is now being enjoyed by its clientele.

“Factoring is a working capital tool that can be used by a variety of businesses. Ancillary services offered are sales ledger management, receivables collections and debtor advisory services, thus freeing up internal resources to be put to better use in growing the business.

Further, customers have access to their accounts through the Nations Factors web portal around the clock from anywhere on the globe”, Daniel said.

“Factoring is the ideal product for a business in growth mode, since no tangible security is required. Customers are encouraged to use their collateral to fund long term investments that allow capacity growth; while the working capital cycle has the agility to grow.

Our security is the invoice; collateral is not a requirement to obtain working capital through factoring”, he said.

NTB has extended its factoring operations to Kandy, Galle and Negombo in a bid to assist businesses in these areas, and are in the process of expanding the product offering further to outstation areas to reach out to fast developing businesses.

With NTB’s innovative 365 day banking and extended banking hours, customers in these areas will enjoy hassle free factoring services offered by experienced and efficient Relationship Managers dedicated to handle even the most complex situations with ease in providing flexible solutions to its customers.

Customers could also benefit from the myriad products and services offered by Nations Trust Bank which include leasing, American Express Cards, trade services, current and savings accounts.

Charter House, Grohe launch bathware digital revolution

Charter House electrified visitors at the recently concluded “Architects 2011” exhibition, where it unveiled the brand-new Grohe Ondus range of digital bathware. Judges at the event, recognized as the largest and most respected professional exhibition by the construction industry, awarded the company’s stall. “The Most Innovative Trade Stall Award for Excellence.”

The radical new Grohe line of Ondus digital bathware is a paradigm shift away from the bathware of old, combining sensual minimalist design with groundbreaking digital technology to give users a liberating bathroom experience. Incorporating a truly intuitive digital interface, the GROHE Ondus line of digital bathware allows users to customize water temperature, flow rate, and spray pattern. The remote control has two individual user buttons on the digital operating panel, simplifying the bathroom experience and heightening user pleasure.

The Grohe Ondus range is meant for the most discerning consumers - those who demand the very finest in quality and convenience while insisting on a distinctively different design aesthetic.

Inspired by the fluidity of water and the forms of nature, the range is characterized by a blend of minimalism and sensual curves. The faucets, mixers, and accessories in the Ondus collection all flow out of this design philosophy, with every single detail clearly thought out; for example, the digital display glows stylishly even when the remote control switches to sleep mode.

From the champagne cooler, robe hook, and towel holder, to the remote control and soap dispenser, every bathware item in the GROHE Ondus range exudes sophistication and a touch of the avant-garde. The collection is available in a selection of sharply contrasting colours, including velvet black, moon white and frosted titanium.

All materials used in the range have been chosen to create a soulful atmosphere; one that allows users to bask in the soft light reflected off its carefully crafted surfaces.

Connoisseurs of class who wish to be amongst the first to experience the Grohe Ondus collection can drop in at the Charter House Lifestyle showroom on Havelock Road, Colombo 5. Featuring ample parking, the showroom puts Charter House’s extensive range of bath and kitchenware brands, including Grohe, Inda, and Bravat, on full display. The company’s products can also be viewed and purchased through its islandwide authorized dealer network. The relationship between Charter House and GROHE, which spans over 20 years, has brought a number of groundbreaking bathware products to Sri Lanka.

The ultra-modern Ondus collection, which has swept global design awards, such as “red dot: best of the best”, Design Plus, IF Design Award China, and Prix du Design, is the latest innovation to reach local shores. Delivering never-before-experienced levels of convenience, style, technology, and freedom, the Grohe Ondus collection from Charter House is certain to alter the bathware landscape.

IIAT holds graduation

G-39 - a group of 39 trainees graduated as airline professionals in cargo handling, fares and ticketing, airline cabin crew and frontline airport handling recently, at the auditorium of the OLAK Group, IIAT’s parent company amidst a gathering of aviation and airline officials representing the IATA, the TAASL, Galileo, the Ceylon Chamber, airline officials, parents and well-wishers.

IATA Agents Association and Travel Agents Association Senior Vice President S. Paramanathan officiated as the chief guest, while the Harpo Productions and Hotels Managing Director Harpo Gunaratne was the guest of honour.

“IIAT delivers the best quality education imparting the best in class facilitators and technology and that’s the same reason IATA agents and TAASL partnered with IIAT to conduct all airline related training for our member staff” said Paramanathan.

Veteran trainers Chandrika Perera, Gerald Mendis, Jayasiri Guruge, Ajith Ullandupitiya and Kanchana Mallawadu were the course directors whilst IIAT’s Lead Image Building Consultant and Mentor to Bellwood Actress Jacqueline Fernandez, Loretta Gunewardena gave the graduates the much needed flair and grace, said the Institute of International Air Transport (IIAT) MD and CEO Ranjeewa Kulatunga.