Madara designs for exclusive clientele

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Training and acquired knowledge pave the way for better opportunities to go beyond traditional thinking in securing gainful employment. The experience blended with passion goes along way in a chosen field where self satisfaction becomes the key. Madara S. Hettiarachchi ventured into the home deco industry continuing her passion and valuable experience she gained in working for two five star hotels.

Her creativity and artistic skills coupled with the updated knowledge has moulded her to become successful in her venture.

She caters to a special segment of customers where a close rapport has been built over the years. Within a short period of time Madara’s venture has fully blossomed and her product differentiation and niche market approach has proven successful regardless of the new entrants in to the industry.

She was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Excerpts of the interview.

Q: How do you describe your line of business?

A. I ventured in to designing and decorating of houses, hotels and government institutions. The interior decoration and designing is carried out through my company “A touch of class with Kapoor’s Furnishings” where the showrooms is at Nawala. It involves from the initial stages of visiting the place, designing and selecting the colour texture and getting down the materials. The materials are imported from Turkey, India, Singapore and Italy. The reason for using imported material is to maintain standard of high quality and I want my product to be the best.

I exclusively cater to the niche market and I supply 25 percent of the market requirement. I have clients who keep coming to me since the business started eight years ago. The experience gained through my 20 years in the hospitality industry stood in good stead for the venture to progress rapidly. I followed a BSc degree in India where Interior Designing was a subject. I had a passion for this field and the hotel background too helped me immensely to move forward.

Q: How do you manage time to handle your personal life?

A. My husband is very supportive and we have two sons. Since the children are grown up I devote eight to nine hours to develop the business and spend more time on delivering a fine product. However, when there is a need I always make time for my family adjusting other schedules. The venture has give employment for ten people and their support to run the business smoothly is a valuable asset.

Q: What motivated you to venture in to business?

A. The passion played a centric role followed by experience and knowledge. Though venturing on my own had an element of risk I was happy to take this as I had the means to fall back.

The bold decision I took to set up the venture has paid back today as I have sustained the business for eight years with a reputation of delivery quality.

Q: What are your goals?

A. I have the satisfaction of providing a quality product for my customers. Therefore I consider customer satisfaction to be the main goal and work towards achieving this. I have the thirst to give our young generation proper guidance to take up a suitable job.

The gaining capability, capacity building and sharing experience will mould young job seekers to secure desired jobs. The finding a job is a long process and this needs planning and follow up work. I intend providing comprehensive guidance for the youth as a turn key project.

Q: How do you face the challenge of competition?

A. I do not have competition as my focus is the upper-end of the market. I do not engage in mass production and therefore I do not see any competition. We take orders and supply them on time apart from the readymade products on display. We work to our capacity and I always believe in providing the best.

Q: What example do you provide others?

A. I consider being an example of how to take up challenges. As I have always delivered on time, I have shown the importance of time management and completing a job on time.

It is necessary to see to the satisfaction of customers as they are the driving force of a business. As I always believe in commitment, there is a need to go for a job and retain it.

Q: What is your specialty?

A. Winning customers is not an easy task and retaining them is even more difficult. I have been successful in this regards and it helps in the sustainability of the business.

I consider my public relations to be at the highest and this has made things easier. The customer handling is an art and I have mastered this art to a certain extent.

Q: What are your achievements in business?

A. I have created better ambience in homes, hotels and other places I have undertaken orders for interior decorating. I have added colour to the environment and have make it a better place to live. I had the privilege of working with first ladies starting from 1989 up-to-date. I do the interior decorations for the President’s House. I have trained many young people in the hotel trade and they are doing well in their careers and some are at top level.

I could say that I have earned people and there is constant contact with them.
I believe it is not the money that brings happiness, but the human relationships.

I am also successful in my family life as my two sons are doing well in life. All in all what I have gained so far could be considered as an achievement.

Q: What is your message to society?

A. We have to work hard and cannot be complacent. The mindset should be changed towards working and the right attitude. Give out your heart and soul and give the best. You need to provide an example of commitment and effort which is lacking in our society. I have the best clients and I want to give them the best.