Ayurvedic cutex and lipstick to world market

Shirajiv Sirimane

For the first time ayurvedic cutex and lipstick are to be introduced to the world. This initiative is being taken by the Chairman of Charith Cosmetic, Clarence Kumarage.

Speaking to Daily News Business he said that in addition he would also help to manufacture an ayurvedic Henna Oil which too would be a world's first.

He said that he created Charith Cosmetic to import Amin's Herbal Black Henna and Black Gold Herbal Black Henna from India.

These products were manufactured by Abhinav Export Corporation India, extracting raw material from deep Himalayan jungles. The products were exported globally.

He said that Abhinav Export Corporation has also obtained Indian ISO certification for Amin's Black Henna products and they have also obtained local Health Ministry certification as well.

Initially, the Abhinav Export had second thoughts to award their agency to Charith Cosmetic since it was a new company. "But today we are their best exporter and have been winning the best exporter award for the last five years."

"It was due to our track record that Abhinav Export decided to accept my suggestion to manufacture ayurvedic cutex and lipstick. The Indian company would also manufacture Henna herbal oil and a shampoo which would be marketed in Sri Lanka very soon and this would be 'a first' for Henna users."

He said that his next aim was to introduce a henna perfume which would once again be a ground breaking product.

A former employee of George Stewarts he used his experience to successfully compete with multinationals involved in the import of Henna and today boasts of the market leadership with 75% shares.

He also thanked his key board members, Nilukshika Kumarage, Charith Kumarage, Marcus Tissera and Sales Manager Ranjith De Silva for their support to gain market leadership. He said that in addition to high quality, Amin's products were more economical to buy since they offer a larger quantity.

A BSC (Hon) graduate from UK, he says that the key to market leadership was his new marketing techniques which built up customer loyalty. "In addition, I also offered big margins for resellers which made the product more attractive to them," he said. Kumarage added that now he also reexports Amin products to Australia and Cyprus and was on the look out to export it to more countries.

This was the reason for us to set up our head office at the World Trade Centre and today we have a staff of over 150 who regularly attend training programmes. Asked if these products could be locally manufactured or packed in Sri Lanka, he answered in the negative.

"Firstly we don't have the raw material and don't have the technology to maintain the high manufacturing standards of Abhinav Export Corporation.