A small timer's fairy tale growth

by Irangika Range

GARMENTS: Starting her career as a small time entrepreneur, she has been able to reach the top in her own business today achieving many goals in life.

She is Primalee Samudra, Proprietor of Lakmal Garments, Dodamgoda in Kandy who was crowned the Women Entrepreneur of the year 2006 under the small investment category.

The Women's Chamber of Industries and Commerce has granted a merit award to honour her talents, hard work and commitment to achievement.

She started her business following her own idea in a small way at her home in Matale in 1986. She had only one sewing machine initially.

She received guidance from her mother who runs a small workshop of her own. At the beginning, she supplied her finished garments only to a few shops. " I captured orders by talking personally to merchants and shop owners.

Her finished garments have a big demand in the market within a short time due to producing highly needed products," she said.

Expanding the business, she purchased new machinery by selling one of her properties. Gradually many orders were received and she recruited three assistants. She purchases raw materials at the Pettah market.

Though her business provides her a good income, she met her life partner through business. She was a supplier for her husband's clothes shops and their partnership ended with marriage later on.

After her marriage, she expanded her business with the assistance of her husband. With the high demand, she moved her business to Dodamgoda in Kandy by stalling more machinery. Eventhough there were three assistants at the beginning, She has been able to provide employment to over 30 in the area.

She has also given sub contracts for people and most of them are house-wives in the area.

They earn a sufficient income by utilising their free time and it is a good income generating avenue.

They sew her cut and designed garments in their homes and she pays for finished pieces. Her dedicated workforce helps her by understanding pressure deadlines. Their commitment to quality goes in to each garment manufactured.

Gaining working experience gradually by recognising buyer requirements, her garments have a big demand in the market. Her dedication and well planning have made her recognise latest fashionable trends and consumer behaviour in the market. She is involved in designing, cutting, supervising of each garments to assure quality products. She monitors distribution, administration and accounting as well.

She has recognised the latest in fashion, new colour designs and creating new styles to meet customer requirements.

She gathers latest knowledge from journals, chambers and directly talking to customers at the sales.

Businessmen in Colombo supply her material now on confidence and they also supply material on credit. The significant feature is that she has developed her business without obtaining loans from banks.

Today she manufactures various categories of finished garments such as T-shirts, shirts, bottoms, children's kits, night dress, gowns, blouses on various designs.

She displays her ready-wear garments at two showrooms in the Joe de Silva Shopping Complex and Queen's Hotel in Kandy. She said that she gained vast knowledge by following the business management course which has contributed largely to lead the business towards the successes.

She expects to apply for a bank loan with the hope of constructing a new building to move her factory to her own building and employ about 50 girls.

'I also intend to provide transport to my workforce once I expand my business. She hopes to participate in international trainings to improve her knowledge in India in the near future.

The Women's and Sports Affairs Ministry in Central Province has conferred her the "Diriya Kantha" award at the Women's day celebrations this year.