Footwear: Quality key in a product, now power of advertising
However much a product is advertised or powerfully promoted, its success depends and relies solely on quality.
This is the view of Monicah Murigu, Director, Winaco International Ltd, Mburu Glchua Road, Kenya speaking to the Business Times at the Footwear and Leather Products Fair 2014 which was held for the 6th year at the BMICH last week.
Asked, while she was checking out some items, whether she wanted to purchase any leather from Sri Lanka, Ms. Murigu said that they are visiting Sri Lanka for the first time and they are buyers and sellers and if the products they are searching are of best quality they would definitely make some purchase of ‘dehydrated skins’ (tanned hides). She said “We search for the best products available in the international market”.
She said that they have seen and checked the products of their choice available at the exhibition but before placing any orders, they have to run through the products again to ensure whether they are of best quality. Ms Murigu said that in their country they are teaming with the small and medium importers and exporters.
There were many foreigners from several countries who were busy in selecting their needs. Maria Andronilikibou, Sales and Consulting, Aura UG, Germany, told the Business Times that she has come from Germany to form an association to bring the economies of Sri Lanka and Germany together. She said that she is visiting the fair to gather information and procure avenues to establish their association for which they are equipped with adequate funds.
P.G. Nimalsiri, Chairman, Sri Lanka Leather Products and Footwear Association, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, said that when they first started the fair around five years ago they were unable to get even 50 participants but today the numbers have swelled to more than 225 stalls
He attributed this to the good work of the Industrial Development Board (IDB) which has contributed immensely for the high standards and growth. He said that after this government came into power in 2009 the local footwear industry won duty free import of machinery and accessories not only for large scale industries but also for medium and small scale industries. However now due to some adjustments in the duty structure, some issues have arisen.
Nawaz Rajabdeen, Chairman, IDB speaking to Business Times on the sidelines of the opening ceremony said that their assistance to the leather products and footwear industry is through a partnership with the Export Development Board (EDB). A separate section has been set up to deal with this industry. He said that IDB’s assistance to leather industry goes back to many decades.
He said that high quality Sri Lankan leather garments and shoes are now exported to many countries and noted that plans are afoot to provide the industry with advanced technology that would create a healthy atmosphere for the manufacture of leather products.
He said that there are several foreign buyers in the town including delegations from Iran, Europe, the Middle East, etc.