Pamunuwa: big business in bits 'n' pieces

By Laila Nasry

It is 10 a.m on a week day and we are at Pamunuwa Road, Maharagama known for its extensive array of shops selling cheap cloth, cut pieces, buttons, lace, zips and other sewing accessories. 

At a glance, the scene has the air of a Sunday 'pola' (sans the veggies). But behind the colourful picture lies a network of buyers, sellers, dealers and a corporate cycle running from factory owners to small time businessmen, brokers and commissions. A business operation involving men and women, all sweating and toiling to earn an honest living. 

Twelve years ago there were only four stalls on this road," recalls W.G. Mahinda, part of the fast dwindling old brigade. "The now established shops were once small stalls who made it big. Cut pieces were all that were available then. We used to go and get them from factories that used to pay us for clearing their unwanted cloth, which they'd otherwise have had to throw or burn." The price was a lowly Rs. 5 per kilo. 

"But now there are more than 27 cut piece stalls," young Udena Bandara, his neighbour interjects. "Now brokers buy off the factories, keep a commission and sell it to home-based seamstresses who turn out readymade garments. These are sold to wholesalers who keep their 'cut' and re-sell it to the shops," he explains. The cut pieces we sell are bought from brokers to whom we pay 5% commission per kilo."

Profit margins are thus kept low to attract customers with cheap prices. However the stall holders feel they are undercut by factory managers who deploy their men in a similar business. "They are killing our market, but we are trying hard to keep our heads above water," one laments. 

Tucked away towards the end of the road is a sewing accessories shop. Yards of lace hang like streamers together with packets of buttons and zips. Large bags full of multi-coloured elastic and coloured reels of thread sit prettily at the entrance. The owner A. Giadu comes forward with an inquiring look. 

His little rented shop is stocked with a month's wares. "Most of it them are imported items from Bangkok and India," he says, adding that the prices have been raised due to the dollar going up. "What used to be Rs. 15 is now Rs. 25. And to top it all business isn't good." 

"How can you expect people to buy cloth when they're looking for money to get food?" Gunadasa, another shop owner inquires. "We used to have Rs. 10,000 sales those days but no more," he says matter of factly. 

The Avurudu season which usually starts towards the end of March is still to get into full swing. Though business is sluggish at the moment, the shop keepers hope (as in previous years) that the last-minute shoppers will materialise. 

Jayawardene's stall, meanwhile, is crowded with early shoppers. The 'cheeththa' material of all shades and patterns is the attraction there. For the past 11 years it has been a "twice-or-three-times-a-week trip to Colombo for purchasing," which during the season is limited to cheeththa and curtaining. "By April 9, I stop re-stocking and try my best to get rid of the remaining stock," he says. the rest of the year he deals with cut pieces. 

M.H.M. Ameer, who gave up his job as a driver to start this business anticipates no Avurudu boom. " The season for me is Christmas because there is a demand for soft toys," he says. Dealing in all accessories required to make a soft toy, his shop is one of just three in the entire street. Bales of soft and furry 'bowa' material bought monthly from the Biyagama zone, spongy stuffing and varieties of glassy eyes attract those passing by. However he's at a disadvantage. "The shop being located towards the end of the road results in others getting the business. Unless it's something they don't have which I do." 

Frequented by dress makers or those doing patchwork as a hobby, D.G.Kumuduni's cut pieces stall for the last 12 years has had good sales. "This is our mother's legacy to us," she says. "It's a good business to follow, much better than a government job because we earn enough to eat and live well for the day." Today she has her own stall alongside her mother's. 

Like any working mother Kumudini struggles to juggle her business and her family life. At 7.30 a.m. having dropped off her children in school, she's at the stall setting up her wares. School over, the afternoon sees her kids at the stall until she packs up for the day. "But my day is far from over. After dropping the kids at home and doing the housework I'm off to Katunayake to buy my stock for the following day." 

"Colombo is like Ampara to me. Everybody here knows me well," says Mary Nona who is laden with parcels having completed her purchases of ready-made clothes. In this business for the last 20 years, she purchases her goods once a fortnight to be sold to the farming community, the Kachcheri and schools back in Ampara. "I usually sell on credit and get paid on salary day but since it's the harvest season now, I will get my money upfront," she beams. 

This is her sole source of income with which she supports her family of three daughters, her husband having passed away some years ago. Travelling alone is hard work, she confesses. "I don't bring any of my daughters because it's too expensive. Bus-fare one way alone is Rs. 160 and lunch another Rs.40. So I have to come alone." 

The Senadheera sisters, Rohini and Winifred have come with their children to do their Avurudu shopping. "We come at least once a year and buy all we need. It's as cheap as we heard it to be." The children enjoy this yearly trip, on this occasion having gleefully missed school. "There is a good selection of children's clothes," Winifred says, while Rohini adds that "even after spending for bus fare it's still cheaper to buy here." 

From the suburbs of Ratnapura, Mangalika is a budding entrepreneur. Having started a clothes outlet two months back, Pamunuwa Road is her favourite haunt. "Coming here is closer than going to Pettah," she says, "besides you can find a great variety of clothes." 

The wonderful bargains was her constant topic of conversation back home. "Today we came to see what she spoke so much about," her aunt says. Accompanied by her cousins, Mangalika walks the length and breadth of Pamunuwa Road showing them around. "We are only looking," a cousin explains. "We didn't come prepared to buy because we didn't think it would be this cheap. But definitely, we will come again." 

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