Sewing is no ‘sunset’ industry in Sri Lanka: Singer Chairman
Singer Industries (Ceylon) PLC, the sewing machine manufacturing unit of Singer group, has been able to keep the sewing craft alive through its sewing schools and educational programmes in collaboration with the Department of Education, the company Chairman said.
In his review to the company’s Annual Report 2012, Singer Industries Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya noted that although in some Asian countries label sewing as a ‘sunset’ industry, it is not so in Sri Lanka.
“To support our customer base, we hold regular sewing machine clinics across the nation, going direct to householders to service and upgrade their machines periodically,” he said.
Amarasuriya explained that such clinics are sometimes held in a town centre or a prominent public place where a customer can bring her model in for review and improvement or call-in so that our staff can visit such homes.
The Chairman further stated that the company’s adaptability to keep abreast of sewing community needs brings new customers to its fold through endorsements or firsthand experience of service initiatives beyond the call. Singer Industries produced close to 45,000 machines in the year under review.
However he added that the market is moving towards portables due to a rapid expansion of electricity, apartment style living and a revival of the youth market.
“The management is planning to extend the line by adding more models to this range and young adults are one of the keys to expansion,” he explained.
According to CEO Asoka Pieris, the sales of sewing machine heads, cabinets and stands declined in terms of units. Despite price increases following devaluation, the revenue increased 5 per cent to Rs. 746 million during the year ended December 31, 2012.
However profits for the year were Rs 33.9 million, a decline of 34 per cent as against the previous year. Pieris attributed the decline to an absence of gains on disposal of investments partially offset by lower payments for voluntary retirement, higher net finance income and gains on change in fair value of investment property.