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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Exquisite products from
loofah :
The sky is the limit, says entrepreneur by Surekha Galagoda
A mother's love and skills together with his hard work and dedication is the secret behind Abdul Cader Mohammed Haris's success, the owner of AntiBo products. He was born as the eldest to a family of six, four boys and two girls. His father S. I. Abdul Cader was a businessman and his mother M. Fareeda was a housewife. Haris had his education at the Meera Central College, off Katugastota in Kandy. "After I sat for my Advanced Level examination in the Arts stream I joined the Hotel School which opened opportunities for me in the Middle East. "I worked in the Middle East for seven years and while I was there I learnt many skills including electrical work and plumbing. The hotel management was pleased and promotions came my way every year", he said. Two years before he returned to Sri Lanka he mused what he wanted to do back home. "I was keen on business but it had to fulfil several conditions. It had to be different, use local raw materials and the initial capital had to be low.
Considering all these factors I decided to manufacture bath scrubs using loofah. As soon as I came to Sri Lanka I registered the company AntiBo and started distributing the stain remover Clorex. The chemical was imported from Japan. I still manufacture it on a small scale. Then I moved to making bath scrubs in 2001. I purchase the loofah which is thrown from farms and clean and dry it. I tried all the machines to clean the loofah without damaging it, but nothing worked and I was desperate. Tears glistened in his eyes when he said that his mother taught him the technique and thanks to her he had now mastered it. The company manufactures scrubs and indoor slippers with the loofah. There are eight people working in the factory. I have received many inquiries from overseas but since there is a dearth of raw materials I do not want to commit myself to any order right now before I get my supply chain organised.
I also want to acquaint myself with packaging and presentation before I start exporting. "In the event the government gives me a block of land I can plant the loofah seeds and harvest them within four months. This would ensure a consistent supply. I can also provide employment to some unemployed youth in the farm as well as increase the number of jobs in the factory. Once I organise the supply chain and resolve other matters and start exports I reckon the sky is the limit, he said. "My dream is to see my product on the shelves of every well-known super- market around the globe. Haris, the father of two children is thankful to his parents, his family and wife for the support they give him. |
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