|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 25 May 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Adding colour to your life by INDUNIL THENUWARA
Constance Carroll Plc London, the leading British manufacturer of cosmetics, fragrances and toiletries, will launch a new range of products this year. These products will be available in Colombo through British Cosmetics (Pvt) Ltd., the sole agent for Constance Carroll in Sri Lanka, before the end of the year, Joanna Hockett, Constance Carroll Export Sales Manager said. Hockett, who was on a visit to Sri Lanka, said the products will have a new look with new packaging. They are working on designs which make the products look more expensive than they really are. "They will look different, but not so different that they are unrecognisable to our clients," she said. The company is considering launching a range of products specifically for the Sri Lankan market. "We are considering the volumes here; whether the market is big enough. It is difficult, but is certainly possible with a proper estimate of the market. Sri Lankan clients like to try out products before buying, so we are looking at producing trial products which would fulfil this requirement," Hockett said. Constance Carroll was started over 23 years ago in Liverpool. The company which started small with old machinery is now a multimillion dollar company employing over 600 people. Its products are sold in over 94 countries. Putting out a new product involves a number of tasks including evaluating the market requirements, research and development on the product, testing to ensure that it adheres to all guidelines and standards, developing the packaging and marketing the product. "We have a research and development unit, we do our own packaging and catalogues. Since most tasks are handled in-house, we are capable of turning out new products in a short period of time. The sector is governed by a lot of legislation. We adhere to British standards which are probably some of the most stringent in the world. "Also, we constantly upgrade and change our products which is a norm in this business. Colours and fashions keep changing and we have to be alert to these changes and be innovative. "We maintain close contacts with fashion companies as the trends in cosmetics should be in line with the trends in fashion." The company caters to the whole family; men, women and children. It focuses on the youngest, who is just starting to wear make-up, as well as the oldest, or as Hockett put it, "from 11 to 65-year olds". The company tries to fulfil the different requirements in different countries during different times and is flexible in its operations. "For instance, Sri Lankans prefer darker shades of lipstick whereas the present trend in the UK is neutral shades. When marketing our products, we have to consider all these aspects. All our products, which count more than 100, are made in our UK factory," she said. Today's youngsters have more spending power and are also more trendy and fashion conscious than previous generations. So products aimed at them should look trendy and attractive. Constance Carroll products offer value for money and could be afforded even by youngsters. Hockett said they look at what the other big companies are doing and try to give a similar product of the same quality at an affordable price. The company sells its products in special showcases which shows the product as well as what it does. "These shelves act as 'sales staff' as they display everything a buyer may need to know. However, due to Lankan shops being rather small and space limited, they may be a challenge here, but we hope that the concept will take off," she said. Commenting on Constance Carroll-branded products being sold cheap at local shops and even pavements, Hockett said most of these products have found their way into the market from Dubai. "Dubai is a transit place and products go from there not only to Sri Lanka, but to many other countries. Travellers bring them in their hand-luggage and the practice is rather difficult to control. This problem existed here before British Cosmetics started in 1998 and even now to some extent. British Cosmetics puts a sticker to the products it sells and we can guarantee them as genuine. Others coming from Dubai could be genuine products, but they could just as well be counterfeits and we cannot guarantee them. We are now being very selective to where we sell and we are also taking legal action where possible." She described the island as a developing market for cosmetics. A lot of growth has taken place over the last year. If the situation in the country improves, investments will come in and the economy will grow, giving a boost to all industries, she said. Hockett said: "Constance Carroll is not looking for short-term gains. We do not enter a market to make a fast buck and run. Longevity is our key and we emphasise on quality and continuous supply. We have been operating for the last 22/23 years and we intend to be around for the next 22/23 years and beyond". |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
