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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Bridals a competitive business by Surekha Galagoda
The month of June is synonymous with brides and so are the service providers. If a bride can find a service provider who will provide all the services according to the budget I reckon it would be a dream come true. Castle Wedding Needs, the one stop shop for all wedding needs run by Deepthi Ilangakoon gives every customer a personalised service. And what is more she attends to every minute detail. Hard work and dedication is the key to her success. She was born as the only child to Edwin Kondagamage and Rupa Mannapperuma. Her father was a businessman and her mother a housewife. She was educated at St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo. "I had a penchant for arts and crafts from my young days," she said.
After I got married and was blessed with two children I was at home and whenever I could I went to help my friends and their children to arrange their weddings. It was such a hassle to arrange a wedding specially if the bride was working or the time duration was short. Therefore I toyed with the idea of starting a venture where a person could find everything under one roof for a wedding-from the invitations to the Thank You card to suit the individual's budget. Deepthi started Castle Wedding Needs in 1997 investing Rs 500,000. At the outset she had one Magul Poruwa and two boys to help her. Today she has 50 Magul Poruwas and a staff of 40 to help her.Once a couple decides on their wedding day, they could peruse the albums and decide on everything according to their budget under my guidance and advice as I personally attend to every client.
As I personally supervise every wedding I don't undertake to handle more than I can. Therefore, every couple who gets my services is happy to recommend me to their friends and it has helped me a great deal to stay in this business which is now very competitive. For example if the wedding is thematic it will be shown everywhere from the decorations to the Thank You card. She said that most couples today prefer Kiribath structures to cake structures as they are edible, cheaper and traditional. Speaking of future plans she said that she wants to move into the field of banqueting, production and exports. Ms. Ilangakoon had a special word of thanks for her husband and the children as well as her son-in-law for all the support and encouragement. |
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