Dilmah & Odel From Sri Lanka Featured as Successful Marketing Stories in Global Marketing Textbook Kotler’s Principles of Marketing

02nd February 2011, www.island.lk

Dilmah and Odel are included as successful marketing stories from Sri Lanka in 13th Edition of Principles of Marketing (A South Asian Perspective) by Philip Kotler. It is a benchmark achieved in marketing management and marketing education of Sri Lanka.

Kotler regarded as the Guru of marketing, is the Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management in the United States. His books such as Marketing Management and Principles of Marketing are the most widely used text books in marketing management courses at undergraduate and postgraduate programs all over the world.

The 13th Edition of Principles of Marketing (A South Asian Perspective) is co-authored by Prof. Gary Amstrong of University of North Carolina, Prof. Prafulla Y. Agnihotri of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Prof. Ehsan ul Haque of Lahore University of Management Sciences.

The text book will be the main reference for most of MBA and undergraduate programs in business schools and Universities in South Asia and also for the students from the other parts of the world who will be studying the courses relevant to marketing in South Asia.

It is a first time ever that two Sri Lankan companies are featured in the book. Dilmah and Odel of Sri Lanka along with success marketing stories from India and Pakistan are featured with typical global success companies such as P&G, GE, Apple and Toyota. This will not only improve the image of two brands but also enhance the overall reputation of marketing management of Sri Lankan companies in the global context.

Chaminda Hettiarachchi, a lecturer and a researcher of South Asian management studies based in Sri Lanka is the contributor of the Sri Lankan case studies in the book. Chaminda remarked, "I am glad to have collaborated with Kotler and the co-authors to publish Sri Lankan marketing success for the book. I also like to thank the management of Odel and Dilmah for sharing their stories. This is not only an achievement for Odel and Dilmah along, the entire country can be glad of our marketing management success in the global arena.

We have considered several cases from Sri Lanka for the book however; only above two companies could make it along with other successful stores from India and Pakistan. I am looking to study about some more business cases for next edition".

Online Review of the book is available at, http://www.pearsoned.co.in/Web/books/9788131731017_Principles-of-Marketing_Philip-Kotler.aspx

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Sri Lanka's Odel Joins Intercontinental Group of Department Stores, the Largest Association for Department Stores Worldwide

25th January 2011, www.island.lk

Odel has been conferred membership of the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores (IGDS), the largest association of department stores in the world.

This prestigious membership puts Odel, the only IGDS member from Sri Lanka, in the company of some of the leading and most prominent department stores in the world including Selfridges, Saks 5th Avenue, Printemps, Parkson, Beco, FEDS, Shopper’s Stop, M&S and Woolworths.

By obtaining IGDS membership Odel has the potential to further enhance its operations, by utilising the services provided by the organisation to its members, the company said. IGDS acts as a platform for interaction between CEOs, senior managers and specialists of member organisations, organises conferences and seminars on pressing issues; explores and supports synergies between members and collects and disseminates information on the latest industry practices.

"We are very pleased with this membership as the screening process is stringent and members are handpicked due to the strict requirements that have to be met," Otara Gunewardene, Odel founder and CEO said. "The IGDS membership positions Odel as a leading department store with a strong brand and retail presence in the region, and puts Sri Lanka on the global shopping map."

IGDS President and CEO of Shopwise/Rustan, Philippines Bienvenido Tantoco and IGDS Executive Director Werner Studer in a joint statement said: "The Board is very proud to welcome Odel in our group and we are convinced that the membership will be of mutual benefit and prosperity in the years to come."

"Odel has convinced the IGDS Executive Board who is approving membership by its clear business plan, unique positioning and solid execution and implementation. IGDS is proud to accompany Odel on its future growth path. In return, IGDS members are going to benefit from the country specific know-how and information provided by Odel Limited in particular when it comes to sourcing from Sri Lanka or exchanging private label programmes."

IGDS was founded in June 1946 in Lugano (Switzerland) by eight European Department Stores. The key drivers to create IGDS were the need to share expertise and to combine purchasing power. The organisation comprises of one of the most unique and vibrant retail networks in the industry: 33 members from 31 countries, with total sales of over US$ 60 billion. Membership is exclusively reserved to leading Department Stores worldwide and limited, normally, to one member per country/region. The admission of a new member is subject to the acceptance of a majority of existing members.

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Sri Lanka Fashion Retailers Record High Sales Growth During Festive Season this Year

21st December 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Harshini Perera

Local fashion retailers are experiencing significant sales growth during this festive season than last year. Daily News Business spoke to several fashion retailers in the country last week.

The Odel PLC is still getting a strong element of sales from locals while there is an increase in sales from foreigners as well, Odel PLC, Marketing Head Upendra Gunawardhana told Daily News Business.

He said the basket value and the spending pattern of customers too have increased. He said sales will definitely increase in the coming days.

There has been an impact on the sales of retail fashion outlets in the past few weeks due to rainy weather but sales have picked up recently, Hameedia Stores Managing Director Fouzul Hameed told Daily News Business.

He said with the dawn of peace, people are in a festive mood and there are many corporate functions happening which make people to groom so well. “We have organized the range so well to cater the increasing demand,” he said.

“Most of the young people take time to dress well and we have already had a growth for this year compared to last year.

Therefore, we are positive that at the end of the festive season there will certainly be a growth,” Hameed said.

“Our customers have shown an interest in purchasing clothes early during this season compared to last year and it could be a result of the peaceful condition in the country. There was a down-trend in purchasing last year, NOLIMIT Marketing Manager A L M Akeel told Daily News Business.

“It seems that the purchasing power of people have increased due to the better financial figures and economic condition.

Compared to last year, there is a five to ten percent growth in customer expenditure. NOLIMIT expects a growth this year,” Akeel said.

The retail sales of Fashion Bug are on par with last year and it is expected to pick up in the following days. The spending pattern of customers have become very rational and they are looking for offers, Fashion Bug General Manager Saroj Lamahewa said.

“We get about 10 to 15 percent increase in every year and thus we expect the same this year since the basket value of our customers have increased,” he said.

Sri Lanka's Otara to Design for a UK Jean Retailer. Odel CEO Awarded the Best Entrepreneur at Stevie Awards, New York

24th November 2010, www.dailynews.lk

A UK based jean retail company has selected Sri Lankan entrepreneur Odel CEO Otara Gunewardene to design a new jean with her name as the brand.

Commenting to Daily News Business Gunewardene said she’s extremely privileged and excited about the Otara jean. The Otara brand jeans will be available in the international market.

“Selecting my name as a brand and giving me the opportunity to design the Otara jean is an achievement of my family, my team and Sri Lanka,” she said. She was awarded as the best entrepreneur at the Stevie Awards in New York recently.