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Shree Khodal Creation( King Laces)
Kolkata is on the company’ s radar for the same. It is exploring‘ khatli work’ to give pure feel of handwork.“ Apart from above mentioned things, we are planning to focus more on marketing and trading rather than manufacturing, mainly for those kinds of laces for which we don’ t have in-house manufacturing like needle loom, crochet laces or any other demand which emerges in the future,” shared Dalpat.
Nilesh Ribbon Industries has expanded and upgraded in last one-and-a-half years and similar process is still going on. The recently installed machines will help the company in better and detailed designing. Production is also increasing due to high RPM of the new machines.“ Now we have the latest machines for narrow fabric production. I see further investments in latest jacquard machines as it has capacity of more production in less time and produces normal jacquard fabric as well as narrow fabrics,” informed Manoj.
Keeping minimum stock and frequent changing of style is also a tool being used by nearly all lace companies. Manoj shared that earlier most of the orders were being catered from ready stock but now since designs have shorter life and market is becoming more challenging, people
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ESSENTIALS
After garments, the use of laces and ribbons in gift packaging and now even in footwear, tent items and overall decoration, has given a wider market scope for the products.“ Some times even we don’ t know what will be the final use of our lace or ribbon, but it is for sure that new areas of use are increasing for lace and ribbons,” says Dinesh. Many manufacturers don’ t even bother to know the final use as they are concerned only to serve the buyers’ need perfectly.
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are maintaining less stock. In some cases, lace manufacturers do keep their machines idle for a day or two and change style often, rather than continuing production in same style just to keep stock with them. It is helping them to reduce the cost and to develop more designs.
Slow and steady growth in export business is also a supporting factor to the lace companies as without exploring and investing much, they are getting on and off some export orders. Some are getting orders directly from buyers while few get overseas orders through local agents.
Nilesh Ribbon Industries is exporting to countries like Dubai, Thailand, Pakistan and Nigeria, while few other countries are under process. A Japanese delegation recently visited the company and appreciated its products.“ We are happy with this little export venture that we have achieved and focusing more to increase it. China’ s price and fast delivery is also a problem for us but this export is not complicated as we have worked with the apparel exporters who also ask for proper shade, etc.” claimed Manoj. He further added that challenges in export are there but he is positive to have growth in exports, be it the strength of designs or flexibility to do smaller orders.
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Swiss Ribbons also sees export as a strong support and is henceforth focusing on the same, as export has been a growing segment for the company from last five years.“ Currently, we are doing it through local agents and satisfied to do indirect export as our product is being appreciated,” said Dinesh. He further adds,“ With the increasing number of lace manufacturers, now traders have plenty of options in designs as well as in market while earlier they had limited options. This is a challenge for manufacturers like us but we are managing it by having better control over quality, as quality keeps us ahead of others. Overall the lack of focus on quality hurts the confidence of buyers, especially in exports. We are doing it passionately so all this seems easy.”
King Laces earlier had good business with Algerian, Morocco and Tunisia-based buyers, which is now comparatively less.“ Earlier we used to meet 2-3 buyers every week, the average of which is now even less than one. One reason for this is the price variation and market being spoiled by some manufacturers offering lower price on less quality products … They don’ t have to invest in design development, but just copy the design …,” says Dalpat.
Increasing use in different items
After garments, the use of laces and ribbons in gift packaging, and now even in footwear, tent items and overall decoration, has given a wider market scope for the products.“ Sometime even we don’ t know what will be the final use of our lace or ribbon, but it is for sure that new areas of use are increasing for lace and ribbons,” says Dinesh. Many manufacturers don’ t even bother to know the final use as they are concerned only to serve the buyers’ need perfectly.
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