May 2015 Financial News

Sissons opens newest shop in Debe

May 29, 2015

Commercial manager at ANSA Coatings Ltd Umanath Maharajh wants to see more public and private sector investment in local paint products.

In his address at the official launch of the country’s newest Sissons Colour Shop at SS Erin Road, Debe, on Tuesday Maharajh said: “What we find happening is that even when we have better quality, even when we have better pricing, somehow from somewhere within the system and bureaucracy, you see foreign paint being specified and being used.”

He said the Food Production Ministry is growing onions in Chaguaramas to reduce the food import bill, “other people are specifying paints from the US from Brazil from Europe. That is not consistent.

He added: “So in our daily decisions please use what is done locally and what contributes to the local economy because this is where we live, this is where we are.”

Maharajh is confident the Debe Colour Shop will be a success and will satisfy all the painting needs of the rapidly developing area. Special features at the store, which opened to the public last November, is a colour visualisation system. He explained that the system allowed customers to “see how your house would look in different colours from Sissons, different colours from competitors, before you even put a drop paint on the house.”

He said the system is available on the company’s Web site and a programme is being developed for mobile phones.

ANSA Coatings managing director Roger Roach said the opening of the Debe store has put the company a step closer to achieving its goal of becoming a regional coatings powerhouse. He said two months ago the company launched its first colour shop in Jamaica as part of its targeted objective to deepen its regional footprint following the successful incorporation of ANSA Coatings Jamaica Ltd last October.

“ANSA Coatings is the most diversified coatings company in the region. We are not only top of class for decorative paint but we also lead the automotive paint sector, we are a major player in the industrial and marine coating sector and we provide a wide range of accessories.”

Roach said the company will be introducing its own private labelled brand of rollers paint brushes and other products  later this year.

“Our goal is to become the regional coatings powerhouse and we are close and to double the size of our business over the next five years. We see this location and others to come in this area, which is becoming increasingly urbanised, as a key pillar to achieving those objectives as we expand the brand to every corner of T&T and to every corner of the Caribbean region. 

“We believe we can offer value to the market here in Debe and Penal and our group views this area as an important strategic location,” Roach said.

He also pointed out that Sissons had been manufacturing and distributing premium paints and coatings in the Caribbean since 1956 and now has more than 600 products and over 1200 colours.

“From Guyana in the south to Belize in the north, with manufacturing plants in Trinidad and Grenada, Sissons is a recognised and trusted brand among home owners, large and small contractors, property developers and architects. We beautify communities and provide colour to enrich lives,” he said.

Shiva Roopnarine, president of the Penal Debe Chamber of Commerce, said the area was developing at an astronomical rate. 

“Long gone are the days when Debe was known only for doubles,” he said.

Roopnarine said the store will serve the needs of Debe’s fast growing population.

Micheal Ramsook, the franchise holder for the new shop together with his wife Rita, said business had been good with customers from as far as Point Fortin.

Source:
Sascha Wilson
Trinidad Guardian
Friday May 29, 2015

http://www.guardian.co.tt/business/2015-05-29/sissons-opens-newest-shop-debe