THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The showrooms of State-run Kerala State Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (Hanveev) and Kerala State Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society Ltd(Hantex), which have mostly escaped shoppers’ notice owing to their nondescript nature, could soon become a high-visibility presence if the Public sector Restructuring and Internal Audit Board (RIAB) suggestions for giving an image makeover were to be accepted in toto.
Actually, the RIAB proposals to Hanveev and Hantex include relocating the outlets to prominent locations and imparting training to the sales staff. Until now, bare minimum efforts have been made to improve the outlets’ aesthetics and thereby woo the customers.
Hanveev chairman Sahadevan K P said most of the shops had registered seasonal sales but only after offering rebates. However, this is likely to change in the near future as the new outlets have been planned at attractive locations.
“Shops showcasing our garments have good scope at airports, Technopark and Infopark, where there is increased purchasing power among the prospective clientele. States like West Bengal and Tripura as well as TN capital Chennai have showcased traditional products at key locations,” RIAB chairman M P Sukumaran Nair said, adding, shops can be set up by sharing the cost with other organisations such as Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala.
According to Sukumaran, there should be product innovation to attract the young buyers, besides the facility to purchase the products online.
“The outlets are in pathetic condition. There is a real need to renovate them or build anew.” said Sahadevan.
Hanveev has 50 exclusive showrooms and seven franchisee showrooms and employs 300 staff, while Hantex has 150 showrooms spread across the state.
U C Raman, former Hanveev chairman, said the top-heavy nature of the Corporation has to change along with the attitude of the employees to make it a profitable enterprise.