Harris jumps to number 6

Harris Ceylon Ltd., the manufacturer of high quality paint brushes, rollers and decorative tools was adjudged as the sixth most valuable brand in Sri Lanka, under the privately owned brands category as per LMD Brands Annual 2013 edition.

Director Marketing - Lal Saranapala stated: “Harris, jumping three positions from ninth place held in 2012 to sixth place in 2013 is a accurate indicator of us exceeding consumer expectations in quality of brushes and rollers.”

“We are delighted with the research findings by LMD Brands Annual compiled by Brand Finance and presented by Media Services. We believe that apart from our recent accomplishment of being awarded the ISO Certification for Quality Management and Environmental Management Systems, another main driver behind this achievement is the trust and confidence placed by our customers upon our brand as well as our organisation, as we would not have been able to be in such a position if it wasn’t for them. We hope to strive to maintain this trust placed on our organisation by our customers, as well as to provide them with an exceptional service that will fulfil their needs beyond their expectations,” Saranapala added.

Harris Brush products were introduced to Sri Lanka in 1936 through a distributor. In 1970 with growing demand and due to government policy at the time, the British parent company ‘L. G. Harris’ was quick to provide the necessary knowhow and machinery to set up a local production facility at Meegoda, Watareka called Harris Ceylon. To this day brushes are designed and manufactured locally.

Harris Ceylon’s flagship brand remains the Harris Classic range of brushes with its signature red and white tip handle as well as its trademarked handle design. Other well-known brands include Harris Woodcare a specialist brush for painting wood furniture, Budget, Budget White, ID Gel and a premium range of roller brushes. Harris holds approximately 80% to 85% share of the brush and roller market. The Harris range of products is distributed to over 10,000 medium to large-scale hardware outlets and paint centres islandwide ensuring customers have complete access to their products.

Senior Brand Manager – Rae Devadason stated: “The emphasis on periodic research into consumer satisfaction, attitudes and usage has led to innovations in product design and new product development generated through the continual improvement process.”

“We keep our brand marketing effort simple; by ensuring that our customer sees, hears and reads about Harris brushes and rollers. Consumers are drawn to our brands because of the positive comments received; by their friends and family of a ‘perfect finish’ to their homes,” he added.

Harris has a mammoth array of over 2,000 painting related products on offer to consumers ranging from scrapers of all sizes to extension poles that reach up to five metres as well as sandpaper, measuring tapes, masking tapes, paint trays, and texture based rollers.