Everything under one roof at Keko

Raising the bar in local retail business, John Keells opened the second unit of the trendy department store Keko in Capital Mall Thalawathugoda this month.

The outlet, which boasts of 14,000 sq feet of wide retail space, has been erected as part of its aggressive expansion plan to take the brand ‘Keko’ forward. Keeping in line, Executive Vice President John Keells Holdings and Sector Head Retail Roshanie Jayasundera Moraes stated that the third Keko Department Store will come up in Kalubowila early April. The first ever store was launched in January 2011 at KZone Mall Moratuwa.

The new store is built adjoining the Keells Super at Capital Mall and has a wide range of product categories available within the space. With the supermarket just a few feet away, customers can now enjoy a full on retail experience, picking out everything a household needs under one roof. Even though the doors to Keko stood open from mid March the mega launch will happen on 31 March at the premises.

Moraes is confident that the department store – all brightly lit and colourfully managed will soon be the answer to daily life needs for the people in the area. Customers can now pick out their clothes, buy gifts for family and friends, find the newest and cutest kids –wear for the children and decorate their homes with the unique and exquisite pieces of furniture and ornaments offered at Keko.

Acknowledging that Keko will be the next step forward in the John Keells retail experience, Moraes listed out  a wide range of products that now sit on the gleaming new shelves of Capital Mall.

From racks and racks of clothing- casual, evening and office wear for the ladies, t-shirts, jeans and classy office shirts for men and the most adorable and colourful kids-wear for the children; Keko offers a wide variety of choices for everyone in the family. Creating a delightful corner, the kids section also showcases a range of toys, bags and books for the younger members in the family. “From cool cotton to raw silk to branded products, Keko has a selection that only a few can match,” Moraes said. “Out of the large collection, some have been imported from India and others from close regional countries.” Shoes, bags and luggage as well as accessories for both men and women are also available at the store.

Brand names LICC, Emerald and Triumph will have their products at Keko while Revlon will host a beauty counter with all their latest products on display for sale. Parfumerie also has a dedicated space at the premises, promising to lure in the customers with the many exquisite fragrances they have lined up.

On the home wear section, also referred to as the ‘lifestyle corner’ a range of potpourri, linen, unique candle stands, photo frames, ornaments, cushion covers etc which can both decorate a home and double as giftware have been stocked and beautifully merchandised to catch the eyes of the shoppers. A line up of kitchenware and glassware products is also available.

Empowering the local community while they prepare to grow, Keko also offers a range of colourful items made by those who engage in cottage industry in Sri Lanka. Items are made from kithul, cane, pang, handloom, clay, recycled paper etc and are sourced from Kandy, Down South and the North. Moraes stated that the designs are provided by Keko to the craftsmen who then make them for the store.

“This ensures that the products on display to sell are unique, one of a kind product. The craftsmen have been creative in their use of colour to give these products an additional charm,” Moraes said. “We are proud to partner with these locals to uplift their lifestyle by generating employment and income in households.”

To give the shopaholics a much needed break after enjoying the goods offered at the premises, the popular Dawg House has opened a Café within the premises. The café promises a range of sweets and savouries as well as beverages such as cappuccino and espresso to fill all customers’ tummies up. A bright and colourful kid’s play area is also designed to give parents a few leisurely hours to do the shopping while the kids are entertained.

The opening weekend following the mega opening campaign, 31 March and 1 April, shoppers will be invited to try on the food and accompaniments provided by Keko to welcome the guests. Face painting and clowns to keep the kids entertained, competition for shoppers, a donut fiesta for all and DJ music to keep everyone entertained is in the line up for the celebratory weekend.

A 20% discount is offered to all Nexus card holders spending over Rs. 4000 during the weekend. HSBC card holders will receive a 20% discount while Standard Charted card holders will receive a 25% discount from the total bill. Keko’s neighbour, Keells Super will hold a special New Year campaign with 30% discount on 36 essential items for Nexus card holders and a 10% discount for all other customers.

With the inclusion of the newest addition at Capital Mall, the brand ‘Keko’ has two stores now in operation. A third will be added to the portfolio in April. The department store is managed by JayKay Marketing, the managing company of Keells Super.