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In the last InForm I talked of "tough trading conditions ahead" but little did we realize just how radically the business environment would alter. Following the tragic terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on 11 September, and the subsequent hostilities, the business conditions in which we operate are significantly different to those of only a few months ago. In these very difficult times we must ensure that we preserve our cash resources, turn around any loss makers and at the same time look out for new opportunities. In the last Asian downturn of 97/98 we acquired a number of new business, which are now good contributors to the group, and we must ensure we miss no new opportunities now.
Despite all this doom and gloom, we continue to perform satisfactorily in the circumstances, and generally feel, from the Plan exercise recently completed, that 2002 will fare slightly better than this year.
Companies within the group continue to achieve new goals, and you will read in this issue of InForm of various awards to Neil Pryde Ltd., GELEC (HK) Ltd., and Shriro Heavy Equipment Ltd. (previously known as Heavy Equipment Int'l Ltd.).
Other highlights, which will feature in the next edition, include the incorporation of Shriro Shanghai Co. Ltd., which will commence operations on 1st January, 2002, and the move into the new Shriro property in Sydney which includes a state of the art warehouse, offices and showrooms.
If you are reading this edition of InForm on paper, take a look at our website at www.shriro.com. It has recently been updated and has many new features. Also if you want a copy of our new corporate brochure please let us know at enquiry@shriro.com and we will mail you a copy by return.
As we enter the Festive Season can I thank everyone in the group for their excellent efforts this year, and all the best for a safe and successful 2002.
Mike Binns
Shriro Heavy Equipment Ltd.
This company, based in Hong Kong and headed by joint-Managing Directors Albert Yu and Arix Lai, is our equipment supplier for Hong Kong and China of golf course equipment, quarrying equipment, Bobcat skid steer loaders, Liebherr Tower and Mobile Cranes and Kobelco foundation cranes. It is a merger of the equipment sales sides of Heavy Equipment Int'l Ltd. and Shriro Machinery Ltd. with the latter now being a dedicated rental business for our fleet of tower cranes and hoists, Bobcat loaders, forklift trucks and compressors.
The name of Heavy Equipment Int'l Ltd. has now been changed to Shriro Heavy Equipment Ltd.
At a recent E-Z-Go Golf Buggy sales meeting, Shriro Heavy Equipment Ltd. was awarded "Distributor of the Year 2001". The citation read as follows:
"Congratulations!
We are very pleased to present you with this award for 2001 as a Member of the International Distributor's Golden Circle.
In today's challenging business environment, we depend on dedicated winners like you to keep E-Z-Go in front of the competition. Year after year it is you and your peers who grab the bull by the horns and take this company to ever-higher peaks. Thank you for your dedication and your professionalism.
Please accept our congratulations for an outstanding job. Thank you for your continued efforts and best wishes for a successful year,"
E-Z-Go is the world's number one supplier of golf buggies and golf course utility vehicles, and is a part of the USA Textron group, Golf Turf and Speciality Products division.
Arix Lai and his team display their trophies
Neil Pryde Awards
Neil Pryde Ltd. has won two awards from the HKSAR, Trade Development Council, for Consumer Product Design and Export Marketing for its Flow snowboard binding system.
The Flow Snowboard Binding is a unique, worldwide patented-binding system offering easy access & exit. This is achieved via a reclining hiback with a PowerTriangle® cable and interchangeable-footstraps which provide perfect Comfort, Control and Performance for almost all kinds of soft snowboard boots.
Comments from the Judges' panel were:
"Neil Pryde is one of the few Hong Kong companies with an original design brand that has good penetration of foreign markets.
Flow's success lies in its creation of a market segment for the rear-entry snowboard binding, which is separate from the conventional snowboarding industry. The company rapidly developed its brand into a series of winter sports products -- such as bindings and foot straps -- dedicated to snowboard riders.
Flow clearly projected itself as a completely new product in a unique winter sports market by promoting convenience of use, comfort, wearing safety and suitability for all users.
Flow effectively promoted its brand through sponsorship of a snowboarding team featuring professional riders from eight countries. Team members demonstrate Flow products in world competitions."
(From left) Michael Binns, Reinhard Hofbauer, Mark Elkington, Vasco Fung, Peter Lui
See's Candies Opens in Tokyo
Shriro Trading Co. Ltd., under the guidance of Vivien Lee, opened its first See's Candies chocolate shop in Tokyo recently. The shop is located in the trendy Omotesando area of Central Tokyo, and is Shriro's first foray into the retail sector in Japan. Shriro already operates three See's Candies shops in Hong Kong through its partnership with V. Lee (HK) Ltd.
GELEC achieves ISO 9001 : 2000
GELEC are proud to announce their successful application to obtain certification for ISO 9001 : 2000. The company was assessed and awarded the certificate by internationally renowned ISO assessors SGS on 23rd July 2001.
The achievement of this important milestone in GELEC is a significant step in our ongoing commitment to our customers and principles alike. We see that being awarded this certificate is merely the beginning for GELEC as true quality is only achieved by reassessment and re-evaluation, implementing new and improved operating methods wherever possible. This assessment is something that the whole organisation has been committed to since the inception of the company some 2 years ago and achievement that we are justifiably proud of. Particular congratulations go to our Quality Officer, Mr. Jimmy Yip who has been responsible for guiding the company through this assessment.
The Ricola Balloon
Shoppers along Singapore's famous Orchard Road, at the junction with Scotts Road, have been greeted with the refreshing sight of a Ricola Balloon for the past month.
This has been part of a media mix strategy carried out by Shriro Singapore Pte Ltd., which has included T.V., cinema, print and outdoor advertising, during the last quarter of 2001.
Shriro are the distributors of Ricola Swiss Herb Candies in Singapore and Malaysia, and in Singapore boast the highest per capita consumption of Ricola in the world.
The Ricola Balloon was made from PVC and filled with Helium. It costs US$5,000 to build.
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