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But here is an exception: K V Susheela, MD, Premier Leather Products (Pvt) Ltd and Chaussures Premier, which manufacture and export leather footwear, had no reservation in sharing her experience with us. "Anybody can start this business as it requires low investment. And if you work hard, you can shine in this business, no doubt," she says. Susheela's and her son S Mohanakrishnan's vision and hard work have made them the leading exporters of hand-woven footwear. "We are MDs only in name. Our eyes should reach all sections - from cutting and skiving of leather to knitting and polishing."
"Every year, we introduce new designs. Eighty per cent of them are accepted in foreign countries," she says. Susheela's tryst with leather dates back to her days in Light Leather Ltd, Chennai, where she worked as a receptionist. "In Light Leather, I learned a bit about leather. Later, I joined Ledercons India Ltd where I looked after the export section. This helped me learn everything about leather," Susheela, whose roots are in Ponnani, in Palakkad district, says.
They started Premier Leather Products Ltd in 1990 making use of the contacts they had in Madras Skin Agency. The same year, they started a factory in Pondicherry, too. They trained hundreds of youths in the manufacture of footwear. "It is a labour-oriented business. In addition to the over 100 workers in our Madras and Pondy factories, we have job workers. We supply leather strips to them. They knit it and we collect them."
If quality is what has made Premier Leathers leading exporters, the quality of relationships, too, has played its role. I could feel the quality of love and understanding everywhere in the factory in Indira Nagar, Adyar - love between the mother and the son and between the MDs and the workers. Readers' response/inputs can be e-mailed to salil@chennaionline.com.
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In the last one year, I have approached many successful Malayalee businessmen in Chennai. Most of them were against coming into the "limelight" as it would "affect business".
They export gents and ladies footwear to Italy, Spain, France and Japan. "Quality-wise, we are No 1 exporters from India. Last year, we exported one lakh footwear. Quantity-wise others may defeat us; but in quality, we are No 1," she reiterates.
Meanwhile, her son Mohan was brought into the same field. He joined a leather factory at Chromepet and later worked in Madras Skin Agency for three years. There he came across the export possibilities of hand-woven leather footwear.
"Anybody can start this business and reap success. All that is needed are cutting and skiving machines worth Rs 15,000 and a lot of workers," she asserts.
