Roshan Gunawardana and MP Mark Dreyfus take a walk through the factory.
By Melissa Meehan
ROSHAN Textiles in Dandenong South is bucking the global economic trend, competing with, and often winning, business from Chinese textiles firms.
This week Roshan Textiles received a $42,000 Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Small Business Program grant from the Federal Government.
Managing director Roshan Gunawardana said the grant would allow them to implement a new ordering system via the internet to make it easier for their customers.
The business makes fabrics and surfaces for curtains, blinds, upholstery, horse saddles and more.
“We have customers from all over Australia, New Zealand and some in China,” Mr Roshan said.
“Right now they physically have to phone us, but the plan is for them to be able to log in, see exactly what their order is and where it is in the manufacturing system.”
He said the new system would save the business up to 2-3 hours a day.
“That will leave more time to be out in the factory making the products,” he said.”
“It will help to expand the business and improve efficiency.”
He said the grant would increase the need to employ more staff to keep up with increasing demand and help them catch the overseas market.
“We have picked up quite a bit of business from China,” he said.
“Before it used to be about price, but now its about capacity.”
Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus said that Roshan Textiles was yet another example of businesses in Dandenong South doing well, despite the economic uncertainty.
