Page 206 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2018

THE RAMSI GROUP

The Ramsi Group Team
www.saito.co.za

CONSTANTLY EVOLVING Sherwin Ramlall is a fantastic achievement for the
Durban brand.
The Ramsi Group is one of the largest distributors of The company was established in December 1980 by
sewing machines and spare parts in the country and Sherwin’s father G “Ram” Ramlall and his mother, Lalita
is driven by the desire to be the leader in its industry. who still have daily involvement in the business. They
Consequently, the main goal of CEO Sherwin Ramlall will continue to manage the branch at 28 Queen City
and directors Ram and Shawn Ramlall is to distribute Centre, 54 Denis Hurley Street, Durban, as this store’s
a range of sewing related products that will add value clients form the heart of the business and quality
to their current customers and attract new customers. customer service is intrinsic to their success.
The dynamic and well-respected company has seen Saito Brand - Domestic and Industrial Sewing Machines
constant growth over the years and turnover has The Ramsi Group are worldwide owners of the Saito
continually increased. This growth has resulted in the brand, which is a registered trademark, and are official
recent opening of a new head office and showroom, distributors for Ricoma, FDM, Schmetz, Rich-X Jegon
which is located at 31 Florence Nzama Street, Durban. and Seco in southern Africa.
Sherwin Ramlall is justly proud of the world class The Saito brand of sewing machines, spare parts
facility, which he says will take the business to the next and lubricants is manufactured under license from
level. The new office is easily accessible with parking The Ramsi Group. The Saito brand is a proudly
readily available. South African brand, formulated and developed in
As it is the logistics hub for the business; state of Durban and trademarked in South Africa, in addition
the art information technology has been installed to being trademarked in East Asia and Africa. The
which allows Sherwin to keep his eye on the daily Saito brand has been voted in the Top 10 in the KZN
Top Business Awards in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
operations. In addition, the spacious showroom allows In 2014, The Ramsi Group was placed in the top four
for the effective display of many of the various sewing in the Trade category.
machines and other retail products on offer.
Ricoma Embroidery Machines
The company supplies over 10 000 spare parts for all
sewing machines and has more than 20 industrial and The company is one of only two distributors of Ricoma
domestic Saito sewing machines, cutting and steam industrial embroidery machines for the southern
equipment. The company also distributes its own African region. These machines are manufactured
utilising the highest quality parts and electronics, as
brand of household oil/lubricant. Products are sourced well as a very stringent quality control process. The
from Germany, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, the cost of these sewing machine ranges from R120 000
United States, China, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia.
to about R450 000. The machines are meant for mass
The new showroom will cater mainly for the extensive production, which are of much value to small and large
distribution network of 664 dealers (and growing) clothing and embroidery businesses.
which has been established country wide. The The Ricoma brand has proved so popular that The Ramsi
company even supplies its competitors. This network Group cannot keep up with demand as the embroidery
includes distributors in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, machines are already sold before they are landed.
Mauritius, Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana. Ongoing This division is headed by Shawn Ramlall who often
consignments of sewing machines, which are available visits the manufacturers to look at innovative products
in supermarkets, are sent to Mauritius, which said and undergo training in the machines operation. This

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