This week the Youth Observer reached out to yet another young entrepreneur, Kasun Premadasa, the founder and chairperson of KEO, an exclusive bag brand. KEO is a six month old business and sells on online platforms and pop-up events.
Here’s what we found out; How did your business come about?
I used to be a construction surveyor lost my job due to the economic crisis. While staying at home, I started following Ceylon of the Products on TikTok, and I thought I should do an exclusive and luxury bag brand as well. In fact I wanted to attempt it. I have always been into brands. The exclusivity and extreme quality always intrigued me. So I slowly started it. I started with leather crafting, but then realised the market for leather in Sri Lanka is rather low, so I move to artificial material such as Rexene.
What do you think about being a young entrepreneur?
I feel grade but also a little intimidated. I am so glad I’m finally doing it and I’m determined to do my best at the same time. Whether you run a business or not, there are so many expectations. People also try to put you down saying “You’re just a bag maker”, some these words are discouraging, but I try to stay positive.
Tell us about the technology used?
At the moment I am my sole employee and boss. Each bag is handcrafted. The bag-making industry uses high speed machines, but I sew the edges by hand. I try to be extremely intricate with these designs, and if there is any flaw during production, I discard it and start again.
What is your ambition with your business?
I don’t want to limit myself to bags, wallets and belts, which is what I do right now. I simply want to be able to produce everything and anything. Even big brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton started with handbags and then moved to everything else. I guess that’s my ambition.
How did you come up with the name?
I wanted to catch a name that sounded a little bit like my own name. I explored several French and German names as well, and landed on Keo. It means something of a superior nature.
How do you make sure your business is unique?
I maintain this by producing the best quality products, having a very good relationship with my customers and making sure a customer who had bought a product for me always comes back.
Where do you draw an inspiration for new designs?
I get them from all around me. I’m sometimes inspired by other brands. I’m sometimes inspired by the environment I live in and sometimes I simply go on the internet and at the end of a search I have an idea for a design.
Are there mistakes that you have learned from so far? Do you think it’s important?
Yes, I think it’s very important. In the short period of six months I’ve been in business I have made many mistakes. I had to throw entire batches out because of certain mistakes I have made however, I have persevered while fixing my mistakes and realised I have to move on.
According to you, what makes a good entrepreneur?
I think when a business starts, entrepreneurs try their best to maintain a really close relationship with the customers and provide utmost customer satisfaction. However as brands get famous, and start making profits, they let go. The interaction between customers becomes rather rigid, and this, I believe makes a business decline, because customers are a key for the success of a business of a business.
How do you define success?
To me success is when a person who has bought a product from me, comes back because they really like the quality of my product and the service I provided.
What is your advice for aspiring business persons?
Most definitely, I would like to say when a person starts a business; they put their entire heart and soul into it. They start with high spirits, and the only advice I can give is to continue to have that high spirit throughout your tenure in the business and continue to provide the best quality in the service or product you produce.
Instagram: @keokuzz
