Unique In Its Way
It has broken the mould. People who think it is only IT companies that can register exorbitant growth trends are proved wrong when it comes to the Hyderabad-based Unique Inflatables, a 10-year-old company with 2 per cent market share in the world market.
Less surprisingly, Unique has got the distinction of being the only company from the developing world to bag an order from the Sydney Olympics committee to produce the Giant Serpent (85 feet long), Mech Kanga (65 feet height), cloud and sun balloons and giant gorillas. The inflatables will be displayed at the concluding ceremony of the Olympics.
Though the order (Rs.52 lakh) is small, it shows our global competitiveness, claimed R Ramdev, the managing director. The company exports giant advertising balloons and custom-made inflatables to over 53 countries. Its turnover has jumped from $1.8 million in 1998-99 to $2.5 million in 1999-2000. and expects to make it to $4 million this year.
Till date, the company has executed orders for Coke, P&G, Castrol Vietnam, Siemens, Jagermeister and McDonald's, according to Ramdev. It had got an order for giant inflatables of candidates for the London mayor's election.
"We are adding shortly another 34,000 sq ft of space to the existing 52,000 sq ft at our factory and plan to increase the manpower from 150 to 800 in the next two years, Ramdev said.
The company is now trying to enter the Guinness Book of Records by erecting a 160-feet Coke bottle with an investment outlay of Rs.1.2 crore. The record is now held by 'Pie in the Sky' of the US with its 125 feet inflatable.