Company Profile
A Fairytale Come True
The gradual development of the concept of Odel began when Otara Gunewardene started selling clothes from the boot of her car to family and friends. Although she stumbled upon the fashion retailing industry accidentally, Otara saw the potential for retailing a range of stylish clothing to the fashion conscious Sri Lankan, and in 1990 she launched Sri Lanka's most innovative brand - Odel.
At Odel, we focus on ensuring that the merchandise, ambiance and management are not only effective, but also evolving, and this has been the driving force behind our success. The company revolves around a simple philosophy: a relentless search for the highest quality products and services at affordable prices, together with superior customer service that ensures consumer satisfaction and loyalty.
The expansion
The flagship store at No. 5 Alexandra Place, Colombo 7, was launched in 1999. The splendid colonial architecture spans across 33,000 square feet, and its modern glass and metal extensions only add to the grandeur of the building. An open, central atrium provides the ambience of light and space. The result is a seamless and eclectic fusion of culture. Tired feet and hungry tummies can treat themselves to a host of refreshing goodies located around the store, as well as the newly opened food court, Boulevard.
Store Layout
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Odel at 1-29, Majestic City, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4, sells a range of clothes and fashion accessories. The outlet has been in operation for more than a decade and has proven to be extremely popular.
The Odel Store located at the departure terminal of the Colombo International Airport is the final opportunity available to shoppers to buy a range of stylish souvenirs and choose from a selected range of clothing before leaving the island.
The 11,000 sq ft store at 135, Dutugemunu Street, Kohuwela presents a wide variety of products. The store opened in October 07.
The store at Ja-Ela, located approximately 25 kilometres out of Colombo, is the latest addition to the Odel brand. Opened in December 07, the store offers clothing for ladies, men and kids and homeware in a space of 4,000 sq ft.
Moving to Greater Heights
From the beginning, the brand has grown along with the business. The initial staff of 2 has expanded to more than 430, and we provide indirect employment to more than 500 individuals. Over 1000 suppliers and 200 plus factories locally and globally provide supply Odel with the incredible range of products they have become well known for.
Iconic Brands
Odel Select is a section devoted to dressing customers with a taste for high fashion. It displays international designer wear from world famous fashion icons. The brand Odel represents contemporary international style, exemplified by Otara Gunewardane. According to our customers, the Odel brand conveys high quality and exclusivity, an international aura and of course, sophisticated style.
We pay meticulous attention to every single item that we sell at all our stores. Our reputation as a trend-setting department store, which has revolutionized the fashion industry in Sri Lanka, has gone beyond the boundaries of home, making Odel an essential shopping destination for thousands of locals and tourists who visit each year. We also design our own branded products, from the famed wildlife T-shirts to crockery.
Our Identity
Along with the re-launch of its store in 2004, Odel also revealed its new brand identity based on the theme 'Mind, Body & Soul' - a concept that has molded the evolution of the brand's philosophy, gearing Odel to be an international superstore. The brand identity also encapsulates the functionality of the brand, showing that Odel caters to inspiration for the Mind, stimulation for the Body, and aspiration for the Soul. The Odel brand will be developed in the future as a mnemonic, where the brand will be represented by the three horizontal bars that form the graphical illustration of the letter E in the word Odel.
Our Virtual Store
With the launch of our new website www.odel.lk, we provide an array of choices to our valued customers. Odel customers can now shop online, choosing from a vast collection of products in our virtual store, without stepping out of the comfort of their home.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Apart from all of its business activities, Odel highly respects and initiates projects on the conservation of the environment. Our commitment as a company with a high social responsibility factor has won us many accolades and solidified our status as a humanitarian and eco-friendly brand, with a number of community development programs to our name. The Odel Foundation was established some time ago, with the aim of consolidating the commitment to environmental and other causes. The Foundation will continue the work initiated by Odel over a decade ago, with emphasis placed on initiative, feasibility and the end result.
Winning Away
Numerous organisations have honoured Otara Gunewardane with coveted awards over the past few years. She has won the SAARC Woman of Achievement Award (2000), Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) of Sri Lanka (2000) Award, Entrepreneur of the Year (2000) and the Zonta Award for "Woman of Achievement" (2002).
It is the lifestyle of our customers that we value. Today the Odel department store has been transformed into a living representation of its brand values: 'Mind, Body & Soul'. The new department structure retains the brand's stylish, simple and elegant interiors and exteriors while altering the dynamics of the shopping and sitting areas, allowing customers to relax and unwind while shopping to their heart's content.
Odel has continually enhanced its consumers' experiences by always setting the trend, and offering stylish merchandise. Our store will always reflect the ambience of an international fashion house and continue to present an innovative product range, focusing on simplicity and the unique Odel character.
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