RAM MIRCHANDANI, the man behind the husband and wife team which owned and operated the R Group of Companies in Barbados for decades, has died.
Mirchandani, who was married to Asha “Mrs Ram” Mirchandani, studied business and finance and attended the University of Massachusetts. He established an export finance company while living in London in 1963. That company developed ties with the Caribbean and the Mirchandanis moved to Trinidad and Tobago before settling in Barbados.
In 1970, they set up Furniture Limited, and the R Group of Companies soon expanded to include Tiny Tots, Knitwear, Bridgetown Industries and Leather & Synthetic Products Ltd.
At one point, they employed more than 600 people and always kept spots for school leavers, the elderly and disabled. Many Barbadians got their first employment at Furniture Limited.
The Mirchandanis gave furniture manufacturing a big push, employing artisans to make pieces which became available on the market, usually
under hire purchase terms, at a time when only the wealthy could afford mahogany.
The company imported products that were affordable and introduced not only hire purchase, but buy-one-get-one-at-halfprice deals. Mirchandani said he believed all businesses should be focused on the customers.
“Our business will never take an expedient, shortterm, irresponsible attitude toward the public that it serves. We are concerned not only with today’s customers, but with their children and their children’s children,” he stated He stayed mostly in the background, however, with his wife being the more vocal and the face of the company. (SAT)
