Financial Times

The Lankan chain of perfume stores in the US
Becoming a businessman was not what Luxman Ananda Wickramaarachchi had in mind when he moved to America in the late seventies with the intention of studying to become an engineer. But today the enterprising Sri Lankan owns more than 40 stores named 'Luxury Perfumes' all around the US, providing more than 100 job opportunities for others.

After Wickramaarachchi moved to America, he began doing little jobs everywhere in order to save money for his education. He had worked in gas stations, shops, hotels, and technical institutes and even worked as a quality controller. Afterwards, he started a house repairing service with some of his friends and then moved onto selling flowers, ties and perfumes from house to house.

After a while, his studies were abandoned and Wickramaarachchi concentrated on his business. With the help of his relations and friends he was able to rent a stall in a shopping complex in Los Angeles after seven years in America.

The stall was the shape of a cart and there he started his business 'Perfume of wheels'. The rent was $400 per month and Wickramaarachchi worked 11 hours a day with the help of his wife Anoja. After some time, he managed to buy a store in that same shopping complex and expanded his perfume shop, calling it 'Luxury Perfumes', the enterprising entrepreneur said in an email communication.

With a lot of hard work and support Wickramaarachchi spread his business in the US. He currently has over 40 perfumes stores in the US, selling more than 1000 brand names of perfumes and colognes in each store. 'Luxury Perfumes' also sells body lotions, soap, gel, bath gel etc.

According to Wickramaarachchi, his shops have many customers because the perfumes that are sold there are cheaper compared to the major companies such as Macy's and Sears. He firmly believes that less profit means more business.

Wickramaarachchi is a devout Buddhist and undertakes a lot of religious work in the temples. He has been instrumental in setting up a 'Sri Lanka Fund' in his hometown and they are planning on building 100 houses for those who lost their houses in the tsunami. As for his business, Wickramaarachchi is looking to expand his perfume stores and has already identified locations in Sri Lanka.

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