Singer Bangladesh

Singer Bangladesh Limited
SINGERBD
Native name
সিঙ্গার বাংলাদেশ লি:
Company typePublic Limited Company
Industry
Founded1905; 119 years ago (1905)
Headquarters5B, Road No. -126, ,
Bangladesh
Number of locations
  • 405 Retail Outlet
  • 974 Dealers Points (2017)
Area served
Bangladesh
Products
Brands
Services
RevenueBDT 1505 CroreDecrease ($177.95 millions) (2020)
Total assetsIncreaseUS$186 million (2020)
Total equityIncreaseUS$50 million (2020)
Number of employees
Increase 1,767 (2020)
Parent Arçelik and Retail Holdings NV
SubsidiariesInternational Appliances ltd
Websitehttps://singerbd.com

Singer Bangladesh Ltd. (Bengali: সিঙ্গার বাংলাদেশ লিঃ) is a Bangladeshi sewing machine manufacturer. It started while Bangladesh was a part of the British Raj. In addition to sewing machines, Singer Bangladesh manufactured consumer electronics.

History[edit]

Singer Bangladesh began in 1905. In 1920, two shops were set up in Dhaka and Chittagong.[1] In 1947, after the Partition of the sub-continent, now Bangladesh became East Pakistan. Singer in East Pakistan operated as a branch of Singer Pakistan and the products used to come from West Pakistan. Initially, only 10 shops were set up, which grew to 43 by the late 1960s.[2]

After the Bangladesh Liberation War Bangladesh Singer had to limit its operation to 23 stores and the branch office was promoted to country office. A change in the investment policy in 1979 created new business opportunities and Singer registered as an operating company.

A sewing machine manufacturing factory with 10,000 units per year capacity was established in 1980 in Chittagong. Capacity increased to 25,000 units per year in 1989. Although sewing machines are Singer's core business, management realized that for sustainable growth in the long run it had to diversify its product line. This realization led to diversification. In 1985, Singer began transforming from a single product into a multi-product consumer durable company.

In 1993, the company established an audio-video plant and in 1996 a washing machine factory. In 2001, the company initiated assembling of motorcycles and in 2006, manufacturing of wire and cable (domestic and power cables).[3] In March 2019 Arçelik and Retail Holdings NV acquired Singer Bangladesh ltd. buying 57% of its shares[4]

Corporate social responsibility[edit]

As part of the 'Singer for Society' program, Singer Bangladesh Limited donated ventilators to three hospitals in and outside Dhaka for critical COVID-19 patients. They donated refrigerators, washing machines and microwave ovens to hospitals across the country to protect hospital staff during the pandemic.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sayeed, Rubama (2018). "A comprehensive study on sales operation management of Singer Bangladesh Limited". BRAC University.
  2. ^ Zaman, Anika Tasnim (2017). "A comprehensive study on trade financing of Singer Bangladesh Limited". BRAC University.
  3. ^ Sayem, A. S. (2009). Productivity improvement in motor cycle plant of singer Bangladesh limited and its supply chain.Thesis Report
  4. ^ "Turkish company acquires 57pc of Singer Bangladesh". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). April 5, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "Singer Bangladesh, Arçelik donate ventilators to three hospitals". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved March 11, 2021.