POCHCHI FOR URBAN GARDENING

A subsidiary of DSI Samson Group, one of Sri Lanka’s largest and reputed homegrown business conglomerates, Samson Rajarata Tiles specialises in manufacturing varied terracotta products such as roofing, flooring and wall tiles, in various shapes, sizes, colours and textures.

In a unique brand extension initiative, the company introduced the Pochchi brand to the market in 2021. Rooted in Sri Lankan culture and heritage, pochchi in Sinhala means ‘pot,’ which is part and parcel of the local cultural fabric. The clay pots manufactured by the company are as unique and authentic as their brand name, creating a distinctive identity for the brand.

Led by a brand vision to create aesthetic clay products close to the hearts and minds of households, Rajarata Tiles offers the market a portfolio of gardening products. Urban gardening is a trend that’s sweeping through residential and commercial buildings in cities in response to the consciousness of conserving the environment, or even the desire to produce fresh, local and organic food at home.

The Pochchi brand offers a wide product range with unique designs including clay pots, wooden planters, self-watering spikes that ensure plants always have sufficient moisture when you’re away, clay pebbles and grow packs.

Self-watering spikes are a gardening solution made from terracotta that absorb water and create a self-watering system to ensure plants always have enough moisture without having to be watered every day – ideal for frequent travellers.

The innovative product range also includes the Terraplanter or ‘inside-out planter,’ which is bound together by a passion for natural materials, plants and ecological products, combining the brand’s knowledge and experience to create a user-friendly product and an optimal solution for plants to thrive indoors. And the inside-out planter works as a water bank by providing roots constant access to water and air, and is 100 percent reusable as well.

Pochchi’s product range also includes tableware and kitchenware along with customised clay products for the B2B market, including tills, gift packs and corporate gifts. Moreover, the brand offers customised clay products for special events.

Another product – the Ayurvedic clay steam inhaler – is a Sri Lankan product made from natural clay for steam inhalation. It is one of the most widely used home remedies to soothe and open nasal passages, and provide relief from the symptoms of a cold or sinus infection. This can also be used as a facial steamer to replace plastic.

The brand values of Pochchi – a natural brand practising fair trade principles and following sustainable processes – reflect its sustainability commitment.

Pochchi products have found a high degree of acceptance, inspiring the company to expand its portfolio by leveraging its large capacity for drying and kiln operations.

Some advantages of the casting process used by the brand are products being less thick and lightweight. The entire casting is done using moulds, making it easy to produce different shapes and designs when compared to traditional pottery, which can produce only round, thick shapes that are heavy.

The Pochchi brand is active in the export market, and presently being exported to Germany, the US, Australia, India and Thailand. There is great potential in Europe for best quality, innovative red clay and eco-friendly products, and the company is continuously exploring and approaching new global markets to expand exports, and support the country by bringing in valuable foreign exchange.

In Sri Lanka, the Pochchi brand is easily accessible, and available at leading supermarket chains, superstores, plant nurseries, garden centres and DSI Premier showrooms.

– Compiled by Yamini Sequeira

COMPANY DETAILS

Telephone: 0777 815520 | Email: info@dsitiles.com | Website: www.dsitiles.com