View article on Sri Lanka Daily News 31 August 2020
Small businesses often have their work cut out for them, working day in day out to build their business from scratch amidst an endless list of concerns and challenges. Entrepreneurship is no easy task. It requires a great deal of commitment, hard work and many sleepless nights. Building a strong sales and marketing network both locally and internationally is one of the key challenges they face.
Goodfolks,although still in its infancy was established to address these challenges and with a vision to take unique Sri Lankan products,produced by Micro, Small and Medium enterprises to the international marketplace. Goodfolks is a family business founded by the brother and sister duo of Dinesh Perera and Anne Perera during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Speaking about the Goodfolks initiative, Co-founder Dinesh Perera explained, “As a Micro, Small or Medium enterprise, we understand the hardships these companies have faced to come here, because we are also from a similar background. We understand that there is a limit that the government can do to meet these requirements considering the complex ground realities and a challenging global environment. But we feel that instead of finding fault with anyone, it is an opportunity for us to double down and rise up. To help each other, to make the most of new and unexpected opportunities and to support our nation by earning foreign exchange”.
Goodfolks works closely with SME businesses, individual entrepreneurs as well as start-ups across multiple industries to source unique products and introduce them to a larger audience through an online platform under the Goodfolks brand. All products are carefully selected and sourced from organic and ethical manufacturers who adhere to sustainable manufacturing processes and practices, aligned with the Goodfolks Brand Philosophy–‘Community, Environment and Consumer’. These products are then developed into a line of products suitable for the international market.
The product range of Goodfolks include fresh or minimally processed food such as spices, tea and honey, processed or value added food such as herbal teas, coconut based products and spice infused products, personal care products such as soaps, scrubs, massage oils, body lotions, home and decor including reed ware, copper, hand-loom items, fashion (wearable) such as shawls, bags, and jewellery as well as wellness products that are designed and manufactured purely on a health and wellness consideration.
Goodfolks feel that it is their duty to act, but instead of doing it by itself, Goodfolks intends to work towards creating ‘a better world together’. To learn more about the Goodfolks initiative, please visit
