Aban Pestonjee – Appliance Emperor Building Retail Giants from Single Shelves

Who is Aban Pestonjee? The Visionary Behind the Empire

Before Abans became a household name across Sri Lanka, it was just a simple idea in the mind of one woman: Aban Pestonjee. She is the visionary founder who turned a small home-based venture into one of the country's largest and most trusted retail giants. Her story is not just about business success; it is a powerful example of determination, foresight, and understanding what customers truly need.

In 1968, Aban was a housewife and a mother of three. At a time when modern home appliances were a luxury for most Sri Lankans, she saw an opportunity. She noticed a growing desire among families for quality products that could make their lives easier. Her vision was clear: to bring the world's best brands to Sri Lankan doorsteps and provide excellent service to back them up.

She started her business from the garage of her home, initially buying, repairing, and selling used appliances. Her commitment to quality and honesty quickly earned her a strong reputation. Customers trusted her, and this trust became the foundation of the Abans empire. She proved that you don't need a massive investment to start, but you do need a strong work ethic and a clear goal.

Aban Pestonjee’s journey from a home garage to a corporate boardroom is an inspiration. She skillfully managed her roles as a mother and a pioneering entrepreneur, a challenge that many women from Sri Lanka balancing career and family can relate to. Her entrepreneurial spirit echoes in the stories of other titans of Sri Lankan industry, like Ishara Nanayakkara, who also built massive enterprises from the ground up. Aban's legacy shows how a simple idea, fueled by passion, can truly change a nation's retail landscape.

The Genesis: A Single Shelf in a Closed Economy

Imagine Sri Lanka in the late 1960s and 1970s. It was a time of a "closed economy." This meant the government heavily restricted imported goods to protect local industries. For regular families, buying a new refrigerator, washing machine, or even a simple radio from abroad was nearly impossible. Items were scarce, and the ones available were incredibly expensive. This created a huge, unmet demand for modern conveniences.

In the middle of this challenging environment, a housewife named Aban Pestonjee saw an opportunity. She noticed that while new appliances were rare, many people had old or broken ones they couldn't get repaired. Instead of seeing junk, she saw potential. Her business journey started not in a fancy showroom, but from her home. It was one of the most effective side-hustle ideas of its time, born out of pure necessity.

Aban began buying used appliances, fixing them up in her garage, and reselling them. Her first "store" was just a single shelf in her family's bookshop. She offered a simple promise: a working appliance at a fair price. In a market starved for choice, her restored goods were a perfect solution. She provided families with access to the best budget home appliances they could find, even if they were second-hand.

This small venture quickly earned a reputation for quality and trust. People knew that an appliance from Aban would work reliably. This humble beginning, driven by spotting a gap in the market and a commitment to service, laid the foundation for the retail giant Abans would become. It all started with one shelf and a clever solution to a nationwide problem.

Laying the Foundation: The First Abans Store

Every great empire has a starting point. For Aban Pestonjee, it was not a grand showroom but the garage of her home in the late 1960s. At that time, Sri Lanka had a closed economy. This made it very difficult to import new products. Families wanted modern appliances like refrigerators and washing machines, but they were almost impossible to find. Aban saw a need that no one else was filling.

She started by buying used appliances, carefully repairing them, and making them work like new. Her focus on quality was clear from day one. Soon, her home business grew too big for her garage. In 1968, she took a brave step and opened her first small store in Bambalapitiya. It was a simple corner shop, a humble beginning for what would become a retail giant.

This first Abans store was more than just a place to sell goods. It was where Aban built her reputation. She offered something that was rare for second-hand items: a guarantee. She gave her customers excellent after-sales service, fixing any problems that came up. This built deep trust with her customers. People knew that when they bought from Aban, they were getting a reliable product.

From this single shop, the Abans empire began to grow. Her success showed that even with little capital, a good idea and a commitment to quality can lead to great things. This foundation of trust and service became the core value of the Abans Group. Her journey offers timeless lessons for anyone thinking about how to register a small business in Sri Lanka, proving that even a small start can build a lasting legacy in the world of budget home appliances.

Strategic Expansion and Global Partnerships Aban Pestonjee’s vision went far beyond her first store. She aimed to build a national brand that families could trust. Her strategy was simple but powerful: take the business to the people. Instead of waiting for customers to come to Colombo, she opened Abans showrooms across the island. This move made modern home conveniences accessible to people in smaller towns and rural areas for the first time. A crucial part of this growth was building strong relationships with world-famous brands. In the early days, securing partnerships with international companies was a major challenge for a Sri Lankan business. However, Aban’s determination and reputation for reliability won them over. She successfully became the sole agent for leading brands like LG, Hoover, Philips, and Mitsubishi. These partnerships were more than just business deals. They were a promise to her customers. When someone bought a product from Abans, they knew they were getting a genuine item with an official warranty and reliable after-sales service. This commitment to quality and service built immense loyalty and set Abans apart from competitors. The trust she built with global giants allowed her to offer the best budget home appliances alongside premium models. This powerful combination of island-wide reach and exclusive global partnerships transformed Abans into a retail powerhouse. The success in appliances allowed the Abans Group to expand into other fields, including environmental services, logistics, and hospitality. Her journey of turning a small venture into a diverse empire mirrors the success of other Sri Lankan titans like Ishara Nanayakkara, proving that a clear vision can build lasting legacies.

Revolutionizing Retail with Consumer Finance Aban Pestonjee's success wasn't just about selling the right products. It was about finding a new way for people to buy them. In the 1980s, essential items like refrigerators and washing machines were luxuries. Most Sri Lankan families could not afford the large, one-time payment required to purchase them. Pestonjee saw this challenge not as a barrier, but as a massive opportunity. Her solution was simple yet brilliant: consumer finance. She introduced hire-purchase schemes, allowing customers to take an appliance home and pay for it in small, manageable monthly instalments. This single idea changed everything. Suddenly, modern conveniences were within reach for the average family. It was no longer a distant dream to own a television or one of the best budget home appliances. This strategy created a loyal customer base that trusted the Abans brand to understand their needs. To support this growing demand, she later founded Abans Financial Services. This move made finance a core part of her retail empire. By making products affordable, she unlocked a huge market that competitors had overlooked. Her approach showed how access to credit could empower consumers, much like how visionaries such as Ishara Nanayakkara – Microfinance Maestro Turning LKR into Billion-Dollar Empires used financial tools to build their businesses. Pestonjee proved that understanding a customer's financial reality was as important as the product itself. Her innovative use of credit didn't just build a company; it helped modernize thousands of Sri Lankan homes.

Legacy of an Appliance Emperor Aban Pestonjee’s legacy is seen in millions of homes across Sri Lanka. She did more than just sell products; she changed the way people lived. Before Abans, modern appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and microwaves were luxuries that only the wealthy could afford. Aban’s vision was to make these items accessible to every family, making daily life easier for everyone, especially women. Her story is a powerful lesson in entrepreneurship. Starting with a small corner in her home, she built a retail giant through hard work and a deep understanding of her customers' needs. She proved that with a strong idea and determination, anyone can build an empire from the ground up. Her journey inspires a new generation of business leaders, much like other titans of industry such as Ishara Nanayakkara – Microfinance Maestro Turning LKR into Billion-Dollar Empires. Aban’s success showed that you don't need a massive investment to start, just a clear goal. A key part of her legacy is the hire-purchase system she introduced. This allowed customers to pay for appliances in small monthly amounts. It was a revolutionary idea at the time and built immense trust and loyalty. Families could improve their quality of life immediately without having to save for years. Today, the Abans brand is a household name, trusted for quality and service. Her work laid the foundation for the modern consumer market, where families can now easily find the best budget home appliances for Sri Lankan apartments. The Abans Group continues to grow under her family's leadership, ensuring her legacy endures.