(organization)
Hello ,

Greetings from Ubud, Bali ..
..where I have landed after my recent travels in India. Last week I was telling you about having to give a surprise speech to a VIP audience down in Kolkata. You can read it here.

In the UK.. things are hotting up as the early Christmas season picks up. We are mega busy right now.. bare with us if your order is a little longer coming, we are pretty organised and determined not to get too far behind with orders.

What can I tell you about Ubud? Well regular readers will know that this is a major gift and craftware hub, we have an office and warehouse here run very ably by our man in Bali; Ringo. You will know that there is a healthy tourist industry in Bali, especially along the coast near the airport. Not many people realise that there is a huge handicraft industry, practically all small family businesses giving employment to around 300,000 people all over Bali.

I can tell you one of my favorite things (apart from brown paper parcels tied up with string) is scooting through the Bali countryside, visiting our suppliers. Vivid green paddy fields, temples on every bend, sparkling streams, dramatic bridges over plunging ravines. Moss covered stone statues and hanging vines seemingly artfully arranged. It's not unusual to see pretty girls with offerings piled high on their heads, or ladies wafting incense and making offerings, always beautifully dressed. As we pass through mountain villages, small workshops open to the road are alive with activity. Wood carvers, painters, stone masons, glass blowers.. you name it a vast amount of creative forces are at work here.

Bali people are just artistically inclined and highly creative. The world around them is always cared for and cultivated, and decorated with random artistic creations.
Some of the families I meet are really cool dudes. We went to see a family business, started by the Father eighteen years ago making decorative boxes (I'll tell you more when they come), now run by his two sons.
A super organised little factory, turning out reasonable production levels. The usual kind of compound with an extended family living in different houses around a central area. They had built a funky bar, complete with stage and all the musical kit of a rock band. They were managing a local rock band, customising classic cars and next door a fish farm breeding Koi Carp for the Japanese market. Entrepreneurial youngsters and super cool guys.. Eighteen years in business has created a good lifestyle for this extended family. But there are hundreds of family business just on the early rungs, not everywhere we go has such prosperity.

But there is a problem in Bali. It could potentially be a big problem.
Ahead of me coming here, our purchasing office in Sheffield sent Ringo the latest batch of re-orders (I find and buy new stock, the back office re-orders stock as we need it). Ringo emailed me a week before I came.. David big problem, almost every supplier wants a price increase, some almost double. Cricky..I thought.. that could put us out of business!

So Ringo and I go off to see these suppliers to see what can done, and why the big increases.
We went to see one of our candlestick makers, why the increase? Turns out since the Chinese have been coming here on holiday, (in the last two years really since direct flights started), some of them of course are giftware importers and have been pushing up the prices trying to buy big quantities. So as usual it's all the fault of the Chinese... I didn't expect that. They usually get the blame for driving prices down...

So right now, we working hard to fix up our supply lines. Finding new suppliers, re-negotiating prices and basically going a bit further to those places no-one else gets to. It's hard work but someone has to do it :)

Take care.. more tales from the east next week.
David

This range of crafty bamboo wind chimes is handmade in Indonesia from coconut and available in four different styles. Great natural and unique sculpture wind chime with wild animals will create lovely display.

This range of shoulder and clutch bags is made from environmentally-friendly jute. The jute fabric is strong and durable woven in classic herringbone pattern in light colour. Envelope style flap over front features alpana decor to the centre and popper fastening.

The carefully selected aromas will have your customers coming back for more of these Dark Art Incense. The sacred Poleng cloth of Bali is worn by holy men and statues an mythical creatures. The black, white and grey pattern reminds us that good and evil are woven together.

Take a look at these beautiful wholesale wooden calendars/pen holders in shapes of owls, elephants and hearts. Wooden calendars are made of Albesia wood in Indonesia, painted and made entirely by hand by skilful Balinese craftsmen.

Get a fantastic contemporary look for a fraction of the price of a regular shop fit. If you are into the natural look - what better way to display your products than on this beautiful hand-made display stands.

Bring some warm design to your home during the festive season with this charming Christmas cushion covers. Featuring many festive felt and embroidery details, these Christmas cushions pop with colourful personality to make this festive season extra bright and cheery.

Visit our Christmas Home Fragrance Page and take a look at our wide range of potent fragrances and colours make for a lively display guaranteeing great sales. Our Simmering Granules, Aroma Mists and Fragrance Oils are often the best selling fragrant product in many shops.

This range of Christmas Soybean Candle is made with soy bean was, which is a renewable resource. It is clean, safe and non-toxic. It will burn longer than most paraffin wax candles and with a clean almost smokeless flame.