(organization)
Hello
Last week I was telling you about our new wooden numbers and the small family owned business who make them for us back in Indonesia. You can read it here.
In the next few weeks I leave for India. Here's the plan: Mumbai, Delhi and million jobs to do, a train to hotspot Saharanpur, down to gently steaming Kolkata, along the Ganges to sleepy Serampore. Then on to Indonesia.. Denpasar, and then up to magical mystical Ubud and around. Then probably a trip to Java and the inscrutable ancient city of Yogyakarta. After that China and good old frantic Yiwu and beyond to real China. Then by October I will be back in India and Indonesia on a follow up trip. And if I have time I want to go back to Burma see if can do more business there, or if you have a better idea let me know :)
Should be an interesting three months. Hope you are coming along for the ride, and are ready to supply ideas and suggestions.
Meanwhile back in the UK (I'm here now on a very quick hop) stock is rolling in ahead of the Halloween / Christmas / Party season. OK, sorry about mentioning the "C" word there. At least I didn't tell you how many shopping days until the "C" word. But you know, you gotta make a plan.. and it's always best to be in front, or at least plan to be, because sure as eggs are omelets things slip behind.
This is one of the reasons for follow up trips to India. Because if you don't basically everything will grind to halt. I love Indian folk, especially the artisan traders we deal with. Ask how long it will take to complete the order you have just given them and they invariably with a little confident waggle of the head tell you 45 days. "Really" I always say, but the last order took 90 days I point out. That's a mistake, because then you have to listen to half an hour of why that happened and it wasn't normal. The confidence of meeting the deadline is always absolute and unconditional and genuine. And being gullible type I'm generally completely taken in. :) Every blinking time.
Of course the problems your Indian businessman has to face are legion. Power cuts, floods or days when it is just too hot to work, holy days, festivals and holidays, and you average Hindu can stop for Muslim and Christian holidays. Then there are all sorts of elections, to disrupt things. And don't forget industrial action, broken down trains and blocked roads.
The follow up trip, spurs them into action. Losing face is not an option, and face to face things speed up no end. Still takes forever. Consulting my notebooks I cannot find one order in the last ten years that shipped on time. Oh well, I guess they always get there in the end.
Talking about planning.. are you ready for the GBBH.. yes it's almost August Bank Holiday. Take a look at our new Paradise Soap Loaves they are selling so well and the scent is absolutly delightful.
More news next week
Take care
David