Hi ,

Greetings from the Sri Lankan city of Colombo.
Last week I was telling you about the snowbound town of Trnava in Slovakia - where we have our EU distribution centre - all ready to rock and roll, whatever the Brexit outcome.
We are working on ideas that will help our customers trade successfully whatever happens. You can read about it here.

Since then I have been on a flying visit to Kuala Lumpur had a meeting with our IT wizard on our EU drop-shipping project. It could be awesome..
Then fly on to Hong Kong, met up with my wife and some friends (it was my birthday).. and then flown to Colombo in Sri Lanka. So a bit of a mad rush.

Been staying at the legendary Galle Face Hotel - it has a rich history - even the Pope stayed here. They have a car that Prince Phillip owned and drove when he was here.
Already walked all around the city, checking out the local markets, one gemstone trading place and a ceramics wholesaler. I'm supposed to be on holiday :)

I don't know what I think about it, but the Chinese are here big style, everywhere you look in the port area they are building high rise blocks, luxury flats and every brand of hotel.
From our hotel look right along the coast and you can see a huge land reclamation project in full flow, creating two and half square kilometres of prime real-estate that will house a new Dubai.
It's all funded with soft loans from the Chinese "Belt & Road" initiative.

This sleepy ex-colonial city of lakes and Buddhist temples is been turned into a metro city like any other you can find.
When the British were here, we built railroads, brought the English legal system and language. But in the end we colonised it.. sucking out trading profits perhaps unfairly - to enrich the City of London.
There are people who say that the mindbogglingly huge Chinese Belt & Road initiative is the same procedure..
Works like this.. Polite Chinese Business man says to Sri Lankan big wigs.. you need some nice supper posh ports, trains, airports and hospitals etc.. of course you do.. we can lend you the money at tiny interest rates to do it..
What's the catch? Well you gotta use our Chinese construction companies, oh.. and just do us a deal on your mineral exports (we can really use those raw materials for years to come), and if you can't make the repayments - it's no biggy - we will just take over the assets.
Is it a good thing or bad..? On balance it's probably good. At least jobs are being created and countries across the globe modernised. And lots of folk are learning to use chop-sticks.
On the other hand..

One thing I can say about Sri Lanka after being here (first time) for two days.. is that the locals are super friendly, delightful and helpful.. nothing is two much trouble.
They just love to tell you about their culture, a walk down the street and you make friends very easy.. "Where are you from?" they ask and then offering unconditional help and advice.

More news next week.

Lots of items back in Stock - there has been a mad rush of container deliveries ahead of the "Season of love" - Valentines Day very soon..
Check out our deals below..

Take care..

David

3 FOR THE PRICE OF 2 on our Megafizz Hearts. Ideal for Valentines :) If you are looking for a high-quality handmade bath hearts that look and smell great then you have come to the right place. We have many fragrances to choose from such are floral additions and body glitter. Offer ends on Monday the 21st of January at midnight

Your customers will love the saturated hues and elegant designs of your new range of Wholesale Double Wrap Gemstone Bracelets. Twelve beautiful unisex designs with many different gemstones and beads. This double wrap bracelet is made with 4mm gemstones and beads in lovely green & blue colours.

Beautifully packed wholesale Soap Flowers are a perfect gift, Valentine's, wedding favours, Mother's day or just a little treat for yourself.

Just add a one or two roses to your warm bath, relax and watch the cute flowers dissolve right before your very eyes. You will surely enjoy colourful water and great scent. It leaves your skin soft, silky, and smelling wonderfully fresh.

Wholesale 925 Silver Curb Chain are now available direct from the Ancient Wisdom manufacturers. We checked the production price in all the main silver producing areas for this essential item and shipped directly to ensure quality and best value.

Back In Stock. Each Wholesale Salt Lamp comes complete with light fitting, bulb & plug. Rather than sell them by size we sell them by approximate weight. Items are marked with sizes to give a rough idea of size only, each lamp is completely unique.

Wholesale Diffuser bottles, heavy glass quality Reed Diffuser Bottles. This range is a simple, yet stylish glass bottle perfect for home fragrances.

Add your own aromatherapy oils or room freshening fragrances, along with some reeds, to brighten up your customers homes.

Flowers for Valentine's Day, we all love to receive flowers as a gift, can you imagine receiving Soap Flowers? two gifts in one :-) This petite range of soap flower bouquets are a slimmed down version of the best selling Soap Flowers Baskets but at a lower price point, making them affordable wedding favour or impulse gift.

Just add a one or two roses to your warm bath, relax and watch the cute flowers dissolve right before your very eyes. Your customers will enjoy colourful water and great scent. It leaves your skin soft, silky and smelling wonderfully fresh.

And they almost look like real flowers! Bouquets are artistically arranged and beautifully presented in a gift bag. There are 6 coloured themed bouquets.

By popular demand, some of the components that make up the hugely popular Soap Flower bouquets. Now the crafty and creative can design your own product. Get crafty today.. and turn these pretty flowers into a pretty penny.