Wholesale David's AW News: Getting High in Nepal - Ancient Wisdom

Greetings from the Top of the World

Happy Mother's Day weekend. And special greetings from the top of the world. Wishing all Mothers reading this a wonderful Sunday with love and laughter.

Coco and I just arrived in Pokhara for a short break and checked into the Rainiban Retreat.

It's high up above the lake side city with breath-taking views of the Annapurna mountain range. Peaceful, quiet and still as it gets.

We said our emotional goodbyes and left Toni on his own in Kathmandu. His Epic Asian trip is coming to a close, in a few days he will head back to Spain. We arrived in Pokhara by a short Yeti airways morning flight, just 30 minutes and spectacular mountain views landing at the infamous new International Airport (no international flights yet). From the airport we took a taxi through the city and then up a very steep mountain road, then off-road bouncing along a precarious track, the underside of the little taxi being crunched and scraped. "No problem," said our jolly taxi driver beeping to wakeup the staff as we approached our mountain retreat...

Last week I was telling you about arriving in Nepal with Toni and Coco joining us the next day flying in from China. If you missed it you can catch up here.

Here is the view from our room.

In Kathmandu we had a busy week, visiting our existing suppliers and seeking out some new ones. It was of course it was Toni's first visit to Kathmandu and the slightly manic wholesale area known as Thamel. It's a maze of narrow streets between ancient crumbling buildings and a traditional trading area. Since last time I was here it has had many more streets pedestrianised and more boutique hotels and cool restaurants opened. It's still a bit dodgy with drug dealers muttering as you pass by and scary looking dodgy dive club opening late at night. But here handicraft traders have showrooms, export agents and shipping companies work from upper floor offices. And all sorts of esoteric and exotic Nepali products find there way to gifts shops all over the world from Thamel.

Toni took to it like a dog to water.. navigating the alleyways making friends with traders and getting (a little over) excited at the variety of products being traded. All manner of brass items including singing bowls, incense, teas, beautiful and fun felt products, hemp fabric and much more. It's giftware heaven.

Our shipping agent, Mr Padam, an old school gentleman, whose office still sports a fax machine introduced us to some new traders, the ones that he knew well and were not simply middlemen. He took us to a small place hidden away in a back-street specialising in prayer flags. It was super busy and very well organised suppling all the giftshops, temples and monasteries in Kathmandu and a few exporters like us. We figure if you want to sell Singing Bowls and the like you need to get the look and feel right.. prayer flags are the answer to your prayers. Coming soon to AW.

Toni and I went to visit a felt factory on the outskirts of Kathmandu. The boss picked us up from our hotel and drove there explaining the complicated politics, the corruption, the reasons why most Nepal people are still poor. India and China tussle for influence, and dodgy deals abound at the top. But the ordinary people of Nepal are hard working, gentle and honest. He told us most dream of leaving for Australia or Canada where their hard work is apricated and they can send money home.

The suburbs are scruffy and disorganised, although the boss told us they have a mayor for the first time that seems to be improving things. He didn't have much hope he would last long in the job.

The factory was spread-out over two large houses on three floors, each room focused on a different process or product. It was clean nice working environment and the mostly ladies working there were really happy to see us and certainly working hard.

And making beautiful products.

Meanwhile back in the UK..

With Mother's day upon us it's been pretty busy, but also our new Hop Hare products are causing quite a stir and flying out.

Easter is coming and so that's the next focus.. and of course the wedding season creates many opportunities for the wise giftware traders.

Plenty back in stock this week and some brilliant deals to keep your customers happy and you busy.

Namaste from Nepal.

More news next week.

David