Wholesale Malaga to Marrakech - Ancient Wisdom - Giftware and Aromatherapy Supplier

Greetings from Morocco

Last week I was telling you about "Moving on" - sometimes business relationships just don't work out well, you can read about it here.

A special Hello, Hola!.. to our new Spanish customers who are subscribing in droves to the latest AW website.. AWGifts.es - the only authorised AW site for Spain.

We are busy adding products to the site, more everyday.. soon we should have the full range of Ancient Wisdom products available for our wonderful Spanish customers - now you can buy direct from AW - please patient as we add products and finish the website. We are interviewing for staff, (Spanish speaking) in Sheffield - it's surprising how many Spanish folk there are in Sheffield if you know anyone that would like an interview, applications close on Tuesday.

Our plan is to later open a distribution centre in Spain.. it's all happening..

If you are new to this newsletter - I have been writing it every Friday, from wherever I happen to be.. for over eight years.. the first was from Thailand during Chinese New Year 2011.. You can scan a selection of old blogs here.

Over 50,000 people subscribe to this newsletter, all customers and fellow giftware traders - Here I tell you the trade secrets, the gossips, the adventures and mishaps. You will meet Ringo our agent in Indonesia, Mr Chatterjee our man in India. Coco our agent in China.. and of course Tomas (product and marketing wizard), Raul (IT wizard), Katka and the whole team from the UK. Join me as I travel and work.. and feel free to email me your ideas and suggestions, over the years the readers of this blog have really shaped the direction AW has taken.

Meanwhile.. finally after so many years of planning to go.. my wife and I finally made it to Marrakech. When I was really young, maybe 16, I read a book about someone buying an old Riad in Marrakech and turning it into a small hotel - what a fantastic adventure it seemed to be and it always stayed with me. So it's always been on my dream list of places to visit. And more so now.. since it has a rich culture of artisan crafts, plus aromatics and gemstone products - such opportunity.. and everyone loves that stylish Moroccan look and feel. Ancient Wisdom really should be trading there. I suppose one of the reasons I never made it before was that I had offered this opportunity to Carlos our partner in the Spain company, he never found the time.. so now that partnership is over - an opportunity opens up.. as one door closes another opens as they say.

The flight from Malaga to Marrakech is surprisingly stressed free and super fast, a really short flight and you actually arrive before you leave because of the time zones. The airport in Marrakech is modern and very efficient, the hotel sent a driver to pick us and the trip downtown (we wanted to stay practically in the souks of course) was only 20 minutes. The boutique hotel (also a Riad) served mint tea in a cool and beautiful courtyard. All so trouble free...

Those of you know Morocco.. know of course that it far from trouble-free! I have read the books, I have been told, even the manager of the hotel gave us a little friendly warning.. but nothing prepares you for the madness of Souks of Marrakech. OMG.. so many shops, so much stuff, so many guys wanting you to buy their wares.

Inside the maze of alleys and passages dotted with pools of sunlight that make up the bazaars is a world stuffed with exotic carpets, silk kaftans, spices, antiques, lanterns, pottery and jewellery. The only way to approach the souks of Marrakech is to take a breath and jump right in. Within five minutes we are lost and senses overwhelmed. I absolutely love all markets, the friendly banter the competitive displays, hustle and bustle. I was raised a market trader, my family had shops and stalls in Sheffield markets when I was a teenager - it's in my blood. But there is no market in the world like the Marrakech one.. here there is little friendly negotiations.. it's a whole elaborate at times aggressive game.. and you need to know the rules to survive. My wife is Chinese and no stranger to haggling, but even she was struggling to stay good-natured. There are websites and apps that teach you how to trade.. and believe me, you need to swot up first.. it's worth it.

What you have to get your mind around, and the manager of the hotel explained it well.. it's just the culture, it's the way it's always been. That you have to negotiate every little thing, is a game that has to be played - it's not personal - it's just the way it is.

So how to buy wholesale in Morocco? Well, you need inside contacts.. it's going to be impossibly recruiting a local trader to help you.. I remembered we have an old customer - a lady called Lucie who reads this newsletter and has occasionally emailed me. She had generously offered to help before, and I'd passed her contact details to Carlos.. nothing came of it.. so I messaged. What a lovely lady .. so helpful and kind. She now has four Riad Hotels in Marrakech. Check out the magical Riad Star.. next time I plan to stay there..

Lucie introduced us to a young guy, gentle, intelligent and when it comes to pushy.. almost the complete opposite in character to the souk traders. I liked him immediately, and he totally got that we have to buy ethically - from responsible companies. He has a mission to find a few products, from sources that should be the manufacturers or producers, the guys that supply the souk traders.. and we have to buy big enough that we can supply British and European customers cost-effectively. It's very early days but we will see how it goes.

It might be just the beginning in Morocco, but I have been doing business in India for over 16 years.. at AW we supply one of the best range of Indian gift products of any wholesaler in Europe. I'm so excited about a new range of wall hangings.. just gone life today online.

I feel that any savvy gift trader with a little empty wall space can sell these with ease, the price is right, packaging makes it easy to sell - each pack has a photo, description and barcode, no need to open the packs to check what's inside. You don't need to

See below for more details.

It really is the end of May.. June and summer is here..

Happy summer!