Lots of news
Fri Sep 24 2021 21:05:00 GMT+0800 (Malaysia Time)
Greetings from Spain
Hope you are well and business is not running out of gas or sparkle.. like parts of the UK..
The shortages are a worry but these things will pass.
Last week I was telling you about the fearsome fires in south Spain and how the fire planes were regularly buzzing my house. You can read about it here.
But it started raining and things changed - panic over. But not before one brave firefighter sadly lost his life.
When a container arrives in the country they have a system.. it's put into a green, amber or red channel. Green means the customs guys are relaxed and the container can sail through the port and wing it's way to our warehouse. Amber channel means they have some questions or checks to make, so there may be some delays until they are sure you're not doing anything dodgy. And Red.. well if you get in the red channel expect big trouble, inspections, multiple checks, exrays.. you name if the container is red listed big delays and huge expense.. all of which pushes prices up in the end for consumers.. but there are elements of bureaucracy that just love to cause trouble for importers.
This week on Tuesday our container from China to Spain was red listed.. we waited for the list of queries and demands.. our shipping agent every hour asking what the problem was.. nothing. Then yesterday afternoon for no apparent rhyme or reason.. the container was moved from Red to Green and could we take delivery at 7am..
Importing these days in Europe is stressful.. but the team all agreed to get up early..
As I write they just finished unloading.. and sent me a picture..
This is the AW-Artisan warehouse team (MFT)
Over the years in the UK we must have imported hundreds of containers, and maybe one in twenty spends a day or hours in the Amber lane.. never stressful but these days everything is.. hopefully this will pass.
In Slovakia it's not as bad as Spain, but every container they will make checks.. recently we received a €4000 fine for under invoicing.. This is a dodgy trick where an importer undervalues a product in the invoice so the duty payable is less.
Of course we don't do this. At AW we have always played it straight, and proud of our ethics and standards.. but even when we gave them copies of invoices and the money trail they just said we don't accept you bought the product so cheap - pay the fine.
In a way it's a backhanded compliment.. we managed to source products at a price they don't believe.
What is it?
The Power Bracelets. Made from gemstone beads. In the UK all are out of stock right now.. but some are coming soon.
The thing is - of course Rose Quartz etc are quite high value, but the beads are made from waste and off-cuts or larger stones.. in the China domestic market they like big fat beads 10mm.. in Europe we like 6mm or even smaller..
In the back streets of Yiwu is a whole area of gemstone traders. Stones come from all over the world and are carved and made into all sorts of exotic items..
I love this area, the stores trade with each other and you see Africans and East Asians and Tibetans, it's an amazing place. We got to know many of the traders very well, some are good friends.
This is a typical store - that machine outside the door is tumbling beads. The rocks are too small to do anything else with.
Here is Coco checking stock in a Turquoise specialist.
They are all small family businesses - who love what they do.. the type of people we like to trade with.
Anyway we are fighting the fine.. not for the money but for the principle, we don't and never will do dodgy things. The lawyer will cost more than the fine, but this is getting annoying. Our lawyer is sure we will win the case as we are innocent, but it's not clear we will be able to recover costs.. But I really feel strongly about this.. just because we found a way to bring you great gifts at great prices we are being attacked..I'm not even sure what they want us to do? Next time we import, do we increase the invoiced value to make them happy? Where would that money go...(to an off-shore bank account) that would be seriously dodgy. Are we expected to pay a fine on every import? I'll update you on what happens.
In other news from Slovakia - this week we signed the "Head of Terms" agreement to move to a new larger warehouse early next year - if all goes according to plan.
Our current warehouse is bursting at the seams, and growth is still running high.. so we have no choice but to expand..
Not the whole building, just the first five sections (I think).
Last week I was telling you about an amazing new product from the Aromatics team,,
And I am delighted to announce the Official Launch is TODAY!!
Do-Nut Bath Bombs..
See below..
Also there is a load of new products all (finally) reaching the finishing line..
Amongst them.. Wild Hare solid shampoo and conditioner.. a very special product years in development.. watch this space..
Take care.. be kind to someone..
Have a great weekend and more updates from the world of AW next week.
David
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