Meanwhile Toni apart from helping us with communications is also dealing with lots of moving parts. Some days I go to the office at AW-Artisan.eu to work from there and connect with one of my favorite teams.. 

This week they had a major Indian container, a China container and a large shipment from AW-Aromatics.com (the UK aromatics factory). Last week I was telling you that the warehouse was basically full, now our hero warehouse manager, a very capable lady called Juani, is actually on the verge of losing it.. She is looking at me as if to say enough is enough.. actually lots going out as well as coming in, but it seems like we need more space than we have.. 

And on top of that Toni is fighting a huge battle with bureaucracy - importing anything these days is increasingly hard work. It feels like a battle, no matter how perfectly you do everything EU regulations are so complex and open to interpretation that customs officials can always find something pedantic to trip you up with. I feel like it is a kind of obsession to prevent imports. We have similar problems in Slovakia..

For example.. We are often accused (without evidence) of under invoicing. That is doing a dodgy thing like putting a fake low price on the import invoice to avoid import tax. We have never done that.. but they make us pay tax on what they think the price should be. So let's think about this.. ok we pay.. next time we import, do we have to put a fake higher price to keep them happy. Of course the money going to China also has to be balanced.. So what do we do with the extra money in China? It's like they are forcing us to be dodgy. They asked Tomas for a letter explaining why we buy cheaper than other importers.. He asked me, do you think they will accept because.. the boss's wife is our China agent and very good at her job? Because she avoids dodgy commissions. Most China agents take a commision from the customer and a secret one from the supplier - thus ultimately increasing the price. 

We are often in trouble for Gemstone Power Bracelets, they often question these. 

And Toni is becoming quite an expert at dealing with customs agents, beyond patience, but when he puts down the phone - I can see the steam coming out of his ears..

Sorry for the rant.. must focus on positive energy..

So it's AW's birthday next week.. on the 16th November we will be 28 years old. It all started at an outdoor market stall in Sheffield town centre. Yes - I suppose I'm still a market trader deep down. I was raised in Sheffield markets, the old Castle and Seaf Markets. The family business was a bakery and shops. Even as a teenager I loved the hustle and bustle of the market. The art of making "a flash" - what we called an eye catching display and creating some excitement. There is a page.. called The History of Ancient Wisdom.. It starts by describing the first day of trading..  

Haha I remember it like it was yesterday.. a lot has happened since then.. check it out if you have time.. 

Stand by for more exciting news on our Birthday. 

I just discovered that the Indian container has also just arrived in UK.. with the same stock items as we have here in Spain. I was particularly impressed with the wooden Ritual Bowls  Lots of other items also... These all came out of Epic Indian/Nepal Trip last February (regular readers will remember).. and I think almost the last stock to arrive from that trip. It's a circle of life.. that right now I'm planning the 2024 Epic Trip... as usual trying to think outside of the box.. and speaking boxes.. lovely Indian ones just arrived.. 

Hope you are doing good business and all is well.

Let's hope for a peaceful weekend.