Posts

David's AW News: THINK BIG (no AI)

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Greetings from Spain It's a little chilly here but pretty damn cold in the UK and the poor guys in the Sheffield warehouse, (which is too big to heat), are AW Heros working under extreme conditions. Even so they are managing the current busy patch very well and getting your orders out in a timely fashion. Well done guys and gals. Last week I was delivering a personal New Year message, basically a little rant and reality check: If you missed it you can catch up here . I mentioned TEMU and SHEIN undermining the gift trade in general, and it seemed to have struck a chord, quite a few people messaged me about that. More ideas on how to fight that below. And it is time to think BIG, think POSITIVE and think OUTSIDE the BOX..  But first I have to mention that we have been short-listed for Gift of the Year in three categories..Very exciting for our talented designers. We are crossing our fingers I definitely think all three should win.. but then I might be a tad biased!  In 2024 - ou...

David's AW News: A Personal Message for 2025

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Greetings and a Very Happy New Year from a bright sunny Spain. All the other wholesalers are sending you bright and breezy new year messages... but at AW Artisan let's just for a second face reality. Well here we are, it's 2025. Is that really already a quarter of the way through this century?  You know it seems the world is full of problems, bad news and depressing things seem to surround us. Who the heck knows what the year ahead will bring? For sure though we are all going to face business challenges especially as the increase in National insurance and ever increasing costs bite.  Pesky companies like Temu and Shein continue to steal trade from under our noses. Compliance and regulations complicate and cause unnecessary drag..  Sometimes in Business it just seems like hard work.  Sorry to depress you.   Friends, one thing is true and remains true. If you don't face the future with Bright Optimism and Positive thinking then you have already failed. ...

David's AW News: Christmas Greetings!

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  Merry Christmas and Greetings from Trnava, Slovakia Yes it's Christmas-time! Hope you are having a wonderful time of year and Christmas spirit is flowing. In the UK and Slovakia this is our final day of work. In Spain they have it slightly different.. so are still working. Last week I was in AW HQ in Sheffield, and telling you about some surprises and secrets.. if you missed it you can catch up here . On Saturday we had an amazing AW Christmas party with the best singer and much fun was had by all.. we had speeches and danced into the night. On my last day at AW HQ.. we had a bit of extreme weather.. strong winds and rushing clouds.. then the sky cleared and a beautiful rainbow.. this is the view from the office. It made me think.. it's 2025 soon and that feels promising. A rainbow is the symbol of a better future. Hope and new beginnings. So sending you best wishes and the hope of better times ahead. Yesterday morning, Philip (Katka's husband) kindly drove Ka...

David's AW News: Secrets & Surprises!

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Greetings from Sheffield, UK.. :) it's almost Christmas! Yes it's true I am actually back at the mothership.. at AW Aromatics and AW HQ.. Home for Christmas... and found some big surprises. Last week I was making a flying visit to Spain just in time for the AW-Artisan Christmas party, which was lovely and very emotional, if you missed it you can catch up here. On Wednesday evening I returned my hire car to Malagacar.com (best car hire by far) and checked in for my EasyJet flight to Manchester. The flight was almost empty.. and left early arriving 30 minutes ahead of schedule in Manchester. Whilst the staff were friendly and kind, the seats are basic and the experience is third world.. actually any Indian or Asian budget airline is much better. Then I arrive at Manchester airport, it's such a bad impression for first time visitors.. (apart from Kathmandu) any Asian airport is class. Manchester on arrival feels distinctly 3rd world. It makes me feel something is wrong...

David's AW News: Spain an Emotional Update

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Greetings from La Cala de Mijas, Spain Wow I feel like I have been running around like crazy, I just landed in Spain three days ago exhausted. And last night we had the AW-Artisan Christmas party.. Last week I was telling you about my last days in India after a quick trip to Kathmandu and a chilly visit to the artisan felt factory in the foothills. If you missed it you can catch up here .  Since then I went to Kolkata via Delhi, then after a couple of days to Goa, to see my friends and check on the renovation of our apartment there. Getting from Goa to Spain was a little difficult, Air India to Mumbai (delayed 3 hours) then five hours in Mumbai before a 2.30am flight to Amsterdam, five hours before a flight down to Malaga.    As we came into land .. I couldn't believe how green everything was.. that rain in Spain.. so green.. Malaga was like a dream. I got off the plane first, walked to the luggage belt, and my luggage was waiting for me. Strolled to the minibus meeting ...

David's AW News: The End is Near.

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Greetings from calm and peaceful South Goa, after a super hectic week. Last week I was telling you about my flying visit to Kathmandu to finalise some new products. I was telling you about the mafia there and my little battle with them. If you missed it you can catch up here . On Monday I took an Air India flight from Kathmandu to Delhi, changed and flew down to Kolkata arriving at midnight. After two days, I caught an Indigo flight direct to Goa. It's an absolutely crazy schedule, but this last mad dash is needed to sort things before I head back to Europe for Christmas. I leave soon.. the end of this Asia trip is near. In Kathmandu it was cooler than Bali but still 24c in the city. So just t-shirts and shorts still. I needed to visit the artisan felt factory. Mr Padam our shipping agent wanted to see the factory so offered to drive me there.. Kathmandu is a city in a valley with the outskirts lapping up against the mountains. The felt factory we visited is at the very edg...

David's AW News: Taking on the Mafia

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Greetings from Kathmandu, Nepal, where I am taking on the mafia. Last week was crazy, we kicked off with our 29th Birthday celebrations.. AW is 29 years old. 29 years since I sold my first bottle of Lavender Oil on a Sheffield Street market. Since then it's been beyond busy in all our warehouses, the elfs are struggling to keep up - but we will find a way. Anyway I'm on the way home for Christmas (Erm the long way).. On Wednesday I said goodbye to Ringo and Bondhan as they dropped me off at Denpasar airport, I took a Malaysian airways flight to Kuala Lumpur arriving late evening, slept in the most comfortable bed you can imagine at the Sama-Sama airport hotel (short walk and a buggy ride), and early morning checked in for the flight to Kathmandu. Just about the smoothest, trouble free, friendly people, nice food.. best experience ever. Sometimes I love traveling in Asia.   Even as we approached the airport it seemed like the wings were almost touching the magical mountain...