David's AW News: StrangeThings

Greetings from Yiwu, China

Hope you are doing well!

Last week I was telling you about the Muggy weather and Mooncakes here in China. If you missed it you can catch up here. We are still eating the mooncakes. And still in Yiwu city.

The weather has strangely cooled dramatically.. 15c drop in a day.

We have been working crazy here, running around working down our wish list but also happening on some new products that you are absolutely going to swoon over.

Tomas and Coco are an ace team.. making lots happen. I'm just the spreadsheet guy :/

Yesterday Coco loaded two containers in one day.. working late into the night. So Tomas and I were able to focus on our orders and get organised.

On the same day in India.. Mr Chatterjee loaded a container and Ringo in Bali also.. his team always sends me a picture when they finish..

Looking cool and our head of security.. Pupim the dog.

China drama - the end of the world as we know it.

Coco told me that the dramatic change in temperature is messing with nature in China. This time of year the highly fragrant Osmanthus Fragrans or Tea Olive tree blossoms across China giving off a jasmine like fragrance.  Except this year this late blossoming tree just didn't blossom. And apparently that is a sign that the world will end soon.

The tree that did not blossom. Strange no?

Indian drama - money in a black hole

Mr Chatterjee (our man in India) is in a flap, the flow of money to India to fund the artisans that supply us came to an unexpected and unexplained halt. Mr Chatterjee and his son are our agents in India and deal with the small artisan businesses that we like to trade with. An Indian major holiday is coming up, and most small companies pay holiday money at this time, so there is a big rush to finish orders and get paid. But a lump of €29,000 in that supply line had gone missing. Chatterjee started to ring alarm bells more than a week ago, and then it seemed no money was arriving. Adam, our financial controller, was chasing, but he put it: total radio silence.

I don't want to tell you the bank's name, but one of the biggest, you can guess. Almost two weeks waiting for the money and nothing, nada, zilch in the way of communication. I called our bank manager directly and left answer phone messages. Finally he called me back.. well it's not his personal fault so no point in getting angry, but it turns out that the reference number used on this payment was similar to a sanctioned Russian business. Apparently lots of international payments have been thrown into limbo, and the staff checking them are in no rush. As I write this the money is still blocked.. we are currently being asked to prove that nice Mr Chatterjee is not a Russian gangster.. it's a strange world..

Talking about strange things.. Yiwu wholesale market has everything you can imagine (80,000 showrooms).. but I was amused to see Trump playing cards and fake money on sale..

Check that out!

Back in the warehouse.. lots of Indian stock has arrived. The team are working very hard to get everything online.

With less than 90 days until Christmas.. now is the time to stock up.

Anyway, there's a lot to do..

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and (if the world doesn't end) more news next week.

Take care

David