Drama and Should I Go?

Greetings from Yiwu, China

Where the temperature has fallen to around 30c much more comfortable.. I was telling you about the heat (40c plus) in last week's news and much more.. if you missed it you can catch up here.

This week we have been running every day. Tomas, Coco and me.. running round our suppliers making things happen at pace as only they can in China - and especially in Yiwu.

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere! It's a Yiwu state of mind...I'm sure there should be a hip-hop song about it.

Yiwu City - you can make it here. Actually, you can make almost anything here.

Correction. Re - Tax on candles..

Slight correction on last week's newsletter.. where I mentioned: we just got news that the EU and the UK are imposing (Trump like) tariffs on candles of 75% from this month... well, the UK is not imposing this (so far) just the EU.. I understand that the EU is trying to protect candle manufacturers from cheap Chinese imports.. but have they thought this through? TEMU can still ship and no doubt will ship even more candles using the de minimis rule and pay zero taxes. At least when we import, we are paying taxes on sales and profits and some duty on import. All that the EU will lose. The candles will still flow via online marketplaces , even more disruptive for EU manufacturers, so actually shooting themselves in the foot.  WHAT A BIG MESS.

Russian Shungite & Temu

We often get asked for Shungite gemstones.. I have seen it available in India and China. But Shungite is only available from one geographical location in the world. That's a town called Shunga in the Karelia Region of Russia - so of course we cannot and will not offer this product. However, go to Temu and search for Shungite and you will be swamped with listings.. Now it's possible that what's shown there is fake Shungite (Tourmaline would pass), but not everything can be,
and anyway Russian products are widely available in China these days - so supply would be easy. Think about that.. Temu is a backdoor for sanctioned Russian products using the de minimis rule. I'm notifying the guy at the BBC.. if this Russian product can arrive through the Temu back door, what else can?

Meanwhile..

Denpasar Drama

If it's not one thing, it's another.. In Indonesia.. if you didn't see the news - following the riots sparked by the hashtag #NEPOKIDS  - extreme weather has descended on Bali - horrendous rainfall then massive floods throughout the island and in Denpasar city.. Bondhan and Debbie who work for AW in Bali have had their home flooded, as have many people in the area. Mudslides, flash floods and fallen trees have caused havoc with a serious death toll. It's pretty bad.. I almost feel guilty that our warehouse and offices so far have been spared any damage. Our prayers go out to those affected, and we are helping where we can. Debbie sent me these pictures.

Kathmandu Chaos. 

Also in Kathmandu - where we have many suppliers.. is facing the worst crisis in 20 years.. You must have seen the news.. A couple of our supplies who are also friends and live in that area have been updating me.. It's been horrendous. This started with the #Nepokids hashtag in Indonesia - the sons and daughters of the corrupt elite living flashy lifestyles while ordinary young people are struggling to even find work. If it's bad in Indonesia, this phenomenon is much worse in Nepal. The government in Nepal (heavily influenced by China) used the same playbook and closed down social media under some pretext. That was a massive mistake because 70% of Nepali households have a family member working abroad.. cutting social media was like cutting off family.. people got very angry. 

The city and other parts of Nepal have been in chaos.. the last few days.. one of our suppliers sent me these pictures.

Police attacking people even in a temple.

Well here's the thing due to go to Kathmandu next week.. before travelling on to India.. stay tuned.. Should I still go? Or cancel?

Meanwhile in the EU..

Well a bit less dramatic..

But today is the last oportunity to use our DISCOUNT VOUCHERS... It means if you didn't order for a while.. you can get maximum discounts.. full details below.

Lots of back in stock and some new products .. coming online..

Wishing you a drama free peaceful week.

All the best from China

David