David's AW News: A Christmas Thank You (30 Years of Ancient Wisdom)

Greetings from the AW office in Slovakia

Well here it is (almost) it's Christmas Time.

And well this is the last AW Newsletter Before Christmas  (Can You Believe It?)

Last week I was telling you about our Serious Christmas party in Spain. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

Well after that I was back to the UK.. then on Saturday we had the UK AW Christmas party..  It was crazy, fun and wonderful to celebrate with our teams in the UK.

I did a speech (as did others) then we danced the night away..

Yesterday afternoon I took a Ryanair flight with James to Bratislava, and then drove to the pretty town of Trnava.

Checked in the hotel and met up with Tomas and friends - where we managed a quick walk around the Christmas market.

Slovakia Christmas market - that Christmas feeling.

As I write this, I’m in Slovakia getting ready for the AW Slovakia Christmas party tonight — one of many AW gatherings happening around the AW world. As we all tidy up, open the Secret santa, switch off spreadsheets, and remember why we started this whole thing in the first place.

And this feels like a good moment to say thank you.

This year marks 30 years of Ancient Wisdom.

Yes.. Thirty. Years.

Which means:

- 30 years of sourcing, packing, unpacking, re-packing

- 30 years of ideas that worked… and a few that really didn’t

- 30 years of candles, oils, incense, notebooks, bags, gifts, mistakes, lessons, friendships and stories

From a freezing market stall in Sheffield to warehouses and teams across the UK, Europe and beyond — none of this would exist without you, our customers.

You’ve stuck with us through thick and thin: economic chaos, Brexit, various shipping crises, our warehouse burning down (in covid), and the occasional “why on earth did they make that?” product - sorry about that.

Yet you’re still here. Still ordering. Still believing in what we do. That means more than you probably realise.

I have always said AW isn’t just about products — it’s about stories, people, ideas, and a bit of soul in a world that sometimes feels like it’s losing the plot.

And so after 30 years, that feels truer than ever. So wherever you are reading this — in your shop, warehouse, office, kitchen, or hiding from customers with a cup of tea...

Thank you for being part of the AW journey.

From all of us at Ancient Wisdom, including the AW teams in India, China and Indonesia we all send you Greetings and thanks.

We wish you a peaceful Christmas, a profitable New Year and enough calm moments to enjoy why you do what you do!

And finally… Since tonight is the Slovak Christmas Party.. (and I'm hoping they can loosen up a little and have some fun) raise a glass with us.

To 30 years of Ancient Wisdom — and to whatever slightly mad, beautiful ideas come next.

See you in 2026.

(Yes… 2026. That sounds crazy even to me.)

Warmest Christmas Wishes,

David

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