David's AW News: Cotton Wool to TikTok

Greetings from Spain…

Last I was writing to you from T2 Manchester Airport on the way back here… talking about Queen Victoria, Henderson’s Relish and a whirlwind week in Sheffield. If you missed it you can catch up here…

Well… I made it home at last.

It’s actually been almost three months since I properly stayed in my house here in Spain, and I have to say… it’s good to be back. The jasmine is starting to bloom, the mornings are warm again, and after airports, factories, warehouses, trade shows and far too many hotel breakfasts… even making coffee in your own kitchen feels like luxury.

Only problem was… I seemed to have brought something back with me besides supplier samples. A very painful ear. Agony it was literally bringing water to my eyes.

I went to our local clinic here expecting antibiotic drops, but the doctor took one look and smiled.

“No infection,” she said. Apparently all the flying had pushed wax deep into the inner ear.

Well… What followed was slightly traumatic.

First: ear drops every hour for five hours to soften everything up. Then back to the clinic for peroxide bubbling away in my ear (ouch).

Then some sort of hot water pressure pump and suction machine contraption that honestly looked like something from a 1970s science-fiction film.

But in the end… after an hour of pumping and prodding, and getting soaked in hot water..

Relief.

The pressure vanished, the pain disappeared… and suddenly I could hear like never before.

So next time you’re on a tiny aircraft crossing the Himalayas and the stewardess offers you cotton wool for your ears…

Take my advice. Use it.

Anyway… once partially reconstructed, I went to visit Toni and the team at the new Spanish warehouse.

The showroom is really starting to come together now, the warehouse is organised, systems are improving… though still plenty to do of course. Best moment of the day, however, belonged to Graciela—Toni’s right-hand girl.

As part of her wage review we arranged a lease car for her… and the very day I visited it arrived brand new at the warehouse.

You know that unmistakable “new car smell”? She was pleased as punch.

And honestly… moments like that are one of the nicest parts of building a business.

Meanwhile…

Some very big news for our Dropshipping customers.

After what felt like forever… the TikTok API integration finally received approval and we launched it last week.

And…It’s gone crazy.

Orders are flying in, the team are adding more pickers and packers, and we’re working hard to catch up and keep everything flowing smoothly.

But this is still only the beginning.

The volumes already look exciting… yet I genuinely think we are only scratching the surface of the potential here.

I think of it like this…

With a traditional retail shop, your potential customers are limited to:

• the people who walk past your door

• the percentage who come inside

• and the percentage of those who buy from the stock you physically have on display

But with AW Dropshipping…

You suddenly have access to over 7,500 products (plus endless bundle combinations)… and potentially 60 million customers in the UK.

And in Europe? Closer to 450 million.

That changes the game completely.

If you haven’t explored it yet… this is becoming a very exciting time to dive in.

Meanwhile, lots of stock arriving in the warehouse, see below..

We are only weeks away from Father's Day.. the time to plan is NOW.. and Wedding Season is in full swing.

Anyway… there’s still far too much to do, too many ideas on the table, and apparently I’m now under medical instructions to “rest my ears” — which feels wildly unrealistic in this business.

Have a wonderful week wherever you are in the world.

And if someone on a Himalayan flight offers you cotton wool…

Don’t try to act tough.

David