GOOD BUSINESS March 1998

Travellers Tales

EACH winter WONDERWORLD has a busy programme of foreign travel to contact suppliers & ,generate new lines for the coming seasons. So Dave Hogg was in Jaipur in October and David Turner went to Pondicherry, South India, in December. Dave Hogg was then in Thailand in January, swiftly followed by Myles Podmore and David Turner as the Thai Baht swan dived. Turner travelled to Thailand via Nepal and returned via Jaipur 

THAILAND was the hub of our itineraries as the economic crisis in that country created a radically new situation for the handicraft trade. More on this later. The result is our biggest and best ever range of new Thai handicrafts this spring.

DANGEROUSLY, Myles Podmore also acquired a nasty case of Dengue Fever and spent his first few days back home quite sick. Dengue or Hemmorhagic Fever is a mosquito born disease endemic in South-East Asia, potentially fatal with no treatment. The victim has recovered, thankfully.

MEANWHILE in South India our incense manufacturer was struggling with the unusual persistence of monsoon conditions well into December. Some orders were delayed because of the difficulties drying the fresh rolled sticks. WONDERWORLD can personally attest to the prevailing dampness as David Turner's vehicle was nearly swept off the road by floods on the outskirts of Madras.   Fragrant Garden Natural Incense has been an great success so we are taking steps to expand the choice of aromas. Very soon the LOTUS and LEMON GRASS aromas will be added to the range.  

Damn - forgot my wellies!   Outskirts of Madras - December 1998

ELECTION time in India did not affect manufacture of our unique block printed fabrics near Jaipur in Rajasthan. The new BJP government has announced its firm opposition to foreign multi-national investment in India. We hope that the government continue to recognise the vital contribution of low-technology, labour intensive, export-orientated handicraft production as a sustainable, appropriate mode of development for the country. We have lots of new hand block printed designs on the way. We were most impressed by our manufacturer’s efforts to expand the colour range for block printing. They have discovered ways of creating deeper blues, more orangy red, strong green and brighter yellow which you will see initially in new bedspread designs.

SMOG and cloud generally obscured the stunning Himalayan mountain panorama during our work in Kathmandu. Therefore it was a bit easier to concentrate on finding the new lines which will sustain our business in Nepal. In many ways Nepal is the country where producers have been slowest in responding to changing fashions in Western markets and finding alternatives to successful old lines which have run their course. Producers need to work hard to create new lines which incorporate the handicraft skills available. On this trip we were able to suggest avenues for research and experiment, and we identified specific products such as brocade furnishings, new incense, knitted cotton and ritual decorations as lines which we should thoroughly test market ourselves. You will be seeing these lines soon.

The Spiral Path

IN BUDDHIST imagery a Spiral path links our ordinary world with the world of Enlightened beings. Its a powerful motif found everywhere from celtic rock carvings, the BBC Alive & Kicking studio and now, ultimately, the new range of hand block printed, natural dye clothes created by WONDERWORLD in Jaipur.

THE Spiral range contains trousers, wrap around mini-skirts and voile scarves in blue, green and red, the spiral printed in dark shade on a light background. If you need a complete outfit, a cotton v-neck button shirt in complementing colours has been sourced from an excellent family concern in Thailand.

WE have received delivery of the Spiral range. Quantities are limited so get in touch with Myles or David to see the range in good time. We also have a new stripe pattern hand-blocked jacket and trouser combination which many of you will be seeing for the first time.

Dark Clouds & Silver Linings

THE ECONOMIC crisis in South-East Asia means that Thais have seen the value of their currency slashed. How is the new economic situation affecting our suppliers and ourselves?

IN FACT our suppliers are amongst the few sectors of Thai society to really benefit. ,Exporting has become much easier, especially where locally sourced raw materials are in use. Handicrafts producers have been welcoming a lengthening queue of potential new customers. A whole strata of handicraft products are now viable export commodities. Evidence that producers are busy - our orders are taking much longer to deliver than in previous years.

OUR suppliers are not isolated from the wider Thai economic problems. Inflation has already set in. The exchange rate collapse has ruined businesses dependent on imported goods and dollar loans. As people lose jobs and homes the sort of social unrest seen in Indonesia is not out of the question.

ONE or two people have suggested that it is not right to buy from countries like Thailand in these circumstances as we are exploiting the devaluation of their currency. Neither we nor the Thai people we work with share this view. It is even more important that export sales are made now to start mending the damage which has been done. So WONDERWORLD will have a large number of new product lines from Thailand. Some existing lines are available at more attractive prices. Exchange rate benefits will be partially eroded because of increased shipping costs from Thailand. The demand for space on ships coming west has dramatically increased while east bound vessels sail empty.

Rag Tag

OUR hand block printed furnishing, clothes and accessories are quality products. To help you communicate the extra quality, character and design component of these products to your customers we have created a brand name & logo: Desert Horizons. The logo represents the mouton skyline and desert sand dunes of Rajasthan in India where the range is produced.

EACH hand-blocked item will be supplied with a colour swing tag giving basic product information, room for your price & description, and a coded tear off section to help you keep track of sales and re-order.

All Change For Crewe

WE HAVE finally moved into a modern warehouse unit in Crewe, Cheshire. Apart of the obvious and undeniable cultural attractions of Crewe itself, the new unit gives us double floor area and height, windows for staff to look outside & much improved efficiency in consignment processing or order despatch.

WE have two new staff members in Crewe, Juliet and Neil, who will be introduced to you in forthcoming editions of GB. However your principle point of contact will remain Myles Podmore and David Turner.

Packing Off PVC

LAST YEAR one of our customers, 100th Monkey of St Andrews in Scotland, drew attention to the environmental damage done by PVC, a common packaging material. They circulated a Greenpeace briefing which detailed the dangers posed by PVC as it degrades and releases toxins into the environment. 100th Monkey decided they would no longer
accept PVC packaging on any product. 

WE carried out an audit of the packaging material used for our products. Most are packed in Poly Propelene or Cellophane, much less environmentally impactful than PVC. There were a few PVC packed products. We have now given clear instructions to all our suppliers
that PVC is not to be used in future. We also supplied them with the background information on the dangers of PVC so that they could consider replacing that packaging on supplies made to other customers.

DO you have any questions which you would like WONDERWORLD to take up?

Old Grey Beard

WONDERWORLD include OLD GREY BEARD. This canny, crusty shop-keeper has 30 years experience of trading in handicrafts. Every issue GB will prise a pearl of wisdom from his treasure chest of knowledge and offer it to you:

It is Spring and the best way to catch the eye of that all important passing trade is to put boxes of fresh flowers right outside your window. Colour, a lovely aroma, environmentally friendly and a lot cheaper than advertising in the local media.

STOP PRESS

WONDERWORLD exhibiting at Harrogate Home & Gift Fair. 19th July to 22 July 1998.