GOOD BUSINESS March 2003

TURTLE STAMPEDE!

A RIGHT STROP! That is what we got from several of our retail customers last year. We had shown them pictures and samples of delightfully decorated turtle shaped pottery incense stands from Jaipur, India and they were very interested. We placed a big order but unfortunately our potter could not supply. He was living in the traditional dalith caste potters community area just outside the pink city walls of Jaipur. That area was beset with communal conflict. A petty argument with local Muslims had erupted into distressing violence, armed police were on the street and commercial life was severely disrupted. To escape these tensions our potter moved right outside Jaipur to a semi-rural location off the Agra road. He has rebuilt his kiln and got back into production.

THIS year we sat with the potter and created two other simple animal shapes: a cat and an elephant.   The elephant presented the potter with no problems, he came up with an acceptable shape immediately.  The cat was more difficult as his first prototype represented an emaciated Indian cat rather than the cosy round type we indulge here.  After a couple of trips back and forth, and getting our hands pleasantly muddy with potters clay, we eventually had the right feline shape nailed down.

UNSEASONAL rains again delayed production through February.  This was unfortunate for us but great for the country, the local farmers called it ‘golden rain’.  The land lay parched after the relative failure of last year’s monsoons.   We now expect the new animal shaped pottery incense holders: turtles, elephant and cats to arrive in May.  

WE hope that the low retail price point (about £ 2.00) plus the variety of colours, decorative patterns and animal shapes will result in a substantial, regular new line for all our benefit.   We hope that they are used and collected not just as incense holders but as decorative items in their own right,  We are ready to produce them without holes if that helps!  Let us know.

Tortoise & Hare Race On Track

A NEW hand block print design reflecting the traditional story about the tortoise and the hare has been finalised and will also be available in May 2003.   Once again our block print partners did a fine job translating our design into a block scheme and matching our colour specifications in natural dye.   Tortoise/Hare will be available initially in two colour versions, in double bed spreads and cushion covers. 

OTHER new lines from Jaipur will include dalith doll key rings representing the traditional dress of various caste communities (See pictures under Product Images/Miscellany), block print bell pouches (See pictures under Product Images/Bags etc) and round table clothes. Nut Bugs and flip mirrors will be back in stock nest month.

Celebrate Ceasefire with Full Cotton Jacket 

WONDERWORLD arrived in Kathmandu in late January.  It was after midnight, rainy, dark and deserted.  A series of grim-faced military road blocks checked our progress into town.   Nepal top police man & his wife had just been assassinated. The Maoist rebellion was dominating life as it had last year. 

YET within two days the atmosphere lifted!   Maoist leaders and government had been in secret talks, a surprise ceasefire in the long running civil war was announced.  This is not the first time that a break in hostilities has been announced.  Cynics worry that both sides are simply taking a breather.  However we all hope for the best as the government and the rebels continue their discussions.  The attitude of the new King may be a sticking point, he seems over keen to maintain the status and privileges of the monarchy.

MEANWHILE business continued.   We have a new felt shoulder bag: smaller, lighter with a pattern of concentric circles (See pictures under Product Images/Bags etc); also new colour ways of the original BA-F-SB shoulder bag.  We have stripe cotton trouisers and a giant singing bowl to sell (See pictures under Product Images/Ritual Artefacts).  

FINALLY we have a new jacket,  well made in hand-loomed heavy cotton with a tasteful, restrained stripe pattern.  Not exactly summer wear but a quick chance to test them out with a view to a big order in time for autumn. 

Corporate News

UK TAX law now means that sole trader status is the least tax efficient approach to one’s tax obligations.   Even those of us with modest profits will enjoy distinct benefits from incorporation. 

FROM April onwards my trading activities will be conducted under our old Dayteam Ltd company.   Dayteam Ltd has been lying dormant since I split from Dave Hogg but stands ready to serve.  All payments continue to ‘WONDERWORLD’ - I will inform you of any other changes that affect you as a result of this.

Importers Directory Publicly Available

WONDERWORLD’s long running wrangle with the British Association of Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) was resolved recently when it emerged that non-BAFTS members could obtain a copy of the important BAFTS Importers Directory for payment of £26. Availability of the Directory in this manner is not widely known. 

THIS opportunity is of great interest to importers, such as WONDERWORLD, who submitted to the Directory process & wanted to know how they had been compared to fellow importers. Also to retailers who are either thinking of joining BAFTS or wanting to develop their purchasing policy in the light of fair trade/ethical trade values.  

BAFTS POLICY of making this information publicly available is an important step toward building confidence in the fair trade system.  We have   contentions with some judgements contained in it  but overall we recognise the reliability & value of the  BAFTS Importers Directory.   Send e-mail enquiries to info 'at' bafts.org.uk

Dutch World Shop Monitoring

SINCE August 2001 we have had  a partnership with the Dutch fair trade company Just A Business (JAB).   This partnership has enabled WONDERWORLD to expand its choice of fairly traded handicrafts to include glassware from Egypt and lacquerwork from Vietnam.  At the same time JAB provided a big new market for our Indian hand block printed fabrics through the Dutch World Shops.  The partnership between JAB & WONDERWORLD has worked well.

MANY people regard the Dutch National World Shop Association as Europe’s best organised World Shop system.  They have full time staff controlling & supporting the activities of around 400 retail outlets, and nearly 30 licensed suppliers including JAB.

CRUCIALLY the Dutch World Shops Association has enough resources to send out evaluation missions, to visit producers & check on conformity with the Dutch World Shop fair trade criteria.  Last autumn they sent development economist Ruud Bronkhorst, with a local NGO advisor, to visit various producers in north India including WONDERWORLD’s producer partner for hand block print fabrics in Jaipur, Rajasthan.  

MR BRONKHORST visited our  block print production unit and our office where he could scrutinise all the accounts.   In addition he visited JAB in Holland and obtained substantial documentation direct from WONDERWORLD.  This included the International Resources for Fair Trade report on our block print unit from Spring 2000, our own internal health & safety report from Spring 2002 and a detailed breakdown of all costs related to WONDERWORLD’s acquisition of hand block printed fabrics from our producer partner in Jaipur. So Bronkhorst was able to get a clear overall view of the supply chain.

THE RELEVANT committee of the Dutch National World Shops Association now has to consider Mr Bronkhorst’s report and recommendations.  However he has contacted us to say that he found everything ‘in order’ and complimented us on the quality of information that we provided.  We can reasonably hope that the Dutch Association will adopt his report & recommendations, approving our continued relationship with JAB and supply to Dutch World Shops.  We would take that as strong affirmation of our fair trade practise in respect of hand block printing in Jaipur.   Full details of the report and the Dutch World Shop decision will be available to you.