Life has been like a roller-coaster these last years. And the ride is far from over. It has been a long time since I’ve been able to update the blog. Lots and lots of things happened in the time since the last post on this blog. But from now on I hope to keep the blog updated with interesting articles about Pashminas, Cashmere, handicrafts, other products from Nepal and news items. And of course what is going on at Royal Bhaktapur.

Royal Bhaktapur has been growing, and fast! When it started in 2005 from a simple project idea next to my studies of International Business and Management Studies (IBMS) it soon became clear that this wasn’t going to be just a project, there was a mission behind it. For me the main goal was gaining more experience in business and entrepreneurship while at the same time being able to start making a difference by helping people getting a fair income and making their lives better in Nepal.
The company has given me many new insides, unique experiences and pleasure. Although entrepreneurship is an extremely challenging job it gives a lot of work too! Working sometimes up to 80 hours a week isn’t an exception. And at the same time you’re having a full time study next to it. Sounds almost impossible, but if you can manage to have a good planning it is manageable.

Most of the people are actually still thinking I’m in the Netherlands. Actually thats not really true anymore as I haven’t been there for almost a full year now! Ah well just a quick stopover of 4 days in the Netherlands, and another 4 days in Germany and Austria. Thats the perfect thing about my job, being able to work and run the business from simply anywhere in the world with a phone, notebook and internet connection.
Only you’re not always being able to meet your clients in person, which is a disadvantage. But therefore you have an excellent team behind you who can take over the necessary tasks.

I just came back from a semester study abroad in the United States at Calvin College. It was an amazing semester. Not only interesting to see how business in America goes but also researching companies like Gentex, SteelCase, Herman Miller was an unique opportunity. The U.S. has been a life changing experience for me in many ways. And now again I’m experiencing another life changing experience by working at CHAC Technology in Wenzhou, China. Especially with the Olympics in Beijing coming up, its a blessing to be here. China is absolutely an unique country, with many different sides. Last week I got the unique privilege with Royal Bhaktapur to visit the worlds biggest trade exhibition in Guangzhou, the Canton Fair. Suppliers of all over the world are here to show their products, exchange business contacts and get new contracts. Surprisingly there were many manufactures from inner Mongolia offering Cashmere and Pashmina shawls. However not handmade but produced in mass quantities by heavy machinery. Although from the outside these shawls were looking pretty similar to the real Pashminas, there were still some important differences to take into consideration. In the next posts I will got more in depth about the visit at the Canton Fair and these machine produced Pashminas.

At the moment I’m working with my designer Padraic on a complete new website. Yes, Royal Bhaktapur is going to get another make over.
With all the comments and feedback we got from our customers these last two years we’ve been able to keep improving our website on every detail. And this new website is going to be something. I’m really excited, and hope you are going to be excited too with a complete new shopping experience at our site. If everything goes well we hope to have everything finished by the end of next month.

We are busy trying to make a good list of charities to support in the coming years. Main charities will include to give children a future by sending them to school and fighting poverty. If you have suggestions for other charities, feel free to let us know.

Life just got more interesting. One month ago I’ve started up a Student Company with nine other class mates. This Student Company, under supervision of Jong Ondernemen will exist one year. There is a lot in common with real companies, but also a lot of differences. For example, this company will only exist one year. After that one year the company will be liquidated. It doesn’t have a legal form; it falls under the jurisdiction of Jong Ondernemen.
Start up a new company, bring a product into the market and be successful. And all that within one year! That’s what I call a real challenge.

Because we cannot invest our own money into this Student Company we have to find some shareholders. In total we can sell 100 shares, that’ll be 10 shares a person. That brings us with a total share capital of €1500-. A very limited amount of money, but we have to live with it. Within a month we already sold all the 100 shares, sorry no more shares left.
It’s not just simply introducing a product into the market, it’s a lot more. Working closely together as a team and put the maximum effort to be successful. Writing a business plan, organize shareholders meeting, selling the product and get into the press.

Next to my business of Royal Bhaktapur starting up the new company Eye-Openers really makes the life interesting. Running two businesses next to each other brings a lot of stress, long working days and uncertainty. But it’s definitely worth it.

Nowadays everyone is busy. Do you have long working days, bad / negative feelings, and even burnouts? Well I do, and I’m convinced you also have these problems. That’s why we started up Eye-Openers:

Eye-Openers introduce you Feel Good Cards. Have a bad day or just stressed? Then this is the perfect solution for you. Eye-Openers consist about a deck of 40 cards, including 3 explanation cards for how to play the game, packed into a beautiful red bag. Each card contains a different positive sentence. Guided by your intuition you’ll pick up a card. The card you pick will always fits with the thoughts in your mind. Because all the cards are positive you’ll always be feeling better after picking it. It brings a smile on your face again.

Eye-Openers is not just selling you a product, No, we’re selling you a solutions for your day-to-day problems. Bringing back the smile your face and make you happy is our main goal.

More information can be found at the website of Eye-Openers:
http://www.eye-openers.net

Royal Bhaktapur was founded by Niki Buitenrust Hettema on 1st October 2005. We mainly specialize on international trade with Nepal. Royal Bhaktapur not only delivers: Pashmina shawls, Pashmina sweaters, woodcarvings and brass statues but, on special request we also deliver other Nepalese products like, business cards on Lokta paper and embroideries. For example embroideries on: T-Shirts, symbols of your own design, and badges.
Only the best hand made quality products are found at our place, there is no child labor involved. Most of the products will be delivered with a product certificate. We will assure you that you have a good product for a fair price, which did not involve child labour.

Buying from big companies is obviously not an art. Our products are only purchased from and made at the small entrepreneurs. In this way they also get a fair chance to compete with the bigger companies and are able to earn a sufficient income. Therefore we do not negotiate about the lowest price with our providers. Instead of that, we pay these small companies a good and fair price for the best quality.
You are not in for a cheap product from a lesser quality, are you?

On 1 October 2006, Royal Bhaktapur exists one year. To celebrate this, all newsletter subscribers will receive a coupon code in the next newsletter, which will give a 10% discount on the whole assortment of Royal Bhaktapur.
Haven’t you not yet signed up for the newsletter? Sign up, and receive the newsletter. We’ll inform you about our latest developments with Royal Bhaktapur, and you’ll receive exclusive offers.

Well, first let me introduce myself. I’m Niki Buitenrust Hettema, born in Vlissingen.
I’m 20 years old (born on 5th of April, 1986). At the moment I’m studying International Business and Management Studies (IBMS), just started my second year. It’s an international study, which is fully educated in English. We’ve got subjects like: International Marketing & Sales; Cost Accounting; Statistics; English for specific purposes; Organizations inside & out and some other subjects.

In my leisure time, I’m hanging around with friends, doing sports (swimming, jiu-jitsu, cycling, some fitness and walking) and driving my motorbike (Suzuki GS500E). Ah well, sometimes there is no free time. The work has to be done first. Work is going before fun.
First I have to do my school work, and then after I’m done I work on the company. Usually I work in the evening and in the weekend. Sometimes till 3 o’clock at night or even later. And the next day school starts again at 9 o’clock. Bye, bye free time.
As I want everything to be perfect, I keep on working till it’s finished. So mostly I’m working 6 to 8 hours a day on the company next to my school. Busy life? Ah well, you’ll get used to it.
Soon more about the company & me. Stay tuned.