Hi to all the tribe!
It is wonderful to note the organic and immediate growth here in terms of the 'quality' of the network of people to the tribe - its quite facinating. First of all, I would like to introduce myself and my business a bit properly to all of you. I might be a bit presumptious in assuming that you would want to read through this, but I would appreciate it if you do!
Business, I feel needs to be personal for it to work. I am sure you've heard the phrase '' its nothing personal, its just business'' and I dont aggree with it one bit. Business and trade have their roots from the earliest days where man used to barter one thing he had for another he wanted. It was a two way process and was aimed at the enrichment of both parties - be it materially or spiritually. But these days it is percieved in a very different vein altogether. It is almost always one sided (advantage to seller) and is quite often only a method employed to capitalise on the insecurities and needs of the market in question. It has no personal touch, hence it lacks any spirituality or conscience.
If you look at my business through the eyes of my bank manager or accountant, it is far from being a successful enterprise. No huge turnovers, no multiple outlets or franchises, nothing of the sort - it just gets by. The wise have always held that ''success is relative'' and I think it is true. For, if you look at my business through the eyes of my customers over the years or through my own, it is a very successful enterprise!! The measures?? Well, happy customers who go home with not just a product, but a story - something personal. And I can go to bed each night with a clear heart. I believe that it should not leave a bad taste in anyones mouth : neither the buyers nor the sellers. And going one bit further, not even in the artist/craftsmen from India whose labour and love is the end product being traded.
So, SOMA does all business ethically. We connect on a personal level at the source. Our craftsmen and artists dont work in sweat shops for peanuts - they work in their own homes/studios, furthered by their own inspiration and urges and not the artificial pressure created by the supply and demand chain. We work with the charity Shivanjali, where the craftsmen and women are encouraged to form sustainable communities where a good and healthy ethic is encouraged. At the same time, we are also aware of the needs and beliefs of the Irish (and other european and american) customers. We belive that 'Fair trade' has to also be fair to the end consumer - even if they belong to the 'first' world. As we all know, money does'nt grow on trees - not even in America!:) So we take our responsibility to be fair to people all over very seriously.
I am a very spiritual person of (Hindu) Brahminic origin and have spent most of my life in the pursuit of a more elevated and compassionate state of being. And I make it a point to apply that in all parts of my life, business being a core part of it. You can be sure of personal, clean and fair dealings when trading with Soma and you can also be a part of something bigger by making a conscious choice of where and how to shop. I also like the challenge of trying to meet everyone where they are at. So if there is something specific that you need (be it in belly dance costumes or unique and rare gems or a tribal heirloom or whatever) that is not readily available, I would appreciate being the 'bridge' to get that. I spend a lot of time in the many villages and mountains and mines in India and Nepal (sometimes even Tibet) looking for 'treasures' and I find that connection to the source of things very inspiring. That also puts in a position with an advantage when trying to source something authentic and out of the ordinary. By the way, we also do the 'ordinary' if thats your thing!:)
I hope to establish and further my connection with all of you and would be glad to be of help in any way possible.