Announcment! ~~~ Shops Update 8/23/13- Please read, My Friends.

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Karda

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Just when you think things will get better and you've got things under control......

About a month ago Auntie and Pala had to relocate shop 2, where HI has been making khukuri for 6 years to another area due to the neighbors complaining of the noise and the smell of burning horn. A new shop was secured in Dewakot village and now it seems we are having the same problem with the neighbors. Pala is doing all he can to mitigate the problem, but it is not looking good. Added to the problem is the fact of the Caste System, many of the neighbors are of a different caste and will not rent living space to our Kamis because they are "untouchables".

Additionally, the cost of everything, from raw materials...fuels...to shipping has been steadily rising.
Auntie and Pala has been very determined not to have to pass these costs onto our customers, but it seems that an increase in prices for our product may eventually be inevitable in order to survive.

At the present time, due to the problems with the shops in Nepal, Auntie will not be able to accept any "Special Orders" for new custom projects. Any of you whom have pending orders from the Online Store or backordered items will need to please be patient while this problem gets sorted out. There may be some delay in these orders, due to matters beyond our control. Auntie will still be offering some DOTD sales here on the forum from old stock and for blem items as available. New stock however will be delayed until this problem with the shops in taken care of. Our first priority has to be to continue to produce what is needed to keep the online store running and then offer what we can here at Bladeforums.

Please bear with us during this time of hardship. Auntie and Pala have both been down the rocky road before and will do their level best to get things straightened out for the better. I, as always will do whatever is need of me to help them both.
You, our friends and customers, can immensely help us by your understanding, patience and continued patronage.

Auntie has had a very stressful week and may be unavailable this weekend. I have urged her to take some time for herself.
I have to admit, as removed from the big picture as I am mostly, I am a bit nervous. I also know how determined and tenacious both Auntie and Pala are. I have complete confidence in them both and still very much hopeful of these problems to be fully rectified to the best of their abilities. So, just, please bear with us and join me in my prayers for positive changes and outcomes.
 
Smoke going up for those whose karma is entwined with HI.

When Red Flower and I stayed for a couple of days within a couple hundred feet of Bir Gorkha we were not bothered by noise or smell. We were closer than any neighbors to that shop.

Perhaps it's time to "get out of town." I'm reminded of Daniel Boone seeing far across the valley, smoke curling up from the chimney of a newly built house, and saying "Time to move on, getting a mite crowded here."

I would think there might be smaller villages that would have both some available open land away from houses and a welcoming attitude for the economic stimulus HI could bring. Of course dacoits and Maoists could still be an issue.

The leaders of HI can use all the smoke and good energy we can send.
 
If there is anything we can do Karda please let us know. I for one would donate what I can if necessary, and I'm sure some other fine folks here would as well.
 
I think the HI fans around here are all good, understanding people. Everything will eventually work itself out one way or another.
 
Seriously, who is trying to bully a bunch of guys with Khukuris?

Burning horn might stink but thats it as far as I know. Villagers should be used to all kinds of smell. Dung for fertilizer etc.
I'm sure the complaining neighbors burn their own household waste everyday. This usually includes plastic which is toxic...

I wish you would be located in UP, India, there I know very nice people who could help. To Nepal however its an 11 hour drive and I don't know who and what can cross the borders without any issues.

Anyways, how about restricting the horn work to certain hours of the day? Will they just find something else to complain about?
Is it possible to get a location at the outskirts of a village, maybe a 5 minutes walk away from the nearest house?
 
It would be nice to be able to move the shops to India, this has already been thought of. Unfortunately the Indian gov't will not grant business licenses to Nepali's. I also would create a huge burden to relocate kamis that far away. We can't just relocate the workers themselves, their families are also involved.
 
perhaps they complain because they arent employed by your shops? a creative form of passive agressive pressure? dunno -- but anything to keep the kami's working and them and their families supplied with a good lifestyle ( auntie et al included of course)-- perhaps try bribing them to not complain? I mean bribes work most places -- then again I kinda agree with howard, get together something and try to find more remote land ? or even try to get together money and buy out neighbors and turn houses into kami houses.
I dont know how it works over there, but I say gated community bir gorkha factory-- I am not opposed to a price hike, you gotta change with the times, and the price for your non machine made goods is already extremely fair, you ( HI) provides handcrafted goods from a centuries old tradition, I and many others are willing to pay to keep that tradition going, and uncle bill's dream. because it adds up, doesn't have to be much --but definitely adjust up if everything is going up , you got to.

Or we come up with a cunning plan to make a "new nepalia" in the rockies and make a kami commune where they can forge khukuri's for knife nerds in paradise.
 
Wow... Bummer! Neighbors don't have enough to do so they complain. Unfortunately that sounds ever so familiar here in the US. Well those close to Auntie take care of her and we will do our best to take care of the company from our end. Raising prices is not a concern to me either. It would take more than that to run me off. I like your idea Gehazi! Khukri Commune! Keep us posted Karda and we'll keep buying up Khukris!
 
Always a problem, wherever you go. In New York we called it NIMBY, Not In My Back Yard. However decent the concept, someone was too exalted to accept it in his neighborhood. Caste or economic level, halfway houses or new immigrants.

I will stay subscribed to this thread.
 
I too will echo the sentiments expressed here. Our best wishes to everyone at HI, and if there's anything we can do to help just let us know.
 
I think it would be a big help to ask about what is in stock, and try to help auntie by buying what she has already paid for -- and guys who benefit from blems-- throw in a donation , you know you are getting a great deal, help out a company you love by donating a few extra dollars every time you buy, the only way to keep HI alive is by support! and I hate to say it again, but if materials and basics are going up, its time for HI to raise its prices. I say throw everything at the problem ( I say that about everything though)

and as awesome as blems are lets remember they represent a real loss to HI and auntie directly, she managed to get those knives over here through 2 nations customs and then they crack and she can only get half value or the price of materials :( its a terrible situation that we all need to remind ourselves of every time we take a great deal --- donate or buy an In stock knife from auntie to help out, dont just take advantage, give advantage.( does give advantage work as a thng to say?)

so yeah praying is great, smoke is great , but it is by will alone that we set our minds in motion ( hehe) and though we can shatter mountains with that will, we must take it apart piece by piece, it is the same with HI, it is faced with great problems, constantly, and each problem can not be wished away , it must be directly engaged and set into its place, as with each stroke of the stone and each bucket away from the mountain!

So lets do what we can if we love HI, tell them you are willing to pay more, donate when you get a blem , and keep telling people about them and giving them as gifts! most especially the in stock items, do not just prowl deals of the day and blems ( but if you do just donate some extra) ! do a solid and buy some in stock items.

Karda-- question-- do you guys have a inventory system ? could we get a drive going to inventory the knives in stock and get someone to redo HI website? so no customers are lost when they come looking and try to buy but thing isnt available, lots of people are just looking for one knife, they arent collectors.

Another option is posting IN stock inventory on a sticky in the forum-- or just stuff auntie wants to sell at retail, not DOTD or blems, just a list of stock retail items that we can purchase as intended, and we can help new guys get a good blade from what is available without having to go against sharks like me for dotd :D

also it seems like chiruwa ang kolas and british army service are the most popular -- lets put a limit on customs maybe? I would rather changes be made in HI that make it a more tenable situation for everyone involved than actually lose one of my favorite companies.

just some ideas
 
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A few ideas

What does the Nepalese government think about Khukri production in general and how big is HI?
When I, a foreigner, think of Nepal there are two things which come to my mind first; mountains and Ghurkas with Khukris.
Khukris are a national treasure and HI as one of the biggest manufacturers (I assume) might be able to leverage that. It might be worth a try to approach politicians at local and gov level and let them know that they are about to lose a big piece of Nepalese tradition/culture. But maybe you already tried and they just ask for too much bribe or don't see the importance of the issue?

There could be media, local, national or international who are interested on reporting on HI and Khukri manufacturing. Knife and Weapon magazines, National Geographic. Just call them and tell them that they can have a good story about manufacturing processes, social issues etc.

I can imagine there are a quite a few people who would pay for a vacation in Nepal, where they can watch their Khukris being made or even learn how to make one themselves. This could generate some additional revenue for HI and other surrounding local businesses (restaurants, hotels,...). Also a bunch of us Westerners running around HI would enhance it's image and give it more importance. (I know its weird but Ive seen it work in India)

If nothing else works you can still go to India, even if the Indian Government doesn't give you a Business License. You might officially not be allowed to have a business in India, but you could still work there? I know somebody who could acquire a license under his name and you could still run the business as before. I know I would be hesitant to have somebody else's name on paper too, especially if I don't know them personally. Also moving all the artists and their families would be a big change. But why not keep it in mind as a last resort option. I can already inquire a bit with my friend (who also likes knives). He will be visiting me in California end of next month. That would be a good time to bring up the topic.
 
I won't begin to tell auntie how to run her business. I do think one of the great things about HI is it's size. I'm very fearful at the thought of stepping things up, ramping up production.
I think the key is Auntie being the hub, she's quality control on our end, her father is quality control on their end.
I hope everything works out and folks will just leave them be and let them do what they do best.

If there's increases it won't scare me off, it will slow me down but I'll still be dreaming and wishing and mostly wanting.
 
I was just lucky enough to get a blem and now I'm not sure what to do?

I had no idea of the complications regarding these knives - just know I have always wanted to try one of them.
 
what to do jack is stay a loyal customer ! support auntie and HI with good word of mouth and buying products when you can!
 
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