Shop Photos Revisited

Craig Gottlieb · Dec 9, 1999

For those of you who haven't seen them, I wanted to post a link to our page with some shop photos of the kamis in action.
http://www.cystern.com/khukuri/shopphotos.htm

When I go to Nepal, I'm going to capture a huge set of images on my digital camera, and am going to make them available to everybody on CD-ROM.

I'll be asking for "special interest" photo requests around February, so watch out for that post.

I've been swamped today, but I had to get onto the forum to surf and blow off some steam. Oh well, back to work . . .

------------------
Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

[This message has been edited by Craig Gottlieb (edited 09 December 1999).]

Steven F · Dec 9, 1999

Lookin' forward to it, Craig.

Craig Gottlieb · Dec 9, 1999

Wow, Steven: You spend about as much time on here as I do! I wish BF gave frequent flier miles. There are a few of us who'd be flying all over the world by now!

------------------
Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

Steven F · Dec 9, 1999

Craig, is that your nice way of telling me that I need to get a life? Just kidding. Being a guy who writes for a living does have its advantages: I spend a good portion of my work day at the computer; and being a khuk knut, I can't resist the temptation of checking out the forum on a regular basis.

Shrike9 · Dec 9, 1999

Craig,

Could you post a tad more about your history. With the postings over on the HI forum I have been trying to sort out the diffrences between you and HI imports. HI clames to own a factory in nepal but implied others just purchesed from anybody and everybody.

Do you have the Kamis make the khukuris for you or do you just use a middleman who buys them from wherever (katmandoo was mentioned on the HI forum). From reading your web site I get the idea that you have them made to your specs from specfic Kamis thus you fall into the category of manufactuer also.

By the By this in no way lessenes my anticipation of the WWIII. I'm drooling more than ever.

Craig Gottlieb · Dec 10, 1999

Shrike: That's a good question. Of course, since my first trip to Nepal will be in March/April, the best person to answer the question most accurately is my partner and long distance friend Lalit. Accordingly, I telephoned him tonight (morning his time) and relayed your question to him. He's going to email me "today" (tonight) with a reply, which I'll certainly post.

In a nutshell, though, Lalit owns Khukuri House, which operates, in part, two retail shops in Nepal - one in Kathmandu and another somewhere else. He employs his own kamis who make khukuris for him.

His "manager" is T. B. Biswakarma, who handles quality control and manages the inventory. As far as I can discern, his operation resembles, for the most part, a sort of "co-op" where the kamis make khukuris. I'm sure he also outsources some crafting to kamis to make in their own shops too.

As for being a "dealer," Lalit is certainly that. However, that term shouldn't be a badge of shame at all, as it is suggested, but rather a sign of his success.

But these are just the things I put together from our emails, brief telephone conversations, faxes, and pictures. All I know is that he sends me great khukuris.

But, more info to follow from the horse's mouth . . .

------------------
Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

X-Head · Dec 10, 1999

Craig,

That's interesting. HI says they have their own "shop" in Nepal, so that categorizes them as a manufacturer (as pointed out above), and you have a partnership with Lalit in Nepal who (from what I gather) contracts khuks to be made by self-employed kamis, so you basically are the US Importer for Lalit's khuks. Did I get that right?

Personally, I have no problem at all with that, and I really don't think there's that big of a difference either way. I understand Bill Martino's relationship (both literally and figuratively) with his kami(s) in Nepal, and that's great that they have adopted him into their family, but the net results are the same: both Bill and Craig send specific requests, or orders, to Nepal, and the blades are made and shipped back to them here in the States. If Craig has an honest, quality-minded man like Lalit in Nepal as his partner or "go-between", then it really doesn't matter whether Craig or Lalit "owns" the shop and hires all the kamis as employees, or whether they are contracted--that's really just a matter of payment structure, which has nothing to do with the quality. If Lalit or someone he trusts is ensuring that these blades are high quality, and Craig is the final QC inspector, Then ultimately, how is that any different from how it's done at HI?

I don't see any great advantage to owning your own shop with your own kami employees. In fact, it could be worse because if they're your employees using your materials, when they mess up, you're stuck with a reject--you've already incurred all the expense of making it, so what'll you do with it now? If they're contracted, and you don't like what they're producing, you simply don't accept it, and the kami incurs the cost of his own failure, usually meaning he'll try harder to make a better product and not screw up. Also, if the kamis are your employees, that could mean that they were basically hired off the street and have little experience, never mind actually apprenticing for years under a master kami, learning all the fine nuances of the trade. Alternatively, if the kamis making your blades for you are contracted and self-employed, then that means they were probably in business before you ever came along, so if you folded, they'd still be in business, which is because this kami already has a reputation for excellent khuks with the locals.

Just my opinionated viewpoint. Of course, I'm on the outside looking in. I admit I don't know the whole picture and could be way off. Hang on a minute, let me get my flamesuit.

X-Head

------------------
"Live Free Or Die"

Shrike9 · Dec 10, 1999

Sounds good to me X-Head but then again I'm just a nobody standing outside the plexglass window in 6" of slush looking in

Craig, Thanks much for giving us a sitrep, looking forward to another one once you hear from Lalit.

Steven F · Dec 10, 1999

No flamesuit needed, X-head. I really believe that folks should be able to disagree and do it in a gentlemanly, respectful way. And I think most (but maybe not all) folks who visit the khuk forums are indeed gentlemen.

Craig Gottlieb · Dec 12, 1999

Steven: I second that! Although, I do know what Shrike9 is talking about; there's definitely a "party line" that the wise do not cross without a flame suit.

Fortunately, though, as you said - most people on the forum - especially both khukuri forums - are gentlemen soldiers.

------------------
Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

X-Head · Dec 13, 1999

Hey Craig,

After re-reading my above post, I thought perhaps I should clarify. I was not at all trying to imply that GH & HI were 'all the same' as I may have come across. My point was only that I didn't think HI's business structure was any better than yours, for all practical purposes. Second to that, I guess I was also trying to say that I don't think you need to change a thing; obviously, judging by all the satisfied customers you have, including those of us who frequent your forum, you have a system down that is working and is quite successful, and 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

I know you don't get easily upset, Craig, and that you're not prone to take things the wrong way. I just wanted to be, how shall I say, a bit less ambiguous in my meaning.

Anyway, I would love to hear your thoughts regarding my assumptions in the above post. What factors have I overlooked?

joe mc · Dec 13, 1999

craig,I believe I was one of your first customers when you started selling khukris. I don't know the actual number of knives I bought from you.. I'll have to go and count them. Like I said before, you and Bill are good people. Other people come to Bill's defense rather strong and it appears to me that it is personal and not business. I think this does not need to be. You know being the new kid on the block, you need a flame proof suit. Selling these knives is a simple case of economics. If I thought Iwas not getting the best for my money, I would not buy another. It does not matter to me if you own the company or not. This does not diminish the fact that your knives and Bill's are made in Nepal, That is the criteria that I use. It is my way in helping employ Nepalese citizens. I too would love to go to Nepal. As you know from our prior email, fear of flaming kept me from posting. Some people are so opinionated, it simply was not worth my time to post. This does not and will not alter my love for these khukris or the Nepalese people.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Craig Gottlieb · Dec 13, 1999

Joe and X-Head: Your thoughts are very on target, and I sincerely appreciate that you voice opinions that I, because of my position here, cannot voice without seriously causing at tremor in the force

For the record, JoeMC basically stated half of my business plan - to increase the workload of Nepali kamis and kami-related workers. That's why my knives are priced like they are - simple economics dictates that deflated prices yield increased sales. Of course, I benefit too

but so does the consumer.

X-Head: As for your post, you've opened a fabulous opportunity for me to paint a picture of Lalit's organization in Nepal. And yes, for what it's worth, I too see no "better/worse" value in somehow owning a "shop" and being a "dealer." One thing should be perfectly clear though: Lalit is BOTH an owner AND a dealer. Many (if not most - I'm not sure) khukuris he sells are made by kamis employed by him.

And as for detailed specifics of his operation, I'm expecting an email or fax soon that I will, for the most part, post verbatim. That is, unless it contains sensitive information about people, in which case I'd check with Spark and Mike Turber before posting.

------------------
Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor