This blog is in English to enable our co-workers @jaipur rugs to read what we write about our experiences here.
Amsterdam-Delhi
It’s amazing how much can change after a flight of less than 7 hours. The temperature is up 20 degrees; the air is filled with herbal scents and the sun is fighting to penetrate the smog that blocks our view. The friendly taxi driver smokes a weird smelling cigarette, is chatting on his mobile while competing with numerous other vehicles to reach destination asap. We wanted to submit ourselves to change as we do our clients. The first impression is promising: welcome to India.
Introduction @Jaipur rugs
Today we had our first introduction at the Jaipur rugs company. The manager HR showed us around and we learned about the production processes. Impressive was the visit to the rug design department. Only three years ago all pattern designs were done and colored in by hand. Then computers were introduced and all designers were trained to use them. Amongst them even people with no or hardly any literate skills. Talking about change management. “We feared that they would all run away.” After the initial resistance, the computers now are well embraced.
Meeting the founder over lunch
Lunch in India: no sandwich with cheese and a bowl of milk as the Dutch do. Instead of that an excellent cooked vegetarian meal is served. The inspiring founder of the company, Mister Chaudhary, joined for lunch. He is a spiritual and charismatic man. His personal website is really worth a visit. There you can read about the companies’ history, the founders’ background and family. The quotes on the website are inspiring: “Find yourself through loosing yourself”.
Business wisdom
As Dutch consultants we are used to use whiteboards, flipcharts and other means to see and show progress and planning. This is probably a cultural thing because we could not find any of these things in this well equipped office. We are covered in research, struggling to understand current status and ambitions. We promised the CEO to come up with a plan of approach next Friday. Send us some inspiration and we will let you know our progress the day after tomorrow.
Namaste
Anna Wamsteeker and Chantal Verhoeven work at Primum Mobilé.
29/11/2010
Nice blog! Ik geef even lekker in het NL. Inspiratie; check eens sites van belangrijke namen in de meubel design wereld; studio job, Tord Boontje, de Campana broertjes etc. Voor namen kijk eens op design Miami/Basel. Zij communiceren vaak goed en weren als geen ander hoe ze zichzelf/hun brand neer te zetten. De websites op zichzelf zijn ook altijd mega inspiratievol. Wat wellicht ook een leuk verhaal is waar raakvlakken zitten is cocomat; Grieks bedrijf. Check hun website ff. Succes ladies!