hello Marianne
red flags, well i grew up in Lebanon and our family used to do a lot
of business In Saudieh. My dad was the jeweler.
Ahhh lately it seems that they have been looking for beginning /
start up ideas, info education, design and craftsmenship as they are
getting the very best since they can pay for it well, then the cycle
is to send the people home or cut the deal off or stop the
purchasing even if there is a contract. they pay their way out.
i would Say that they may have seen your work liked it enough to
purchase it outright, for once or twice,and then start making it
over there. with out your consent.
the only peice of advice i can give you is charge them as high as
you think you can and then double that. not because they will pay
but because it usually is a one time deal even if they say it isn’t
it comes with a lot of headaches,unforseen, and usually the price
you charge is stil not enough.
to my Knowledge most of the bigger design houses are already there
working their way to the best positions in the feild, best stores
best areas, most exclusive deals at the most expensive Malls, There
is an incredible amount of money there, the Malls i speak of you
have not seen the equals here in this country or europe. but these
are not the Same saudi’s of the 70s and 80s, a whole new generation
of very sshrewd buisness people, with Lots of finnancial back up. in
the past they were employing all foreign goldsmiths the very best
and highest paid, last year when i went home visiting alot of those
smiths had been sent home. in 2005 or 06 there was goldsmithing
positions open for dubai,i was thinking about it; it turned out it
would be similar to go start working and then in 4 to 6 months you
were done since they got the education they needed from you and sent
you home,they would not sign any contracts. and what ever you made
is it.
The Ties with an American corporation,If I were you i would take a
deeper look into that,and not accept it as a good thing, usually
there is more to it then simple trade of buisness. I would also be
very curious to finding out how they found you, that is very
important as to a tell tell sign of how they do buisness.
it probably sounds too good to pass up… for me when it’s like
that,people are telling me of red flags all over, I do jump but with
eyes open to see where i would land and do some damage control as
you go along. because there is going to be damage, it just is the
nature of the beast. Are you trusting them with your disigns? are
you trusting them in their reorders? there deals and contracts?
their payment plans? for how long?
customs is huge there and that is why they will prefer to start
making the work there, it will be cheaper for them,and they will
still charge the same as yours or a little under.
bank transfers are best, not cheapest though. go with the most
secure way and not the convenient way. it is a very far away place
that may be inaccessible for some.
as to the customs ordeal, you will need a broker here and there, it
could possibly be the same company, but all these people will need
to get their fair pay.price of the work goes up.
well hope this helps some what, if it was me I would deffinatly do
it, i also know the chances of succes in this endevor are slim, but
the experience may be worth it if you can afford it.
good luck
Hratch Babikian