Page 35 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 64

OUR AUTUMN 2023

BUYING TRIP PART ONE

Andrew Richards of Koi Water Garden
records his latest buying trip.

W e visit Japan regularly to purchase new stock,
which is both busy but very enjoyable. Now and again
some of our customers have accompanied us on these
trips and know both the excitement and anticipation of
seeking new Koi on a trip like this. Good Koi are hard to
find, but it is this uncertainty and the adrenaline rush
when you find something special that makes the
journey worthwhile. As usual I was joined on our buying
trip by our General Manager, Ben Mills, who has been
with the company since 1998. Ben and I have visited
Japan around 70 times in total.
Andrew Richards.
Our day starts around 6.30am and once we return from
the mountains we then label the photographs of our
purchases that day, before compiling the daily email
and sending to our loyal customer base. This is usually
sent out between 10pm and midnight.
In addition, we send pictures and details to Helen,
James and Gerry in our shop and office, 150 Epsom
Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM3 9ES, who upload our many
high grade Koi onto our website (koiwatergarden.com)
and deal with the administration.
THERE WAS A
In this series of articles I have tried to indicate the
LOT TO DO atmosphere and excitement which took place on our
AND WE buying trip at the end of last year.
NEEDED TO Day 1

MAKE AN Today was our first day in the mountains of Niigata. I
woke up bright and early at 3am! There was a lot to do
EARLY START and we needed to make an early start. We had our
usual hotel breakfast before heading out to the
mountains at 7.30am.
There are around 200 farms in the mountain region
although not all of these farms can export to Europe
due to not being ‘guideline’ breeders.
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