In This Article
- Pakistans Clay Export Business is Growing
- Our Product Range: What Clay Products Do We Sell?
- Quality Check Before Loading Containers
- Step-by-Step Guide to Loading Containers
- Packaging Plan: Keeping Fragile Clay Items Safe
- Finding International Buyers for Our Clay Products
- The Free Sample Plan That Gets Orders
- Advice, for Exporters: Things We Learned
- Frequently Asked Questions
Pakistans Growing Clay Export Industry
Pakistan is a country with a lot of experience in making things with clay. For a time people in Pakistan have been making all sorts of things like water coolers flower pots and tea cups from clay. They make these things in places like Punjab and Sindh. The people who make these things are very skilled. Have been doing it for a very long time.
Nowadays people from countries are starting to buy these clay products. They like that they are made by hand and are good for the environment. People in Europe and the Middle East are looking for things that are not made of plastic and are made in a way. NVJ Industries is a company that makes these kinds of products in Pakistan and sells them to countries. We make sure that our products are of quality and are made in a way that is true to our heritage.
In this blog post we want to show you what we do. We will take you to our factory. Show you how we get our products ready to be sent to other countries. You will see how we make sure that our products are quality how we pack them so they do not break and how we find buyers from other countries. We will show you all of this from our experience of doing these things every day at NVJ Industries, where we make clay products, like water coolers, flower pots and tea cups, which are all part of Pakistans clay export industry.
Our Product Range What We Export from Pakistan
NVJ Industries exports a lot of kinds of handcrafted clay and earthen products. We make sure each item is made carefully so that the quality is always good. Here is what you can find in the product categories that we send in our export containers:
🏺 Clay Coolers (Matka)
These are water coolers that come in many sizes. They keep water cool naturally without using electricity.🫙 Clay Bottles (Surahi)
We have clay bottles with long necks in many sizes. Some of them have lids.🪴 Flower Pots (Gamla)
You can find these in 4-5 sizes. We have pots that look like tires and big decorative planters.🫖 Tea Cups (Kulhad)
These are traditional clay tea cups from Punjab artisans. People like them because they have an earthy smell.
One of the things about NVJ Industries is that we can make things in different sizes. If a buyer wants something in a size we make it exactly that size. We always say that size is not a problem. We make what the customer wants.
“We do not have any problem with size. We make whatever size the customer wants.”
We also have different designs beyond the standard products. We have designs and fancy decorative ones. Our products are good for buyers who want things for their homes, kitchens or gardens. Whether you want something something fancy we have it. NVJ Industries products are good, for people who like rustic home decor, functional kitchen things or nice garden accessories.
Quality Control Before Container Loading
When we export handmade clay products to buyers in other countries we do not just pack them up and ship them out. Each and every piece of clay product has to be checked before it is put into the container. At NVJ Industries we make sure that quality control is a part of every step of our export process.
Cleaning and sorting
Our warehouse is near a road so dust and dirt get on the clay products all the time. Before we start loading we clean each item. If an item was cleaned before it might need to be cleaned right before it goes into the container because the road traffic brings more dust overnight.
While we are cleaning the clay products we also sort them out. If a clay product has any flaws, like a crack or the wrong color we set it aside away. We do not send clay products to our customers.
Colour consistency checks
Handmade clay products can have different colors because of the way they are made. Even though this is normal for earthenware we keep a close eye on any clay products where the color is too different. We separate these out while we are sorting so the clay products that look the same and are well made get shipped out.
Quantity verification
Before we start loading we check to make sure we have the number of each type of clay product that the buyer ordered. If a buyer wants 500 flower pots we count them and make sure we have exactly 500 that are ready to be loaded. If we do not send the amount it can hurt our relationship, with the buyer. So we make sure that does not happen.
Our quality control rule is simple: we have two people checking every clay product at the door of the container while it is being loaded. Each clay product has to pass by these two people before it can go into the container. If they find any clay products they are taken out right away even if it means we have to fill the space with something else.
The Container Loading Process for Fragile Clay Products at NVJ Industries
Loading containers with clay products is an art that requires a lot of care. Every single step is important. If you miss one step you can end up with thousands of broken pieces when the container arrives at its destination. This is how we do it at NVJ Industries:
We start by putting the container at the loading bay
When the truck arrives and backs up to the warehouse we open the container doors. Take a good look inside. The container has to be completely empty and clean. No water, no dirt, no leftover stuff from the time it was used.
We clean the inside of the container
Before we put any products in the container we sweep it and check it again. Any water or dirt can damage the clay products while they are being moved. This step only takes a minutes but it is very important.
We load the loose items first
We put the big clay pots and coolers that are not in boxes into the container first at the back. Our workers handle each one carefully. We do not throw them. Stack them without being careful because they are fragile.
We put cartons with products in between
After we put a layer of loose products in the container we add two or three layers of cartons next to them. The weight and stiffness of the cartons keep the items from moving around and hitting each other while they are being moved. This simple way of doing things really reduces the number of items.
We pack items in cartons at the back of the container
We put smaller products like tea cups and little bottles into cartons that are clearly labelled. We put these cartons at the back of the container, where they’re easy to take out and not likely to get crushed by heavier items.
We keep doing this until the container’s full
We go back and forth between loose products and cartons while we are loading the container. If all the products fit in one container we use the space well as we can. If there are many products we hold some back for the next container.
We do a check and seal the container
When we are finished loading we check the doors one last time before we seal the
container We write down the seal number, for the customs and shipping papers The truck is ready to go to the port.
Packaging Strategy Keeping Fragile Clay Products Safe While Shipping
The problem when we send handcrafted clay products to other countries is making sure they get there without breaking. These kinds of products like pottery and earthenware can get damaged easily if they vibrate much even if it is just a little during the long trip by sea. We have figured out the way to package them by trying different things. We think about how to keep the products safe and how to save the buyer money at the same time.
The main idea is that we need to put items and boxes together in the same container in a special way. We should not put all the items in first and then all the boxes because that makes two heavy groups that can move around separately while the products are being shipped.
Why we put boxed clay products together
If we put each clay item in its own box it would be completely safe. But it would also cost a lot of money for packaging and the buyer would have to pay for that. So instead we put the items in loose and use the boxes with smaller products to protect them. This way we can keep the cost low. Still keep the products safe.
We can make custom sizes if the customer asks for it
When customers place an order they often tell us the size they need. Our team that makes the products builds them to fit those sizes so the products will fit perfectly on the customers shelves in their display cases or, in their packaging. This means the customer does not have to deal with products that’re too big or too small which can waste their space.
How NVJ Industries Finds International Buyers
People often ask us how do we find buyers in countries for the clay products we make in Pakistan? This is a question. To be successful at exporting we need to be good at developing our business and making quality products. Here is what works for us:
We make videos Show what we do
We record our work. Like making products checking the quality and loading containers. And put it online. This helps buyers trust us before they even talk to us.
We use websites to find businesses
There are websites that help manufacturers like us connect with buyers from other countries. We make sure our profile on these websites is complete and has pictures of our products and prices. This helps us get messages from buyers who’re really interested.
We give away samples
We put some free samples of our products in every container we send out. This way buyers can see how good our products are before they buy a lot of them.
We always follow up with buyers
When a buyer gets a sample and tells us what they think we get back to them away. If they like the sample they usually buy from us again and again.. They often place big orders.
The market, for exporting products from Pakistan is doing well right now. A lot of people want to buy products so it is hard to find trucks to transport them and the cost of shipping has gone up. This shows that there are a lot of opportunities. And that is why we need to plan how we will get our products to buyers well before we send them out.
The Free Sample Strategy That Wins Export Orders
At NVJ Industries we use a trick to get export orders. Our free sampling programme works well. Here’s how it works and why it gives results.
When we ship products to existing buyers we add a new product samples for free. These might be a flower pots, some bottles or a handful of products in a new colour. The buyer gets these samples with their order at no extra cost.
The buyer checks out the samples. Can see the quality, size and finish for themselves. They don’t have to rely on pictures or specs. If they like what they see they order more. Our numbers show that 80% of the products we ship today were first sent as free samples.
” 80% of what we ship today was first sent as a free sample in an earlier container. Samples build trust better than any brochure ” we found.
This approach makes it easy for the buyer to try products. They don’t have to spend money on something they’ve never seen before. Once they see the quality they can decide to order.. Because we keep sending them products and showing them our reliability and craftsmanship they keep coming back.
We build our relationship, with buyers one shipment at a time. We don’t just sell a product; we show them we’re a partner. This makes buyers trust us and want to order more.
Tips for Clay Product Exporters Lessons from the Warehouse Floor
After years of exporting handcrafted clay products we have learned a lot of things that any person who wants to export clay products should know. Here are the important things we learned:
1. Plan how you will move your clay products early
It can be very hard to find a container truck when a lot of people are exporting things at the time. The trucking company might say they can do it. Then they might cancel at the last minute. So you should book your container pickup a time before you need it and check again the day before to make sure they are coming. You should also have another trucking company ready in case. You do not want your workers to be waiting around and your clay products to be sitting out in the open because the truck did not show up.
2. Always check the quality of your clay products
If one bad piece of clay product gets to the buyer they might think that all of your clay products are bad and that will hurt your business. So you should have people who check the quality of every piece of clay product before it gets loaded onto the truck. This might make loading the truck a little but it is worth it to keep your business relationships good.
3. Clean your clay products twice if you need to
If your warehouse is near a road dust will get on your clay products overnight even if you cleaned them already. So you should plan some time to wipe them down again right before you load them onto the truck. If the buyer gets clay products they might think that your clay products are not very good even if they are really good quality underneath.
4. Use boxes in a way not just for small clay products
Boxes can do two things: they can protect the clay products inside them and they can help keep the other clay products from moving around during shipping. Think of loading the truck like a puzzle, where the boxes and the loose clay products work together to make a load.
5. Take care of your business and make sure everything is done right
At NVJ Industries the owner is, in charge of making sure all of the clay products are made well and that the quality is good. This way the buyer gets what they expect and the quality of the clay products does not go down. If you want people to think that your business is reliable you should be involved in every step of the process. Make sure that clay products are made and shipped correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes We make things how the buyer wants them. If you need pots, coolers, bottles or any other clay product in a size just tell us the size you need and we will make it that way. We do this all the time for our buyers.
We send out lots of things like the traditional clay water coolers, which are also called matka and decorative clay bottles which are also called surahi in many different sizes. We also send out flower pots, which are also called gamla in a few sizes, including small ones that look like tires and big ones for plants.. We send out handcrafted clay tea cups, which are also called kulhad made by artisans from Punjab.
We pack things in a way to keep them safe. We put the things in first and use boxes to hold them in place. Then we pack the things in boxes and put them in the back of the container. This way nothing moves around. Gets broken during the trip.
Yes When we send out an order we always include some free samples of our new products. This way the buyer can see what they are like before they buy a lot of them. This is how we introduced most of our products to our buyers.
You can find us on media and in the descriptions of our YouTube videos, where we have all our contact information. We are also, on websites where buyers and sellers can talk to each other and you can send us a message through those websites.
Ready to buy good clay products from Pakistan?
We want to talk to you.
You might be buying from Pakistan for the time or you might be someone who buys a lot of clay products and you want more types of earthenware products NVJ Industries is here to help you with clay products.
We are ready to help you with your clay products needs.
