I'm not a photographer; but part of my role here at Kaarigar means that I have to take a lot of photographs - tweets, Instagram posts, product pictures, you name it. With this in mind, I thought it'd be smart to seek out some basic knowledge in the same way that you might memorize some common phrases before travelling abroad. Here's a short list of terms I've learnt so far. I hope it helps you to get to know your camera a bit better.

1. Shutter Speed This refers to the length of time that the shutter of your camera is open. When the shutter's open, the sensors inside your camera take in the light from whatever you're aiming at. Setting a fast shutter speed means the camera will take in very little light and you'll end up with a darker picture. However, a faster shutter speed will capture action shots with greater accuracy because the picture is taken before your subject has had a chance to move.
2. Aperture This refers to width of the opening inside your camera's lens. The wider the opening, the more light the lens allows in. Setting a narrow aperture will result in a picture whose background appears just as clear as the focus point. The reverse is true for a wide aperture - the exact focus point will appear almost perfectly clear while the foreground and background will be quite blurry.
3. Film Speed (ISO) While shutter speed and aperture are universal terms, different manufacturers seem to have their own name for film speed. For instance, Nikon calls it ISO. No matter what it's named, film speed refers to your camera's sensitivity to light. Setting a high film speed will result in a brighter, grainier picture. If you're aiming for the clearest picture, shoot at the lowest possible film speed.

As you may have guessed, light plays a critical role in photography. Whether you're using a professional-grade camera or point-and-shoot camera phone, take a moment to account for the light. This step alone will improve the quality of your pictures dramatically. - Ray.

On a certain full moon between late-February and mid-March, India and Indian communities around the world enjoy the festival of Holi. A celebration of colour - Holi has become one of India's most famous exports. Holi was born from an ancient Indian legend about the triumph of good over evil. If you're familiar with Bollywood (or any form of Indian entertainment to be honest), you'll have noticed that this is still the most popular theme by far.

Over the centuries, Holi has come to signify the arrival of spring. It is also seen as a time to end conflicts - to repair broken relationships and to celebrate close ones.

The night before Holi is marked with the lighting of a bonfire; a tradition called Holika. The next morning plays host to a colour and water fight unlike anywhere on the planet. Festival-goers arm themselves with powdered colours and water balloons and take part in a free-for-all that lasts until the afternoon. Absolutely everyone is fair game in this - the most vibrant of wars.

When the dust settles that evening, people freshen up and typically spend time with their loved ones. On the eve of Kaarigar's first ever Holi, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday. Enjoy! - Ray.

Week one is now in the books. A massive 'thank you' to our friends and family for offering their congratulations; and to our neighbours for welcoming us with such warmth. We'd timed our opening with a few key dates mind: Candytown - our neighbourhood's local Christmas festival; and (of course) Black Friday. Needless to say, it's been an eventful and emotional week! Since the opening, there have been those moments of triumph where the possibilities seem limitless. And there have been those moments of doubt where you cannot help but question your own decision-making. I find that I'm giving myself the occasional pep talk using the kind of advice we've all heard a thousand times: keep a level head; don't get too high and don't get too low; it's a marathon, not a sprint; make a plan and stick to it; etc. Expect the unexpected has to be the cliche that has rung most true. We'd spent hours planning for all sorts of scenarios, but it was obviously impossible to be 100% prepared. Plans that were once set in stone became uncertain and ideas that were once considered long shots became sure things. These are things that reveal themselves only after you 'dive in'. Repeat after me: Be agile. Be adaptable. Be solution-hungry. Everything will be just fine. - Ray.

I've been watching too much Boardwalk Empire. I find mobsters intriguing. Names like Rothstein, Luciano, Lansky, Capone and Nitti have a special place in my consciousness. To a great degree, they inspired this post. Let me be clear - I don't condone the actions of these men. By every account, they were violent law-breakers of the worst kind. That being said, what I can't help but admire is how these men were able to master the emotion of fear and use it to build successful (albeit criminal) businesses. I find that fear isn't a topic that people enjoy talking about. Fear is associated with weakness and cowardice - something shameful that should be kept hidden. On the eve of our opening (or more likely morning by the time I click 'Publish'), I'd like to share my views on fear with you. Fear is an ever-present in business. They call it names like risk (a variable that your average 1920's bootlegging mobster would be well-acquainted with). I divide fear into two categories: make-believe fear and true fear. Make-believe fear is, as the name suggests, is a lie. Make-believe fear comes from our own insecurities; from the baggage we've amassed over the years. It's the kind of fear that makes us retreat back into our shells or blindly charge forward. It's useless but incredibly dangerous. True fear, on the other hand, can be useful. It's natural to feel fear because it is tied to the most basic instincts - our will to survive. True fear is that hunch or gut feeling that helps guide the decisions we make. Sure, it may not always be based on rational thought; but it can helps us remain in the present, avoid obstacles and seize opportunities. It's a great tool if you can build the discipline to control it. So add a touch of mobster to your business acumen. The next time you have to speak in public or join a conversation at a networking event, ask yourself - true fear or just make-believe? Ray.

After navigating our way through a jungle of red tape, the renovation at 1012 Mainland Street is finally underway. Who knew that dust, debris and destruction could make for such a happy sight? When we first viewed the unit this past June, it was an empty space that was full of charm. It was easy to imagine Kaarigar calling this place home. Our partners, Adria and Lindsay of Hollam Design, are helping us to turn this vision into reality. Their creativity and hunger have been a huge asset for us. Businesses get their legs from relationships such as this. Some relationships are planned while some occur purely by chance. Never hesitate to shoot off an email, pick up the phone or meet face to face. You really never know where this small amount of extra effort may lead. Ray.

Over the past few months, my journey with Kaarigar has been difficult to predict. The road will be as smooth as you like one day, only to become treacherous the next. I've found that it is while traversing these treacherous stretches of road that I learn the most. The fact is this: Kaarigar is a family-owned and family-run company with plenty of moving parts (a good number of which are halfway across the planet). So much of this start-up phase has been about finding the best way to do what we do. Sometimes we get it right the first time; and sometimes UPS won't bother calling you at your front door before sending your shipment to Timbuktu then asking you to pick it up yourself (I've been told this is UPS company policy). So far, the most challenging bits of road I've encountered are the ones that test the family. Establishing a family business is no easy task - I'm sure plenty of smart people would advise against it. For me, the term 'family business' refers to a combination of two aspects of life - personal (family) and professional (business).  At a regular job, you can draw a neat line to separate your personal and professional lives. In a family business, however, that line becomes blurred. Thankfully, dealing with family has worked to our advantage so far. I've never had so much fun at work. We have faced difficult times; but if we continue to stay united when the road gets bumpy, our family and our business will be that much stronger. Ray.  

Our trip to India this past summer gave us the opportunity to meet some incredible artisans. The candlemakers at Niana are an excellent example of this. They specialize in soy candles that come in a variety of scents. Each candle is poured by hand - the result is a rustic finish we've never seen before. We received our first shipment (all 220+ pounds of it) late last week. As impressed as we were by the products, what really caught our attention was the pride Niana showed in their work.  Their focus on integrity was truly inspiring. Ray

As we complete our first year in Vancouver, it is time to reminisce. A big THANK YOU to all clients and well-wishers for making our venture a success. The family played a major role and we were blessed to have a variety of skills. All necessary for the initial set up. Following were the guidelines for the business, which were to be adhered to. Mission

• To bring a piece of Indian culture to our community.
• To support the artisan.

Our Brand

• Kaarigar would carry handcrafted home décor and gift items from India.
• Our collection would be a combination of functionality and beauty and
• We would handpick all our creations. No remote buying.

Thank You

• Nishat, Neha and Rehan for all the hard work and help with the setting up.
• Nandu Oturkar, Earth Communications, for helping with the designing the logo and helping with the image along with all the printing.
• Hollam Design for making our space a pleasurable experience for shoppers.
• Faham Khan, our India operations head, for seeing that we keep well supplied.

Achievements during the period

• We evaluate our success through the relationships that we develop and not just by sales numbers. The volume of business we generate from repeat client is evidence.
• Our vision of a bulk division for supply to bars and restaurants came to fruition and we completed a transaction cycle in quick time.
• One of our major breakthroughs was the exclusive partnership with Omved, India’s leading supplier of top quality Ayurveda and Yoga products of the highest quality.

Moving forward, we plan to be an asset to the community and a good neighbor. We will pay heed to what our clients demand and endeavor to meet those needs as best we can.

We're just days away from receiving our second shipment. We'll be carrying more than a few metal pieces - brass lanterns, copper tableware, iron trunks, etc. - so I thought it wise to do a bit of research. I was expecting to read a couple of articles that leaned a bit to the dry side; after all - I've never truly payed any attention to metallurgy. What I'd learned over the next few hours was anything but expected.

At this point my inner geek is just itching to describe and expand on every detail but in the interest of your time and readability, I'll try to restrain myself. 'As old as time itself' is a common (and overdramatic) expression some people use to describe age. In the case of metalworking in India, this expression can be taken literally. According to the internet, Indians were beginning to shape and use copper right around when some bright fellow thought it would be a good idea to measure time. Skip forward about four thousand years and picture yourself in ancient Rome. You've been invited to dinner at the home of the city's wealthiest family. Don't be surprised if the spoon you're sipping your soup off of is made in India. Silverware of this kind was a mark of status and success at the time, such was the reputation of Indian metal smiths. Indian weapons became a very hot commodity not long after this. I suppose our ancestors began asking for swords rather than saucepans at some point. Western blacksmiths tried in vain to study and replicate the techniques of their Indian cousins. Metalworking in India was a very secretive affair - father's would often pass on their knowledge only to their sons. This layer of mystery only added to the demand for Indian-made goods. After the British took ownership of India, they introduced measures to control metalwork in their new colony for fear that the artisans would stop moulding statues and start forging cannons instead. A few signatures and seals were enough to put a halt to India's 5,000-year-old love affair with metal. Today, India is rediscovering this love. The forges are lit and the hammers are banging away once more! - Ray.