From a Manufacturing Visit to a Social Idea
Before an incense stick is added to Luxflair's range, a great deal of care goes into selecting suppliers. Melanie Wenzl found what she was looking for in India, the country of origin of the incense sticks. Rather than ordering goods unseen, the then 29-year-old entrepreneur decided to travel to South Asia herself.
On site, she visited the production facilities, spoke with employees and managers, and formed her own personal impression of the working conditions. Because she also wanted to bring some joy to the children there, she additionally packed chocolate in her suitcase and visited a school in New Delhi with it.
"The local priest was already delighted, but we both knew that it wasn't yet a sustainable initiative. So together we thought about how we could help people in the long term," recalls Melanie Wenzl.
How the Goat Aid for Indian Families Works
This conversation gave rise to the idea of donating goats to families in need in India. The principle behind it is simple and easy to understand:
- Each selected family receives a pair of goats.
- The animals' milk can be consumed directly or processed further.
- Newborn kids either enlarge the family's own herd or are sold.
- The sale of dairy products and young animals creates additional income for the local families.
In this way, a one-off donation is meant to create a foundation that benefits the families over a longer period of time – rather than being a short-term relief effort.
Local Collaboration and Planned Goat Farm
According to her own account, Melanie Wenzl remains in contact to this day with the Indian priest, through whom she also stays in touch with the families who have already received a pair of goats. The project is being developed further together with him; the next step envisaged is the construction of a small goat farm.
Responsibility for the Country the Company Depends On
For Melanie Wenzl, this commitment is closely linked to her own business model: "Without our Indian suppliers, selling incense sticks wouldn't work. With this project, I want to give something back to the people there."
The trip to India was thus not only a step towards quality assurance in the company's own incense stick range, but also the starting point for a social project that goes beyond mere procurement of goods and reflects the long-standing, personal collaboration with the partner manufacturer.
Note: This translation was created automatically using AI.