Lichi Translations is well known for its networking, connectivity and business relationships.

During one of the CEO’s travels, Mikhal Heffer, she had managed to meet Régine – personal assistant of the CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris. “You never know what may come out meetings” she said to herself.

Régine, a charming lady, provided a tour of the workshops, which looked like something from bygone days – no machines, noisy production lines or robots. Mikhal observed the artisans working in the workshops, using fine tools to carefully craft each detail, a delicate flower or butterfly made of diamonds that might perhaps adorn the neck of Angelina Jolie or Princess Kate. It was so exciting to see rings and diamonds worth millions so close up.

Translation, French, English and Korean
Several months following , Lichi translations office received a call about a visit that the company management was arranging in Paris for the company’s global sales associates. In the course of the visit the guests were to observe production and absorb something of the special atmosphere surrounding the process whereby each item is created.

The head office of Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris believes that in order to sell a product effectively, you have to understand how the product is created and how the environment in which it produced makes it what it is.

We were asked to supply simultaneous interpreters to translate from French to English and Korean. After a careful search, we found interpreters who also had expertise in this field, and the project was on.

So how did the translation go?
We received the most interesting feedback from an unexpected place.
During a visit to the USA by our CEO, Mikhal Heffer, she noticed a modest sign on one of the stores – Van Cleef & Arpels.
Going in, she asked if any of the store’s sales associates had attended the enchanted week in Paris, and was pointed to a beautiful, elegant woman who was serving some similarly elegant customers on the second floor. “The interpreter was absolutely amazing! He explained everything so clearly that I sometimes felt that God was speaking to me through the earphones!”

Well, Mikhal didn’t walk out of the store with a diamond necklace worth half a million dollars, but was grinning from ear to ear.

Lichi Translations – we’re all about connections, people, and quality work that runs across the world!