ICFF

For some reason, we were able to get up at a reasonable hour without setting a clock this am and get to Javits. Unfortunately, we couldn't get our entrance badges for NSS because they weren't set up yet.

Travel Tradeshow Tip #1) Watch when shows begin and end at the Javits if they run concurrently. Just because the registration booth is set up doesn't mean it's comprehensive -it was only for exhibitors today.

Travel Tradeshow Tip #2) Make sure to register earlier than 2 weeks prior to the show so that you can have your passes mailed to you; these passes can get you into all 3 shows. We had to cough up $50/ea to get into walk the ICFF today -could have been free if I had been thinking a month ago! The plus side, is that as a visitor/buyer/design firm, other than an exhibitor, one gets a barcode applied to the badge so that you can have exhibitors *ping* you and send you the material you request -one doesn't have to carry it around like a beast of burden.

This show was immensely inspiring and met great product designers with whom I may be partnering in the future -depending on circumstances.

I gave Andrew the camera because he hasn't had a chance to play with it as ICFF is the *only* place folks will allow photos.

As design lovers, we loved the British design aesthetics. However, this piece was very intriguing because it looks like a digital image on the front, it's actually wood ends. We poked our pudgy fingers between the ends to confirm our eyes speculation.



For Jeanne


Bathtub Sightings

I wasn't on the prowl for bathtubs... until my feet started to ache.


Fireplace Sightings

I wasn't on the prowl for fireplaces... until I visualized myself in one of those cool bathtubs with a small inset fireplace frame on the wall... Ohhhhh, man...

Update: Rotating Fireplace Here.

PS. I'm sorry I'm remiss about product credits. We were so tired that it didn't occur to me until late tonight. If you're desperate to learn about these products, go to the site: ICFF.com for more info.

Annual Tradeshow: Surtex

Surtex: Install Day

I know I should be more talkative about the annual tradeshow we participate in (SURTEX), but I get so darn busy from February to Mid-May that I don't give myself time to think - much less work out at the gym that my body craves.

It's Friday Night and my husband, Andrew has accompanied me to NYC for the said tradeshow as he has always done the past 4 years. We drove up from Raleigh yesterday, arrived ~10pm last evening exhausted. We unloaded the Element with most of our important IP collateral (imagery + prototypes) and brought them up to the room -I even asked the Bellman to allow me to accompany him up the back elevators due to my over protective nature. After all, I did spend hours upon hours creating and developing them. ;)

This morning, we transported the collateral back down to the Element and drove them to Javits; most of the booth is now installed with minor inconveniences. Mainly, we destroyed our brand new soft cork flooring with a cool new trolley we borrowed -the feet continuously poked holes thru-out the edge as we thoughtfully moved it from one panel to another, climbing up, installing, climbing down. Damn. We were both excited to have this foam core flooring to stand on (esp Andrew since he's recently had his infamous back surgery). Andrew tried to encourage me with statements like, "It'll pop back up." "It doesn't look that bad."

Pftsth!

Later, when Andrew was installing the nightly wall coverings (one must do this to prevent easy image theft) I asked him if we were going to remove the floor each time -especially when our calendar is booked to bolt out of the doors to the parties and dinners we have planned -he acquiesced. Too bad, the floor would have been dynamite to use and we're out over $100 due to our negligence.

We missed lunch today and we were starved, so for dinner, we headed to our favorite Italian Restaurant: Focacceria (Greenwich Village) for Chicken Ravioli & Chocolate moltan lava cake. Tomorrow, we must rise early (O Wicked Sun, You Bring Bags to my Eyes), get back to the booth to eagerly complete it so that we can walked ICFF and attend a few parties at night.

Wish us luck!