Well folks, here we are, on my annual trip to Mecca—The National Stationery Show at the Javitz in New York. After a late (post-11:00 p.m.) arrival at the Westin Times Square last night, my eyes are a bit blurry...especially since I had to repack this morning so the porter could move me to the correct room (a regular occurrence for me the past few visits). Oh well. Puts me in a corner King, so the hassle’s worth it.Of course, I’m still battling Godforsaken jet lag. Am now within about four hours of “normal”...that is, until you add the additional hour flying east to New York. Who knows? Maybe mind over matter will kick in.
Hope springs eternal.
This year, I’m wearing a couple of hats at the show, most notably that of “industry expert” for Epson. Am also here to meet with a couple of retailers as their consultant, and to source product for several others unable to attend the show. Means running like a banshee from point A to point B, even more than when I was here as my own buyer. Pretty sure the days of slow going are long gone.
Nonetheless, one tradition still stands—my visit to the Crane’s booth to chat with Christopher Gleason, the nicest man on earth. Seriously. He was my Crane’s rep for most of the fourteen years of the store, but better yet, became a dear friend over the past eight or nine. Since my first visit to NSS fifteen years ago (seriously), opening day includes a morning stop to see Chris, share a hug, and laugh a bit. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Had lunch in the VIP Buyers Lounge with a few friends, and am off to the Espon booth where I’ll be consulting retailers on how to grow their in-house print operation. Today and tomorrow, I’m in from 3:00 ‘til 6:00; Tuesday and Wednesday, it’s 11:00 ‘til 2:00. Something tells me I’m going to enjoy this process, since “paying it forward” is my drug of choice.
Toodles.
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