Jennifer Thibodeau, Product Manager - posted 9/24/09
I don't know about you but I thrive on routine. I could not wait for school to be back in session just so our days/nights would settle back into some semblance of a routine after the long and busy days of summer. So imagine my surprise (and admittedly ever-so-slight hesitation) when Chris Chamberlin suggested I travel to Las Vegas with her in September to attend two tradeshows - Las Vegas Market and ABC Kids Expo. While the thought was thrilling (my husband and I were actually married in Vegas 10 years ago), it was also a 4-day bump in our already overbooked September schedule, just when I was trying to get us back on track.
But, of course, I was flattered that she wanted me to attend, and really did look forward to the glitz and glamour of a 4-day trip to Vegas, along with meeting some of the vendors we work with and possibly scouting out new ones. So on Monday, 9/14 we boarded a flight out of Portland, ME headed west.
After a safe arrival and a short night's sleep at the Riviera, Tuesday was dedicated to the Las Vegas Market. Floors and floors and buildings and buildings of furniture. And did we see some great stuff! Lovely recycled wooden headboards, strong and stunning bamboo furniture, new and sumptuous organic mattresses. We found some new latex pillows, checked out some Amish furniture and enjoyed a little nap (if only!) on one of our favorite finds - a mattress that utilizes gel technology to conform to your unique shape and weight, providing you with a healthy night's sleep.
Personally, my favorite part of the day was the TweetUp event hosted by Natura. Four business leaders discussing with a captive audience how social media is working for them. Plus questions from the audience. Seriously, if you're not using Facebook and/or Twitter to help grow your business, you really need to consider it. Minimal cost with a potentially huge ROI. Fascinating stuff.
To close out our first night in Vegas, Chris and I hopped on a bus and headed to Fremont St. A little video poker at Golden Nugget, dinner at Binion's, the tail-end of the famous Fremont St. lightshow and we were back at our hotel to get ready for another day in Sin City.
So, disrupted schedule aside, for all the great new products we sourced on Tuesday, I say "thanks, Sin City." What will Wednesday bring?
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