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Just learned through the grapevine about a great loft only a couple of blocks from the AmericasMart Building 3 in Atlanta. Here’s the lowdown: 1,000 square feet, one bedroom, 1 underground parking space, on the top floor of the building, facing north (toward the Westin and mart buildings). According to the owner, “The home owners’ association is very on top of their financials, so there won’t be any unpleasant surprise assessments later on.” Currently, there’s a wonderful tenant living in the loft, but with his wedding slated for this month, that’s about to conclude.

With an address like “123 Luckie Street,” how can you miss?

To see photos and contact info for the owner, click here.

Here we go…fine print:
This blog is posted as a courtesy; neither Cinda Baxter or Always Upward has a stake in the sale, has accepted payment in connection with this property, or holds any responsibility for the sale, promotion, or ownership of the property. Likewise, neither entity represents or warranties this property or statements made about it.

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For those of you wondering if I have show notes to share, I do—but they’re exclusively for consult clients and RetailSpeaks members.

Sorry for any disappointment those of you not on the guest list might feel…. If you’re an independent retailer interested in such things, however, check out the link on the right for RetailSpeaks. Might just be the best show tip of all.

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This show went fast—really fast. Could be because I was in perpetual motion the entire time, but still…went just plain fast.

Today’s stint in the Epson booth was the best by far—began with a consulting appointment with two really neat women from Birmingham, Alabama who “get” how important it is to turn their print operation into a profit center. During our appointment, Patti Stracher and Kelly Bristol (NSS Show Manager and Asst. Manager, respectively…and both dear friends) stopped in to chat. After the consult ended, Linda invited me to sit in on a meeting with the largest US paper distributor in the industry to chat about “things to come.” Later, as I was slipping out of the booth for one last run at the show (which, at this point, I’ve accepted I won’t finish), Caroline—Epson’s media maven—pulled me aside so she could introduce me to Martha Stewart Magazine’s editor, Darcy Miller.

Funny thing is that I actually met Darcy several years ago, although I certainly didn’t expect her to remember it. One Thursday, after the show had ended, Mom and I had a private appointment and lunch with a couture engraver named Nancy Sharon Collins. As soon as we arrived at her studio, Nancy apologized profusely, explaining that another woman needed to see the line too, but could only come in while we were there. If it was okay with us, she’d work with the four of us together, which of course, was fine with us.

So in walks Darcy and her mother. Turns out she (Darcy) was engaged, looking for wedding invitations, so we all chatted and noshed over some of the most exquisite engraved monograms and designs on earth. Very fun. Very laid back. Very mother/daughter for all of us.

Very small world, yet again.

And yes, Darcy remembered.

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…be sure there’s a way everyone can spot each other.

The RetailSpeaks cocktail hour was tonight, in the eighth floor bar at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square. For some bizarre reason, the front bar was closed, but a few of us grabbed drinks from the back bar then snagged a table up front, just to be sure the rest of the group would see us (or we’d see them).

What’s that saying about the best laid plans…?

Bottom line: There were several micro-groups scattered about, no one spotting the others. My bad. Next time, gotta find a balloon or something to mark the right table. Drats.

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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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I was careful with the water in China. Only drank that which was (a) bottled or (b) filtered.

Of course, it never occurred to me the bottle of water dewy from its time in melted ice in a cooler on top of the Great Wall might do me in.

Twenty-four hours at home, and I’m wrestling with a little “bug” that can only be attributed to me forgetting to wipe off the top of the bottle. My bad.

And folks, bad is the operable word here. Trust me. It ain’t pretty.

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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Macau

Found this open front shop nestled between two high priced jewelers on the main street in Macau. Only thing more interesting (in fish terms) was the shark fin shop seen earlier that day.

Tasty, I’m sure.

Wisely, we opted to meet Isaac at the hotel so the three of us could go to dinner in Causeway Bay. After a fair bit of searching (odd, given our location), we found a Chinese restaurant just before they closed.

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