Spreadsheets, spreadsheets, spreadsheets. Every intern learns to love them, or hate them, depending on who you ask. Me? The jury is still out, but I can see the beginnings of a beautiful relationship. Regardless of my on again, off again status with Excel, I was more than excited when asked if was up for a day away from the computer. The boss wanted to send me to Market with Grace the Senior Merchandising Manager at RSH. Getting paid to shop for a day? That’s only my dream job. So off we went to market armed only with a digital camera, our Market badges, and some comfortable shoes. Although for all the walking we did that day, I should been allowed to switch out my sandals for my favorite pair of RSH bunny slippers.
We spent hours meeting with exhibitors, designers, and even a competitor from HGTV’s Design Star—Michael Stribling. Walking from showroom to showroom we browsed through displays of Arteriors lamps, Aidan Gray ottomans, Consuela cosmetic sets, even the cutest set of tin office organizers (expect to see them in the upcoming catalog…and my dorm room next fall). Grace and I also stumbled across some little treasures that were slightly less than RSH chic. A feathered and bedazzled wine bottle topper comes to mind…
Stopping ever so briefly to grab a quick bite to eat, we were soon back on our feet and moving faster than ever. We worked our way through floor after floor of the expansive World Trade Center; as we left the holiday level, filled with Christmas trees and enough garlands to rival Santa’s own workshop, I forgot, just for a moment, that it was August and not December. The building itself was filled to the brim with boxes, displays, and some very excited salespeople. It didn’t take me many showrooms to figure out the look and feel for which Grace was hunting, she would find an item, ask the manufacturer if the color could change, the shape be altered and the item made in a different size. Then it became a candidate for RSH. More than once she had scanned a gallery and picked out two or three RSH worthy items before my eyes had even left the window display. I think I’ll just have to go shopping more often and call it “practice.” I took entire memory cards worth of pictures, which Grace is poring over as I type, and walked for what seemed like miles. But I have never had more fun at work—and I thought a day spent at the Ritz for a journalism assignment was a tough one to beat.
Needless to say, I am more than excited about the goods we snagged at Market 2010. I can hardly wait to help put it all together and bring it from our design board into your home.
~Courtney
Comments