Tradeshow time

I've just returned from a week exhibiting at the annual Reed Gift Fair in Melbourne. It's been exactly ten years since Garry and I first flew south to exhibit at our first tradeshow as Artiwood's new owners. This year's event was the best we've experienced since COVID put a stop to live events. I can't recall being on my feet so much as we were this year. Hopefully, the interest in our brands is reflected by healthy sales in the months ahead.

Weatherwise, it was a good week to be away from Sydney. As of yesterday, the city's experienced its wettest start to August in more than 168 years of records. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, we enjoyed partly sunny skies and dry conditions all week. Once again, Garry didn't attend the event. We decided after experimenting with three staff last August, there was little value in his attending again. I doubt he'll participate in another tradeshow again.

Last Friday, I took the team for dinner to celebrate Rhonda's birthday. Last year, we booked a table at Doju, a Korean Fusion restaurant, for her birthday. This year, we continued the Asian theme by dining at Komeyui, a Japanese fine dining restaurant. I booked the team a seat at the chef's table, where we watched the chef prepare and present each dish in front of us.

The rest of the week was less adventurous. I caught a taxi to St Kilda for cocktails with a business contact at the Village Belle Hotel, and walked the riverfront one evening to soak up the neon lights of Melbourne's Lightscape satellite event outside the Melbourne Convention Centre.