Released 03/02/2009
Well, I made it back onto terra firma after, what I was told was a lucky-to-be-only a two hour delay coming into Heathrow from Frankfurt. Apparently it always snows at Paperworld - but for whatever reason, this year, the white stuff decided to mosey itself up to the UK just to remind dealers who stood their ground and avoided Paperworld this year that they were missed. Any adverse weather conditions in Frankfurt were unbeknownst to me, as I managed to spend the entire two days there pretty much inside the whole time.
But when you're in Messe Frankfurt during Paperworld - you tend to forget that there even is an outside. It's so jaw-droppingly rammed with every kind of delectable piece of office item you could ever imagine, you end up in a mesmerised state of stationery hypnosis. If Willy Wonka ever gave up his life-long yen for chocolate to take up office products, his factory might look something like Hall 3. If you haven't been to the big show - I definitely recommend the trip next year, as why work in office products if you don't love the, well, products?
Any drama? Well some rumours which I address in a recent news story (see news) and Fellowes had a chance to fight the fraudsters themselves when they spotted some shredders in the Asian hall that looked an awful like the brand's patented versions. The Germans don't take that kind of thing lightly, and before you knew it on Saturday (I missed it, sadly, so am recounting what Fellowes told me) a group of customs police descended upon this Chinese manufacturer's stand and demanded they give up the goods. As counterfeiting products is a criminal offence in Germany, they won't get off lightly.
So that was that, and I've managed to keep myself busy of late - no surprise there. Advantia very kindly invited me along to their catalogue launch back in January, which was good fun. Especially when the hotel's fire alarm went off and the entire group in attendance had a sneak peek at everyone else's gala dinner outfits in the parking lots post evacuation. But the rest of the night was a cracking good one, and ended in a £1000 price being divvied up amongst the winning animal-themed quiz team, who had to gather all their quiz answers during the course of the talks and exhibition.
As I write this, I'm trying to ignore a mad fiddler on my Piccadilly Line train from Heathrow, so had better sign off lest be targeted and fiddled at.
Bye for now,
Julia