It’s been 3 weeks since I finished the odyssey road tour that took 8 weeks and spanned 10,000 miles. I bet y’all have been wondering where I have been and why I haven’t posted much. Well, my staff at the office did a terrific job but work still seems to pile up while I am gone.
Over the last few weeks I have juggled everything from distribution agreements to gigantic orders to finishing up new products. Not really much to complain about!
I was pretty sick for awhile (low resistance after the trip) and then my General Manager, Darryl, came down with a serious case of the flu. Darryl was supposed to help exhibit at the NSSEA (National School Supply and Equipment Association) trade show in New Orleans. A few hours before take off, we decided he was too sick to even attempt the trip. I was lucky enough to have Wil come to the rescue. Wil had never helped us exhibit before but over the next 24 hours he would learn how to set up a pop-up-booth which included opening a padlocked container (two padlocks) when neither of us knew the combinations of the locks. Not only did he do this successfully, he did so without damaging anything and the show was off to a great start.
Click to enlarge photos
Wil at the booth [left] and Wil and I posing for a quick picture [right].
I really like coming to the NSSEA shows. This is my fourteenth year exhibiting. At ED EXPO, in one large exhibit hall, you’ll find thousands of people “high on life”. Take for example, Kurt Kirckof, who was sitting next to us at dinner. In 1999 Kurt had a dream about an educational kids’ game. His dream is now not only a reality, but he is experiencing dynamite sales. Every time this inventor talks about his game, Going Crazy, he’s still so excited that he practically jumps out of his seat. Everyone at our table was like that … and at the next table too. The entire show is like that. And even me, I am most definitely like that. Once I start talking about our audio kits I can’t stop. Infections can be both good and bad. They can be bad like the influenza that prevented
Darryl from flying to the show. They can be good when they spread contagious enthusiasm. Several buyers who visited our booth couldn’t help but catch the enthusiasm. Sheryl Guidera of Kaleidoscope (Capitola California) ‘caught the bug’ and started sending perfect strangers down to our booth to check out the songs. Thank you Sheryl!
Click to enlarge photos
Sheryl Guidera of Kaleidoscope, Capitola, CA.
Of course I got to meet and greet dozens of friends, old and new at the show. Many of these I missed on the odyssey tour. Here are some pics of buyers, friends and new acquaintances.
Click to enlarge photos
Paul Suarez, Editor of “The Old Schoolhouse Magazine”, with his son Paul Jr. [left] and Russ Davies, owner of Education Station in Summerville, SC, with his wife, Mary, and assistant, Donna Alexander [right].
Click to enlarge photos
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bennett, owners of The Festival Shop in Birmingham, England [left] and Terri Jackson, owner of Classroom Connection in Chalmette, LA [right].
Click to enlarge photos
Me with Edgar Beauchamp, President of Zona Escolar in San Juan, Puerto Rico [left] and me with Lupe Garza, CEO of NES in San Antonio, TX [right].
Working a show can be exhausting. Fun but exhausting. Everyone seems to be on their feet from 7 am until 11 pm non stop!
These pics give the flavor of working all day and partying all night.
Click to enlarge photos
Excitement on the Show Floor [left] and partying all night [right].
We were also pleased to have Bernard Guglberger, National Sales Manager for EAI Education stop by the booth.
Click to enlarge photos
Bernard Guglberger, National Sales Manager for EAI Education.