Mar 11

Mar 11 GREETINGS FROM SHANGHAI!!

from the desk of Brian B., new introductions, 15th anniversary

Of all the international trips I embark on, this particular trip is one of my favorites! I travel to China quite a bit to meet with our team here, but this week I have been here with my product development hat on. Our team continues to expand it resources across the globe seeking new partners that can execute our innovative designs and enable us to remain a leader in the Home Furnishing Industry. We have traveled all over China to meet with suppliers and potential new partners to expand our assortment. After a 14½ hour flight from Chicago to Shanghai, and non stop meetings and traveling, those entrepreneurial juices that brought me to Asia in the first place over 15 years ago still keep me going strong.

Being one person in the middle of a city of 24 million people, I have to say, I am humbly inspired. I continue to be fascinated by the fact that you can change the language, currency and street signs, but the stores and merchandise are remarkably the same! Yes, some of the sizes and colors might be a bit different, but there is a Coach Store, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Swatch, Starbucks and McDonalds in every major city and airport in the world. There still remain vast cultural differences in every country, however merchandise trends seem to be finding a common ground. In the last 10 years, the Internet certainly has bridged the gap and has made people and places an ocean away seem so close.

As I took a walk down Shanghai’s famous Nanjing Road, I am reinvigorated and inspired to bring you more of the exquisite finishes and quality of product and packaging standards that you expect from us at Howard Elliott. I can’t wait for you to see what we have in the works over the course of the next several months!