Being in Florence

The last time I participated at Pitti Bimbo was in 2001. Which is a long time ago, but it is really nice to be back here.

Building up the stand is still a crime. The level of Italian cooperation to foreign exhibitors is not quite up to what you would hope for... but in the end you always manage, and it was good to see the LoFff van standing in the Italian sunshine.

So, there have been changes since the last 10 years.  More pavillions, more exhibitors, free wifi from the second day (when we asked for this the first day, they said it would cost 106 euro for the three days, and the next day it was free...) efficient routing of the entrance and exits.. (which is usefull if you look at the number of people trying to get in in the morning..)

But most things are just like they have been for a long time. The Fortezza di Basso where the fair is located still beats any other fair location, the liveliness on the fair, the perfectly dressed italian buyers and the very pretty dressed up dolly girls that scan the badges at the bigger stands. The coffee is still the best in the world, food is good wherever you go, and being able to walk around in Florence after the fair (for most people) or at six in the morning (for fewer people, but I am one of those) is a great pleasure.

Piazza di Duomo at 06.22



one of the million bars in Firenze




small italian breakfast



So, it is a pleasure to be here. And we are really proud of the way our stand worked out! And of all the new contacts we made, the new agents we found, and the way the new collection is received. But more about that another time.