I recently had an email from Pantone Inc, the renowned colour system experts for printers, inviting me to visit their stand at the WSA August show in Las Vegas. Without much encouragement, I hurriedly explored the possibility of attending, what I assumed was a colour imaging or print related show. I love to keep abreast of developments in the industry and I suppose if that means a trip to that most tacky but irresistible city, then I really think I should make the effort…it’s a terrible job, but someone’s gotta do it!
So, what exactly is WSA I wondered? World Sign Association perhaps…better google it and check it out before I book the flight. It turns out to be World Shoes and Accessories! Mixed feelings ensue, Vegas and shoes…does it get any better? With the best will in the world, my imagination is working overtime to come up with a possible business reason to go. But, to my annoyance my job in print doesn’t quite stretch into the shoes and accessories market (although strange coincidence we had done a beautiful brochure for a Brazilian footwear manufacturer this week) and with the best will in the world, I simply couldn’t justify my journey to Vegas.
On further reading of the WSA website, visitors have to be validated as shoe retailers – does the viewing of Mary Portas’s retail show count I hopefully wondered?!