This is my last post to say goodbye to you all. This time I’m being quite serious.

I’ve always said that when a really great opportunity comes your way, you have to take it.
And one has come to me. So, I’m leaving Mandarina Duck to start down a new and important career path.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you’re rid of me. I’ll be reading Duckside and keeping an eye on the company that helped me to grow (and also to rack my brain, work hard, have fun and travel), it will just be from the outside!

A big hug to all

Andrea

Technorati Tags: Andrea Signori, Opportunities

The trip didn’t start off very well.
Due to an expected strike, I had to take the 6.15 am flight to Frankfurt and then wait for the 1.40 pm flight to Dubai. Oh well! On the positive side, I had some time to work on my laptop in the Lufthansa Lounge.
Then, at the gate, I ran into a friend of mine from Bologna that was also going to Dubai, who haughtily informed me that the strike had never taken place.
So, I was exhausted for nothing and on top of that, my mother had been calling me incessantly with worry over the desert, scorpions and who knows what other potential dangers!
Read the rest of this entry »

After three weeks of well-deserved vacation, coming back to work is more exciting than ever.

At Mandarina, the end of August brings the presentation of the spring/summer collection for the following year and the whole company is involved in a myriad of meetings (including clashes in the corridors). The scene is similar to that of Miranda’s arrival in “The Devil wears Prada“.

The biggest moment was the presentation of the collection to the entire company (branches included) - at the home of the Aterballetto dance company in Reggio Emilia - and the spectacular fashion show, of which I will describe the backstage activities.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hello everybody. My name’s Andrea Signori and I travel around the world as a Visual Merchandiser setting up displays in Mandarina Duck mono-brand stores.

My most recent trip was from Bologna to Edmonton to Panama City and back to Bologna.

Wednesday 30 May: Bologna to Amsterdam to Minneapolis to Edmonton (Canada).
Equipped with a sweatshirt and a scarf, I found myself rethinking two old clichés:
1) it’s cold in Canada: I arrived to 27 ° C above zero, dry weather and an army of mosquitoes the size of blimps;
2) all female flight attendants are young and good-looking: on two Northwest flights, their average age was well over 50.

In my hotel, I was surprised that my room had a Polynesian theme, or rather a beyond kitsch theme. The whirlpool bath was bigger than my entire bathroom back home.

Read the rest of this entry »