Ship’s log or the trying life of a Visual Merchandiser
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.
Thursday 31 May.
In front of the Mandarina Duck store in the West Edmonton Mall, in the seal pool, there was a film being shot with Patrick Swayze (I was ever so tempted to challenge him to a Dirty Dancing style mambo but I gave up the idea because I had to work).
Friday 1 June, one am.
Valeria called me in the wee hours of the morning and told me to rush to the airport as my flight was leaving earlier than scheduled and I had only fours to get there. I dragged myself to the airport with a face that looked like a cross between a Picasso painting and the Scream by Munch.
Edmonton to Minneapolis to Atlanta to Panama City: on the final leg of my trip, there was a similar group of ‘young’ flight attendants as well as passengers that looked like they had just gotten off of a bus in the Andes.
Tuesday 5 June.
After a night of working in our Panama City store, I departed for my return trip to Bologna.
Panama City to Houston to Amsterdam to Bologna: due to a booking misunderstanding, they upgraded me to a business class seat. I had a delicious meal, saw films that haven’t come out in Italy yet and didn’t sleep a wink. Thank heaven for weekends.
Perhaps next time I’ll tell you something more about my job!
Technorati Tags: Edmonton, Panama, Visual Merchandiser, Patrick Swayze
18 July 2008 at 10:46
Got a laugh out of the line “with a face that looked like a cross between a Picasso painting and the Scream by Munch” Sounds like you have yourself some adventures!