Hi all,

I am reporting in from halfway around the world (China). I attended the 13th annual Building Decoration show in good ole GZ (Guangzhou).

Did you ever notice when you travel thousands of miles from home, you always seem to run into someone you know? I call it serendipity.

I ran into Russ Lee, Executive Director of ISFA (pix above)  and also Evan Kruger of EOS fame (past President of ISFA) who were there doing fabrication training and working on other sundry , yet fascinating projects.

Those darn ISFA folks are as unpredictable as I am. Like me, they can pop up anywhere in the world at anytime.  I guess under Russ Lee's direction, they really are an International Trade Association.

I do have a bone  to pick with Russ...next China trip,  bring Sandy Milroy. My wife and I have not  seen her since 2008 (my last biz trip to Vegas) and we miss her alot. We had a nice dinner together, and discussed global marketing. She is good people and a marketing guru!

I also ran into the fine gentlemen who make Formica material and had a meet and greet with Russ and Evan.

I didnt have alot of time to take pix. If you like I can post more pix of the show, but I dont want to bother the readers or fill up this website with extraneous pix because I know that mostly on this site everyone is busy! Let me know, and if you want I can post several more.

Pictured in the photo, from Left to Right are

1.) the "Fish" ..a young engineer, working in the Formica OEM factory, that  I hired right out of the University and trained for several years.
 2.) A fat and happy version of Lenny
3.) Russ Lee, Executive Director of ISFA
4.) Mr Wong...owner of the factory that produces the Formica material.
5.) Mr. Ma, who is the VP of the  Formica factory.

That show was huge! I cant believe the domestic demand in China for SS. Its growing 8% per year (conservative estimate). Its like the ole glory days (70's and 80's) in the US.
 

Good stuff, thanks Lenny. Did you get pics of any exhibits?

Len Smith,

One of my favorite guys!

Yes I did take more pix, would you like me to post them? I didnt have alot of time, I was looking for undermount porecelain sinks, in a certain geographic area, for a client, and manning a booth, going to meetings, setting up meet and greets yada, yada, etc., etc.

But those booth girls took some pix too. Between me and them we have alot. I can post them here or email them to you.

Would you like some show statistics too?

Lenny:

When have we ever complained that you posted too many pictures or statistics? Please do so. The only way most of us are getting to China is through you.

Thanks,

Joe

Joe.. I bet the SFA would buy you a one way ticket to China...

Posted By Kelsey Crisp on 11 Jul 2011 02:08 PM
Joe.. I bet the SFA would buy you a one way ticket to China...

Lenny,

It was good to see you again. You talk about fat and happy, but as you can see from the pic, I'm falling into that category as well. Of course, this is after a week of gorging on Chinese food at every meal (our hosts made sure we didn't go hungry) and getting out of the normal routine. I second your comment that China is exploding.

ISFA is there to help local fabricators bring up the consistency and quality of installations done in China. The range of experience and access to tools these local fabricators have is all across the board. It looks to be a fun challenge.

FYI everyone, Lenny is everywhere in China. Of the factories we visited (and there were a number of them) each knew Lenny and had worked with him. He's a good ambassador for our industry and for the USA.

Russ,
Did they provide you with an interperator while you were there?

Hi Tom,

I think Penny Cho handled all the translations.

Sort of like a "Penny Cho your thoughts"?

Yea, that was bad...

Lenny and Russ,

Sorry I didn't get a chance to bump into you guys while I was there. I did get a chance to speak with Penny very briefly. If you guys are still around, I would love to bump heads with the both of you.

Howard
Brilliant Solid Surface

Hi Howard,

Russ returned to his usual busy schedule in the US. Im still in China, currently in the Dongguan area and will be here for quite some time.

Lenny,

Sounds good. I am currently in Hong Kong, but I will be in Dongguan either next week or the week after. I will let you know by next week when I am back, perhaps we can meet for lunch or something? Where in Dongguan are you?

Hi Howard,

The area (district) of Dongguan is called Changping. I look forward to seeing you!

Oh I see. I am in Daojiao, which is about a 20mins car ride. When I am in China. I will let you know and we can arrange a time.

Hi Howard,

I used to keep an apartment in Daojiao from 05-08. I visited your factory once in in 07 or 08 to look at your engineered stone product, if I remember correctly.

Yes, but you had a meeting maybe with my father or my assistant Vivian. I don't think I was there at that time.

Posted By Len Smith on 11 Jul 2011 09:46 AM
Good stuff, thanks Lenny. Did you get pics of any exhibits?

Hi Len,

A few more pix of the exhibits, as promised.



SS booth adjacent to ISFA Space


Volley ball, material was inlaid SS. That was an extremely heavy volleyball!



My favorite exhibit.

Lenny:

If you don't mind, we should have a "Caption That Photograph" contest utilizing your last picture.

Tom, you go first.

Joe

Could it be a picture of Lenny holding a glass of that ledgendary "snake wine" before consuming it, and Lenny standing in front of the photo after consuming it.  Notice the crazy wide eyes and the jet black hair.  Quite the transformation.

Johnny C