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Nothing is more exciting than travelling to Europe, except when you can order items from European suppliers and have them shipped to your store in downtown Kincardine.

That's the reality for Bill Brown and Corinne Robertson-Brown, owners of J'Adorn.

From Sept. 3-7, they were in Europe, attending the Maison&Objets trade show at the Parc Villeport, checking out the flea market at Clignancourt, and the antiques market at the Place d'Aligre. They travelled with colleagues Elke and Renée Desrochers who are their mentors in the retail business.

"It was an amazing experience," says Corinne. "We've been to Paris twice before and we've done the touristy things, but this was a business trip and we found some wonderful items for the store."

She says the trade show was huge and overwhelming. 

"You couldn't see all of it even though we were there for a few days. There were thousands of booths and each one was laid out like a room, with velvet curtains and chandeliers, as a setting for the items they were selling.

"I never thought I'd get my fix of chandeliers, but I got it there."

At the Kroemer exhibit, a German supplier, once they had completed their order, they were presented with glasses of champagne and refreshments.

The trade show featured vendors from all over the world, says Corinne, including Morocco, Spain and North Africa. "It all had that European flair."

She can hardly wait for the products to arrive. Among them are an assortment of Christmas items, including some gorgeous ornaments and decorations, real angel wings made of white feathers, glassware, and custom-ordered  handmade lamp shades that are "absolutely beautiful," says Corinne.

"My first shipment is from Germany and is set to arrive mid-October," she says, adding she hopes a lot of the items reach the store in time for Christmas. She is doubtful about the lamp shades as they are handmade and take time to create.

One thing that surprised Corinne and Bill when they were touring the vendors' booths was that many had never shipped product to Canada. "They were so excited about the prospect," says Corinne.

"It was nice to create a personal relationship with the suppliers," says Bill, "and it was great to have Elke and Renée along to help us out."

Corinne says that she placed a large order of items from a German supplier and she received an order list. When she looked at it back at the apartment, she saw that it was all in German.

"I didn't know what the items were," she says. "They were in German and they used really long words for whatever we had ordered."

Corinne and Bill also toured the flea market at Clignancourt where they saw gorgeous but expensive items for sale. And they checked out the antiques market on the Place d'Aligre which featured articles that were hundreds of years old. They purchased some items for the store to add an historic atmosphere.

"It was great to travel to Europe on business," says Corinne, "but it was also a lot of work. We were on our feet for 16 hours a day. I can't wait until everything arrives and we can fill the store with it all."

While they were in Paris, a labour strike took place on Sept. 7. It was the Metro (subway system) workers and the bus and transit drivers, so naturally, the teachers had to join them as well, says Corinne.

They were striking because the French government is considering raising the mandatory retirement age to 62 from 60. The march was very noisy and went on for hours. They marched down the street, Blvd Beaumarchais, where Corinne and Bill were staying, right to the Bastille.

"It was fascinating," says Corinne.

A chandelier is used to prop open a door at the antiques market, beside a life-sized horse statue

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Monday, October 11, 2010