The ‘East Team’ had just wrapped up the production of the Organic Summit (check out these hot blog and radio spots for some perspective on that event: The NBJ Blog, Gristmill Blog, DeliciousLiving Magazine: Blog and public radio) and before I knew it I was on a plane to New York City for the Fancy Food Show. For the past couple of years, our sales team has hosted an East Coast client appreciation reception on the second evening of the show at Candle 79. There are, at the very least, three great things about this event and our participation in the show. The first, of course, is the wonderful food and hospitality served up at what is a fantastic organic, vegetarian and sometimes vegan, restaurant. The seitan chimichurri’s were to die for, even for the non-vegan types, like me. The proprietors Bart Botenza and Joy Pierson are long-time industry spokespeople and well respected nutritionists, respectively and have infused the Upper East Side dining scene with healthful and palate pleasing vegetarian cuisine. The second is the ability to connect with some of our East Coast clients and hear their thoughts about what is going on in our industry (I probably should have exchanged the second for the first but come on, admit it, when you go to a party, you generally make sure your tummy is happy before diving deep into conversation). With the addition to our team a couple years ago, of Mary Beth Catapano, as your East Coast Retail Account Manager—translating, roughly to “the woman with her hand on the pulse of the East Coast Natural and Organic Products Retail Scene—we had the pleasure of hosting several retailers, distributors and brokers at the event as well. So, it’s an eclectic mix of passionate people packed into this charming restaurant in the middle of New York City. What was on their minds? Besides the good food and libations, not surprisingly, the cost of travel into Boston was the number one topic of discussion. Always prepared, I was armed with our latest and greatest retail travel promotion. This clever scheme (if I can give my team a pat on the back here) not only supports the environment, by encouraging local retailers to utilize public transport into the City of Boston, but also provides a little fiscal relief for the retail buyer that you are or that you so want to see visiting your booth in October. What’s the catch? There is no catch….check it out-

Travel Green and Save Green! Qualified buyers, brokers and distributors can ride a regional bus or train to the show and Natural Products Expo East will reimburse you up to $100—just visit the Transportation Desk with your receipt and badge.

Spend up to $50 and Receive a $50 cash card

Spend $50.01 - $74.99 and Receive a $75 cash card

Spend more than $75 and Receive a $100 cash card

AND, I learned something myself from one savvy New Yorker. The BoltBus, is being launched by Greyhound next month. This service will run between Boston and New York City, with fares starting at $1, wireless internet access, and curbside drop-offs in New York. No excuses retailers!!

Still reading? Want to know the third great thing about the Fancy Food Show? Being in the Big Apple! It was the second year our marketing and retail team had staffed a booth- this year we made it into the natural and organic pavilion, a more appropriate placement than our location in the Bulgarian pavilion last year (we really can empathize with sometimes precarious booth placements). There are so many mainstream and gourmet retailers with a growing interest in natural and organic at this event. It’s fun to have the opportunity to encourage them to attend your tradeshow, to talk about the potential to educate themselves and to grow their businesses with natural and organic, and observe the look of surprised satisfaction on their faces when you answer the question, “You mean, Natural Products Expo East is a whole show of products like we see in this little pavilion?” with a resounding, “Yes.”