It was a warm sunny day in Las Vegas and I had just spent an hour next to a very chatty man (who thought he was hilarious) on the airplane. I was rocking my first pair of colored skinny jeans (heck! my first pair of skinny jeans period!) and I was feeling good. I walked into Mandalay Bay to be greeted by a sea of orange. The Home Depot had descended upon Vegas for their annual Managers Meeting and I was about to get a behind the scenes look!
While the 3,000 some odd Home Depot store managers from around the world were in a meeting, I was able to sneak into the "product walk" as they call it. They basically build a Home Depot store inside the event center, only it is a Home Depot store times 100! It was HUGE! Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy store.
The product walk was set up so that the store managers could see all the new products. The reps from the companies taught, and answered any questions about the products. This way when people come into the stores, they will be educated about the product and will be able to give the best service. There were so many booths that it takes two days to visit them all! Some of the CEOs for the brands were there as well. That was really neat to see how proud they were of their company :)
(LEFT: CNBC setting up for interviewing the CEOs and Martha Stewart RIGHT: Frank Blake being interviewed)
My favorite CEO was there too. Frank Blake, the CEO of The Home Depot, came to speak to the managers and check it all out. This is the first time they have let the media come. It was CNBC and..... me! In fact, I had to sign a confidentiality agreement. Good thing I rock at keeping secrets :) Oh, and there is a Frank story later....... because I can't seem to travel anywhere without embarrassing myself, right?
The garden center was one of my favorite areas. It smelled amazing! And I love that everything here (in fact all the products in this whole HD convention center) were donated to local charities after the event was done.
The convention center wasn't big enough so they had to take over a whole parking lot as well! They had hands on booths and showcased products that are online only. It was fun to see things in real life that normally I browse for on their website.
And of course there were plenty of power tools :)
And I learned about some awesome flooring and tried it out. It was stunning! This color in particular will be coming out later in the year and I am trying to think of where in my home I could put it.
And guess what? Martha was in the HOUSE! She was interviewed by CNBC and then demonstrated her new line of paint. I had the chance to meet her and visit for a minute.
(instagram shot)
Martha is amazing at personal branding and has mad business skills. She is the best at what she does. And it is a notch in my DIY belt to say I have met her.
The whole day was fabulous. Insider Home Depot secrets, creme brulee for lunch, hanging out with my favorite PR girl Kelly, Martha, and sunshine pretty makes for a perfect day. The best part for me was being surrounded by people who were so full of excitement that it was almost tangible. There is an energy that is indescribable when you are in a room full of passionate people.
So as the day was wrapping up, I still had not had a chance to talk with my buddy Frank. I had met him at a previous event and was excited to see him again. He is seriously the NICEST guy ever. He had taken off after the interview with CNBC and was walking around like everyone else. We had the event planners with their walkie talkies trying to spot him for me. Finally right before I was about to leave Kelly and I spotted him.
Insert random fact....... I am a hugger. I like to squeeze the crap out of people when I am excited to see them or meet them. I didn't hug Frank Blake the first time because no one else was and I was so shocked to be actually meeting him. But I figured that since it was our second meeting, a hug was warranted. And really, I think he went in for the hug first.
I think.
Well, after chatting a minute it was time for me to go back to the airport. On our way out of the event center we saw the event planner. She was standing next to a guy who looked familiar but I didn't think anything of it. I told her we had found Frank so she wouldn't have to keep looking. I told her he had recognized me and we hugged.
Her eyes got huge. She looked to the man at her side (who turned out to be Frank's personal security) and said "Is that even allowed?"
We had a good laugh :)
I am so excited about the things that Home Depot is doing this year. And I am excited to be able to share more behind the scenes stuff with you later. Thanks for letting me share!
What a fantastic opportunity to meet Martha in person. Lucky you. Looks like a wonderful time. Wish we had Home Depot here in Australia.
Anne xx
I wish you did too! I will see if I can put in a good word with Frank ;)
Congrats on meeting Martha! Please could you share more about that meeting? It is a dream of mine to meet her one day. You look adorable in skinny jeans. Love that shade of minty green.
How much fun!!! Cool that you got to meet Martha and you rocked the skinny jeans! (I will be going in first for the hug when I see you next month at SNAP!) xoxo
What an exciting experience Stacey! Can't wait to see more behind the scenes posts!! :)
OMG....I love Martha and eveything about her. I am so jealous. I will be looking for you in her magazine!
Did you pinch yourself throughout the day, just to make sure it wasn't a dream!? How awesome!
When I came home, because it all happened quickly, it felt like something I remembered from a long time ago or like something I dreamed instead of something that happened the day before. It was such a quick trip with a lot packed into one day. It was pretty fun!
Love the flooring! I need to go get that! And I love that you saw Martha! I have a craft-crush on her ;-)
Love it! What an amazing experience to rub shoulders with the best! congrats..can't wait to hear about the rest of it!:)
What an incredibly cool experience!!
You and I must have crossed paths. I am a THD associate and also met Martha that same day, and did all the same things as you during product walk. I just started following your blog, will you follow mine? mommaaimone.blogspot.com
How funny! I am off to check out your blog :) Maybe we can meet up next year!
How FUN! I met Martha (sort of) when my mom and I were in the second row on the floor at her show a few years ago, when she had all bloggers in the audience. What a fabulous experience it was and you're right - she definitely knows what she's doing.
I'm a big time hugger, too! I totally get what you said about that. Funny though..."Is that even allowed?" LOL!
How very exciting for you!!! Home Depot is our store of choice, and I'd love to work with them in the future. How fun for you--media--woop woop! Love that wood also, and already love Martha's paint line at HD! P.s. love your mint skinnies!!
Look at you rubbing elbows with the best- well earned/deserved!
Sounds amazing, Stacy! I may be living vicariously through you. ;)
Aloha,
Charlie
How fun!!! What a great opportunity for you! I'm so excited for you!
Ashley
http://www.simplydesigning.net
Wow, that's awesome! What a cool experience, I'd love to meet her one day!
wow- that's great...so she was nice then?
Martha! I'm so jealous and happy for you, you deserve it. Side question: What did you think of the paint she was demonstrating? I've seen it in HD and was considering using the metallic one to stencil a wall. Thoughts?
I was chatting with her PR peeps during most of the demonstration and I haven't tried it yet. But I want to! I think a metallic with a stencil would be amazing!
Very exciting for you!!! Martha has some amazing paints at Home Depot. I just painted a buffet in our home in her "Cornbread," love it!
What an awesome experience! Congrats!
Looks like you had an AMAZING day! Thanks so much for sharing (what you could) with all of us! I can't wait to see what other posts are sprouted from this trip.
That is totally awesome......to meet M.S. the icon of everything about making a house a home.....so happy for you...Love & Blessings...
Too cool! Those displays were amazing!
That's awesome you met Martha!
I just love your stories, what great fun! Okay, I NEED to know what kind of flooring that is, and what color that specific one you're touching is, LOL! I want to put that in my kitching & familing room, it's BEAUTIFUL!
I am super jealous! It is def a notch in your belt to have met Martha! You go girl!