Grand Bazaar

After the press event Thursday morning, my team from the US that was in town wanted to sight see and so we went to the Grand Bazaar in the afternoon. I was excited to get to go as well because last time we ran out of time. It was huge- bigger than I ever imagined and MUCH cleaner than I imagined. When I think of the GB, I think of the souk's I've been in around Dubai and Riyadh and they are dusty and hot and smelly- but this was very clean and indoors, and surprisingly well organized.
You're supposed to barter for prices and I HATE to barter- hate it hate it hate it! The whole time I was shopping I felt like i had heart burn because I knew if I saw something I liked they were going to say an outrageous price and I'd have to fight with them. Ugh. I think if anything I was the worse kind of customer because I make it horribly awkward- more like whining and long pauses cause i don't know what to say, and they're probably like- just give me your money and go away five minutes into the process.
I did manage to get an AMAZING leather jacket just like I've wanted the entire time I've been over here, and some great Christmas presents to bring back.

After the Bazaar the group had dinner together with the franchise partners at a great local- real Turkish restuarant, and then went out for drinks at a bar. We had a blast! Just what we all needed after such a successful new market entry. The times when I get to hang out with the VP and the other managers and directors are the best because we get to be ourselves and just hang out and have fun- and god did we ever! So many good memories of that afternoon and night. Great way to end the trip.

Store Opening

We opened our first store in Istanbul on Wednesday as a soft opening, then had the grand opening with VIP and Press on Thursday morning. Prior to all the fun and games, I worked 14 hrs on Sunday, 16 hrs on Monday and a short 12hr day on Tuesday then had to turn around Wednesday morning in a suit and smile and a wonderfully gratious attitude like "it was nothing...!" ;-)
After as many openings as I've done I know all the tricks- lots of water, tylenol pm, visine, bring my own hair clippers cause god knows I have no time to get a haircut before the opening and all the pictures, and most importantly a crisp white shirt and black suit to make the dark circles and bags under my eyes look like they are part of my outfit!
The opening isn't really happening until we take the photo of the staff infront of the store- then I know- we are done. No more lighting, no more boxes, just bask in the fact that we did it. It is the best feeling. Another successful opening.
Then yesterday I spent time organizing the photos, pulling together presentations of the two days opening events, and email them off to the US. Then comes the second best part; As everyone looks at the presentations they email me congratulations, and the VP's send me thanks, and it gives the US team the insights of what the finished product looks like and we all feel good together.
Such a relief, such a high. I love this job :-)

Pretty Views

We stayed at the Sheraton near the mall in the north end of the European side of Istanbul. It was a normal Sheraton (or so I thought) and my room was a corner suite with two walls of windows and these were my views. The other US guys that were staying at the hotel apparently did not have the same room, and thought the hotel was horrid, complained non-stop, but I've seen much worse, so was tried to help them see that we're not at the Easton Town Center in Columbus, OH but they were not buying. oh well- I still enjoyed it.

The earthquake

So there was an earthquake in Turkey today and i wantdd to let everyone know I am fine. We didnt even know it had happened as we didnt feel it as it was on the other side of the country. When word hit the US my home office called to make sure we were all ok and that is when we knew it had happened. Then i went to my phone and was surprised to see the text messages and missed calls. Thank you if you were one of those, it was nice :-). We are still working on the store and business is caring on as usual.

Metro in Istanbul

As I mentioned the last time I was here, the traffic is so bad in this city. Since we are on the north end of the city- to get to all the cool places it takes about an hour- 1 1/2 hours to get there and $40 so luckily our hotel is a short walk to the metro. It is Soooo far down in the ground, it was three long escalators down, then yet another escalator after you get your ticket- nothing like the short staircase to the subway in Chicago. It was only 2Lira, so about 1.25 to ride it- any distance you want. so that was a steal and it's so fast. There are only 10 stops, and from where we are staying to Taksim square only took 20 minutes- and 1.25. It is really clean, and bright, so nothing to be worried about. It only has 1 line, and hits all the great places in the city.

and I saw....

So when we were in the Istiklal Cadessi we stopped to have coffee. All of a sudden we heard this chanting and yelling, and looked outside and everyone was looking down the street. And sure enough- there was a riot coming our way. It was again- a very surreal moment- like what you see on tv- they guys were holding a HUGE turkish flag marching down the center of the street, others were waving flags, some had flares, just marching their way down the street protesting something. They were peaceful- just chanting and yelling, and marching. The more unnerving part was after they had passed us the police came out with their machine guns to patrol the area- so we walked the opposite way of the riot just to make sure we wouldn't be caught up in anything.

back in Istanbul

Back in Istanbul and this week has been like trying to stop a freight train with my bare hands. From the day we landed until today we have been working all day till 10pm at night, and up at 7am to be at the partners home office by 8am. I haven't been this tired since I worked at Woodfield during Christmas- seriously!
One of the evenings I was able to go to dinner at a new place in the city- the Taksim Square area- and the other nights we've been at the mall.
Our hotel is ok- it's up hin the business district central to both the offices and the new store, so it is a business hotel- not the W by any stretch. The best part is the gym here. It is huge, with a big turkish "hammam" as they call it- or Turkish Bath. It is done like the old town baths and is very popular with the locals so it is not at all a "small hotel gym".
Atop of the working out- the food here is SO healthy. I was going through withdrawls for fats and sugars. Everything is rice stuffed grapeleaves and fresh seafood and rice, and chicken, and vegetables. It has been very good, but as horrible as it sounds, I really want to find a Chili's. :-)
Attached are some pictures of the Taksim Square / Istiklal Street area. It was sooo crowded I could not believe it and they said this was a light traffic day!
The picture of the ceiling is at one of the shops in the Istiklal street- so pretty!