Well, we made it back from our 2018 buying trip in one piece! The Las Vegas Market did not disappoint. We managed to accomplish our buying goals AND in record time. This was our second buying trip to Vegas, Amber and Claire ventured together back in January 2016. The shop was still under six months old, making that experience less of buying and more inspiring.
Today we are sharing a little day-by-day recap of our experience in Vegas, but first a little team intro is in order!
Meet the Team
(Left to Right)
Danielle - Amber's little sister! Danielle is our biggest cheerleader and the mastermind of all things logistics. Anything event related is this little gal's specialty. She's the boss lady on Bailey & James event and wedding days!
Claire - The shop's vintage lady! If it's old, beautiful and on trend this gal found it,and may have fought someone it in a heap of treasures for that special piece that now adorns your mantel. Claire and Amber have been friends for over ten years! They met in Student Government at Ferris State University, but their love for lists and vintage finds have kept them together ever since.
Erin - You know her, you love her, our shop manager! Erin joined the shop almost two years ago. She's been a BIG part of Bailey & James and we adore her. She's quickly become part of our family. XOXO
Ian - He's the brother from another mother, Bailey & James floral assist, and creator of H.C. Lather Co. (try some products in the shop)! He's also part of the 10 year Ferris Student Government nerd crew (hehe)!
Amber - Bailey & James Owner, "Vegas was a blast! We laughed, shopped, ate (a ton), cried from laughing, explored, worked, and had fun. I just want to give a BIG thank you to this amazing team. Without them this trip would not have been the success it was. I'm a lucky girl with friends and family that genuinely care about me, this dream, and our little shop. They walked and hunted thousands of showrooms at their own will and didn't give up until the job was done. I'm always so blown away by the people in my life. Without these people and countless others this shop wouldn't even exist. Love you guys xoxo. Viva Las Vegas!"
**Note: On these trips we spend about 8 hours daily scouring showrooms (Vegas had over 4,000 vendors present) for unique product to introduce at Bailey & James. These products are ordered with a designated ship date. So when we say we've bought product for the whole year, we aren't joking! You'll start to see new product in the shop every couple of weeks based on our ordering schedule. **
Sunday
We arrived at our hotel bright and early. Since it was too early to check in, we decided to explore our hotel and find breakfast. We ventured down the strip to the Cosmopolitan hotel. There we discovered The Henry which served AMAZING breakfast (we were so hungry we forgot to take pictures, sorry)!
After breakfast, it was time to start shopping...I mean buying....
We placed so many orders our first day in town. Here are some scenes, products, and showrooms that inspired.
Dinner was a past fave of Claire and Amber's. China Poblano, is a tapas style Chinese-Mexican fusion restaurant. It. Was. Delicious. Dumpling anyone?
Monday
As fun as this trip was, we never forgot we were there for work. Bailey & James was our soul focus from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. We busted our bums checking out new lines, placing orders, reviewing budgets, and sipping the occasional cocktail. After Market, we went to The Venetian for an Italian dinner at Otto Enoteca Pizzeria.
Tuesday
We rocked the market with our team and actually wrapped an ENTIRE day early! Our team of five was fierce! We celebrated by enjoying In-N-Out Burger. That night we ate the best Southern style comfort food of our life at Yardbird. So amazing we can't even begin to describe the experience. You HAVE to check it out for yourself.
We also had our night out on the town! We enjoyed Fremont street, crashed an open mic night, karaoke until our ears bleed, and danced....
Amber getting some lessons (from what we think was an expert instructor)! We had a blast, stayed out until the sun came up (in true Vegas fashion) and again laughed all night.
Wednesday
We had an unexpected free day. We all took this as an opportunity to rest easy before our flight the next morning. We brunched at Primrose. Primrose was located in our hotel with a beautiful french feel. It was truly a stunning atmosphere and delicious food.
We hung by the Mandalay Bay pool (Don't be jealous). Claire visited the sauna, Ian a massage, and the rest of us napped by the pool. For dinner we had one last hoorah of decadent food at Holsteins. Our server surprised us with "nitro meringues" at the end of our meal. Afterwards we visited The Bellagio to view their famous fountains.
Thursday
Our last day, up early for our flight, and to our surprise...flight delay of FOUR HOURS! So off to the airport to sit, chat, sleep, eat more and finally catch our flight home...
WOW what a trip! A whirlwind of the best kind. We had great company, bought lots of pretty things, ate yummy food, and laughed a ton. As fun as this trip was, we are so glad to be back in our happy place! It doesn't take much for us to miss this little shop and all the people that make it so special. Also a big thank you to our customers who supported and understood the need to close for a few days. Thanks for being patient! Until next time Vegas....
xoxo,
Team Bailey & James