🌞 I’m back from Jeddah! Just had to share this amazing trip with you all.
From the moment I landed, the city’s amazing "mix-and-match" vibe totally won me over. On one side, you have the ancient coral stone buildings in the old town, glowing like they’re dipped in honey at sunset. On the other, futuristic skyscrapers shoot up along the corniche. That beautiful clash of old and new somehow fit perfectly with the "smart-tech" products we brought along!
But what really touched my heart was the incredible warmth from the local folks. Our booth felt like a bustling marketplace every single day. There was this one lovely gentleman in a white thobe who came by for three days in a row, each time bringing new friends. He’d say in his charming Arabic-accented English, "You have to see this magic!"
Let me show off some of our star products that stole the show:
• The "Lotus Effect" Carpet: When I poured tea on it during a demo and everyone watched the droplets roll right off like little pearls, the crowd went, "Masha Allah!". One hilarious hotel owner even joked, "With three kids at home, this carpet could mean I need one less cleaner!"
• "Super-Waterproof" Stone & Wood: I always joke during demos: "This is the only technology that teaches wood and stone how to ‘swim’." Seeing water beads dancing on the surface without sinking in made the local designers’ eyes light up – I mean, who wouldn’t want materials for their seaside villas that can stand up to the salty air?
• The "Built-in A/C" Coating: This one was the absolute showstopper! I took clients to our coated demo room at noon, and the moment we opened the door, everyone gasped: "It’s so much cooler in here!" Thinking back, in Jeddah’s 38°C heat, a coating that can drop surface temps by 15°C instantly? No wonder it was a hit!
After packing up each day, our local partners would take us exploring through the alleys of the old town. Sipping Arabic coffee and munching on dates while hearing them brainstorm real-life applications for our products – those genuine chats felt more valuable than any formal business meeting.
When it was time to head home, my suitcase was stuffed with an Arabic coffee pot and boxes of date sweets from clients, and my heart was full. It reminded me of what one elder gentleman said: "What you’ve brought us isn’t just products, but possibilities for a better life."
I’m definitely coming back to Jeddah! Not just for the Red Sea’s turquoise waves, or the world’s tallest fountain, but for these wonderful people, and those warm conversations at our booth that lasted right until sunset.
✨ P.S. I’ve already received so many invitations for afternoon tea next time – looks like I’ll need to plan a much longer trip!
