Bob's Blog Archive

May 5th, 2010

The back from Asia blog…

Last month I blogged that a picture is worth a thousand words.  I tried to capture the moment of each picture with some words.  I’m still into taking pictures of my work and putting them on the blog site.  But this month I’m going to use more words and fewer pictures.  And if this winds up on our Facebook site you won’t be able to see the pictures anyway.  So, after ten nights in Asia, away we go with this month’s blog.

BRONER HAT STORE IN SEOUL KOREA
Broner hats have always been popular in Japan.  Well, a Korean dancer named Jung was over there working and bought one of our hats.  He liked it so much that he did some research to see if the Broner brand was selling in Korea.  He called his friend, Taero, and had a good business idea.  Taero and Jung were going to sign a deal with us and bring the Broner brand to South Korea.  So now we have an exclusive licensee in Seoul and the Broner brand is growing.  We went shopping in the Myeong-Dong district in Seoul, the first time for me.  Wow, what a busy place.  We were there on a Thursday afternoon and I’d say the foot traffic was similar to Time Square, if you know what I mean.  And our hats were in some of the better shops.  But that’s not the best news.  Taero and Jung opened the first Broner Hat shop in the world.  It’s in another busy shopping area called Apgu-Jung.  If you like Broner hats and you find yourself in Seoul, you must go there.  It’s a boutique shop with only select items available.  But it is one of the most contemporary hat shops I have ever been in (I’m trying not to be biased by the brand).  Check out the pictures below.  We are just starting in South Korea but I know that Taero and Jung have big plans for Broner in South Korea.  And for me the American; what an enlightening day!  I say it every time I travel, “Travel is broadening.”

I LOVE KIMCHI
Maybe you don’t know what Kimchi is.  In Korea, kimchi is as popular as French Fries are in the USA.  It is served with almost every meal - even on the breakfast buffet at our hotel.  It is spicy cabbage.  The way I look at eating and diet, spicy and cabbage are A-OK. (I’m a low fat kind of eater.)  Put the two together and it is fantastic.  That’s all I have to say about kimchi; I love it!

HONG KONG IS MY FAVORITE
Without a doubt, Hong Kong is my favorite city in the world.  It is so international.  The whole world buys from China and Hong Kong is the major export business capital.  When I go there, literally, I meet people from every continent.  The Australians, Europeans, Africans, South Americans, Canadians and Americans all come together for one cause - we all want to buy stuff that we can sell in our countries for a profit.  Hong Kong is capitalism at its finest.  What I love best is at night this city rocks!  Think of all these worldly business folks, far from home, after the work day is over.  Lets have some fun is the theme.  Where we stay, on the Kowloon side, I can walk to 6 (that I know of) restaurants/bars with live entertainment 7 nights a week.  I’m not sure what else to say.  It’s like New York City on steroids.  I’ll put a picture of Hong Kong Harbor at night below.

BACK IN THE USA AND DONE TRAVELING FOR A WHILE
Here’s the patriotic part of this blog.  Yes travel is broadening and it is nice to meet people from all parts of the world with different cultures and points of view.  But the best part of all these trips is landing home, in the United States.  All the people we meet and do business with want the same things we do:  The ability to make a living, raise a family in peace, and basically enjoy the fruits of their labor.  In order to do that you need one central ingredient; freedom.  We take that for granted here and we are lucky to live in this society.  Freedom to get educated, work in industries we like, raise your family in your religion of choice, and I could go on.  It is not like that everywhere.  So when I meet people in restaurants, bars, or traveling in the airports and I’m asked where I’m from; I am proud to answer The United States of America.  It’s good to be home!       

Bob enjoying his kimchi

Broner Hat Store in Seoul

Taero and Jung

Hong Kong Harbor at night