Our very first sales incentive trip in 1986 was a cruise from Miami to the Mexican Riviera. I worked on the program along with Marla’s mom and dad at Wesco Fabrics. Marla and I had decided we did not want to go as we really don’t enjoy cruises but after Harry passed away unexpectedly Joline insisted we go to represent the company.

***Click on colored highlighted words for videos and websites below.

Marla is shown standing next to her mom on the boat with some of our guests. A 100 person group consisted of our qualifying clients, some personal friends of Joline as well as her hair stylist. It was not a total nightmare but we did have lots of drama. I had to loan a guest money after they lost their shirt in the casino. We had a drug overdose. There was a rumor the ship’s doctor may have been a veterinarian! Joline liked a bargain and that was what she got with this cruise!

In 1989 we hosted a trip to Hawaii for our top accounts who sold Levolor products. I even convinced my then Hawaiian sister-in-law to make our group her special and potent Mai Tais at a cocktail party.

Years later Marla and I realized that one of our big competitors, RM Coco, was gaining market share by offering sales incentive trips. Hunter Douglas was doing the same. I suggested we offer a trip but make it much more unique. Marla, always a teacher at heart (she has her masters in education) said “OK” but only if there is a large educational component so there always was. We came up with a special 2004 trip (postponed from 2003 because of the U.S. invasion of Iraq) to Paris and to an 11th century Chateau la Flocelliere in the French Vendee region.

As a postscript to this story of incentive travel, The original owners of RM Coco lost the company in a reported $10,000,000 bankruptcy. Ironically, the new ownership group who purchased RM Coco ended up buying Wesco Fabrics in 2017!

The chateau’s owners, the Viscount and Viscountess Vignial, organized a special medieval evening complete with period costumes and dinner menu. We were escorted from our rooms to the dinner by candlelight.

The chateau staff ceremoniously bring in the dessert while the Viscount Vignial holds court. This was one of my favorite all time travel memories.

From there the six of us were driven to Paris with stops at 2 beautiful chateaus along the Loire River. We persuaded our friend, Jean-Francois Sainz-Clouet, to drive 2 hours to Paris to join us and provide a special Champagne presentation for our group. We regaled with stories and countless bottles of his family’s supremely delicious, Andre Clouet Champagne. Jean-Francois is now mayor of Bouzy, France, and heads the company. As a designer from Denver, Ed Parent knew Jean Francois’ sister, Alex, during the year she lived with us and worked at our showroom at the Denver Design Center.

We were already traveling to Thailand to buy furniture and accessories for our company so we decided this would be perfect for our first Southeast Asian exotic trip program for 2004. The qualifiers learned about Buddhism ( the prevalent religion in Thailand) and Thai culture. From Bangkok, went to Phuket Island. The photo above is on Khao Phing Kan or commonly called (click on video link) …“James Bond Island.”

On our final night’s dinner in Bangkok we gave our guests hand-woven silk scarves.

The magical island of Bali was our destination in 2005. We are in front of one our our favorite places, La Lucciola , lovingly called “La Looch”by locals. I did my best to educate our group about religion (Bali Hindu with elements of animism and Buddhism) and culture on the island. Bali is without question one of the most spiritual places I have ever experienced. Before our clients arrived from the U.S. Marla and I filled a container with furniture and accessories.

Lynne Bier, a designer from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, chats with the group.

Our first hotel was the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel in the “Palace Club” for relaxation and an introduction to Bali. Marla and Ed are enjoying breakfast at our second hotel, The Royal Pita Maha, then new and gorgeous, in Kedewatan near Ubud in the Bali Highlands.

Marla and I took clients to Bangkok and Chiang Mai in 2006. Marla is with our guide at the incredible Grand Palace.

We were very fortunate to tour one of our modern fabric mills, Satin Textiles, outside of Bangkok.

A vintage rice barge cruise on Bangkok’s Chaoa Phraya river on the unique Manohra took us back to the past. Mark Nash, in black shirt, owner of Builder’s Design in Gaithersburg, Maryland went on a number of our trips. Bob Cotton, lower right, carried our line in New England and had his own interior design firm as well.

Dixie and Bob Niichel on an elephant north of Chiang Mai. Elephant camps now offer elephant bathing experiences instead of riding.

We took our guests on a bamboo ride down a river north of Chiang Mai.

Back to Bali with a large group in 2007. Marla and I had our hands full coordinating all the transportation, meals, and activities. We had quests who were often schedule adverse at times. It was a really fun trip!

Marla leads some of the group outside the famous, Goa Gajah or “Elephant Cave”. (in the background on the right)

We booked an air conditioned room for our group at La Lucciola on Petitenget Beach. The dinner was amazing!

Decorative textiles always have been my main endeavor at Wesco Fabrics so you can see why I have always been drawn to the exotic fashion of Bali’s own, Paul Ropp. I took some of our group to experience one of his boutiques.

The French Riviera was our destination for our 2008 trip. We are in front of our fantastic hotel in Cannes, the Majestic Barriere.

Our group was so large we split up into two different restaurants on the lovely Rue Saint-Antoine in Cannes. Marla looks radiant at her table.

Everything was going along swimmingly at dinner one night until….a group of Brazilian gymnasts came by our table. Obviously all hell broke loose! The girl on the left was a former model in Moscow. She disappeared with some Italian guys for a few days who were in Cannes for the famous boat show. I really should have insisted all of our guest wear ankle bracelets so we could keep track of everyone!

Never a dull moment in Cannes!

A dinner with our clients on Rue Saint-Antoine.

In 2009 we returned with a group of 15 to fabulous Bangkok followed by a different island, Koh Samui.

Dinner and a Thai dance performance at the Sala Rim Naan. Katrina Brossia on the left and Bonnie Buccola came on a number of our trip adventures around the world.

From Bangkok we flew to the tropical island of Koh Samui. We stayed at the beautiful Anantara Resort in Bophut. Russ Buccola and I are enjoying the pool and the view.

I hired a wonderful classic sailing yacht for a sunset cruise. We were transported by motor launches to the yacht for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and exploration of the area. A highlight was “Big Buddha“ glistening in the rays of sunset.

2010 was our last Wesco Fabrics’ group trip to Bali. We are having Balinese food at the Raja Restaurant at the Nusa Dua Beach Resort.

We all enjoyed a sunset dinner at the beautiful Breeze Restaurant at the Samaya Resort in Seminyak. Earlier, we took the group for lunch to one of our favorites in Seminyak, Ku De Ta, with its very cool vibe day and night!

Marla and I pose with Roger Bailey and Bonnie Buccola at the beautiful Royal Pita Maha Resort.

Marla and I have always enjoyed taking our guests on a hike on the Ridge Trail in Ubud. It has become a little more developed than when we first discovered it over 20 years ago but it still is very fun!

In 2011 we took our clients to magical Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Our guests had arrived from the States that morning and even after a big tour of Pompeii they were energized for dinner at “Lo Guranchinno” near Fornillo Beach in Positano, Italy. We stayed at the beautiful Hotel Buca di Bacco.

Everyone loved La Tagliata up in the hills above Positano.

Dixie and Bob on their way to the jet ferry for the island of Capri.

The island of Capri is famous for many reasons… most importantly….it’s drop-dead gorgeous! I made lunch and beach (actually very chic rocks) reservations at the famous and trendy, La Fontelina Beach Club. Click on this video to see why I love it so much!

We also offered a secondary level sales incentive trip to San Francisco and Yountville in 2011. Janine in white, a designer from Vail, went with us on one of our Bali trips and joined us again here. Stellar Wesco Fabrics sales pro, Steve Beard, and wife Glynda, and Lisa (our daughter) and Ray Decker (also a sales pro for us) were on board as well. We visited the beautiful Castello di Amarosa near Calistoga for a VIP wine tasting.

We picked up sandwiches in Sausalito and went to one of our favorite places, Muir Beach Overlook.

We did our best to provide transformative travel adventures for our top clients over the years. It was a learning experience for them and definitely for us. We made new friends and reconnected with old ones. We cherish the memories.

Next week I’ll take you on a journey on our pursuit buying decorative textiles from around the world.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.