24 Hours in San Francisco, a whirlwind trip!

This past Wednesday, I had the great pleasure of attending the annual Google National Sales Conference held in San Francisco at the Hilton Hotel.  My former CEO, Susan Lyne and I were the Google Guests of Honor.  The theme of this year’s conference was ‘The Edge.’  Google considers my company as being a ‘leading edge’ organization, a world-class brand, and a valuable partner.  Also in attendance were approximately 1500 of Google’s best and brightest sales force.  The grand ballroom was filled with high energy and it was a really fun experience.  Of course, we managed to squeeze in a little shopping and a little fine nibbling before returning home.   

Here I am at Macy's! We had a bit of time to explore the wonderful Union Square Macy's store where the Martha Stewart Collection was displayed so wonderfully and beautifully. Here I am with some of the MSC soaps and kitchen items.

The Fourth of July items looked great - the merchandising was so clever and well-presented. The cupcake papers and the red, white, and blue party goods are must-haves!

It's so much fun to meet with Macy's staff and executives. This is Kia Panah, Laura Herbert, me, Elizabeth Canady - she heads our ad sales team on the west coast - and Susan Berlesman.

I have never, ever seen a prettier weddings registry department. This is Susan Berlesman, Karen Birch, Joan Schweizer - a 20 year veteran, me, and Sigrid Sanborn. For some tips for brides on their registries please visit the  Brides Guide

The way brides can register and choose items is very cleverly designed and executed.

more of the registry department

This is a display of our beautiful transfer-ware patterned china.

One can walk around the store, choose an item, and scan it right into the store's registry.

our beautiful wedgwood

Lily of the Valley is one of my favorites.

Because my impromtu store visit coincided with the monthly president's 'shop talk' taping, I was asked to sit in for an interview.

Susan Berlesman - SVP of Bridal & Gift registry, me, and vice chairman of Macy's West - Rudy Borneo - a 43 year veteran.

After the interview, we visited Boulettes Larder for lunch.  Located in the ferry terminal, this is a wonderful place to shop for ingredients as well as to dine - what delicious food!

mint infused chicken salad

a wonderful cheese plate

mixed fresh greens with herb flowers

lentils with grilled sardines and vegetables

A really scrumptious lemon merigue tart!

My favorite tiny shop for creative things in San Francisco is Bell'occhio. 

the exterior of Bell'occhio

These are spools of fabulous antique ribbons.

The workshop at the store - this is where special orders, shipping, and party design happens.

Here I am posing with Claudia, the shop's owner and creative force.

Another must-stop-by is Zuni Cafe, where we had delicious cappuccino.

This is Gilbert Pilgram - the co-owner along with Judy Rogers.  He was very helpful with all sorts of suggestions for other places to visit in San Francisco.


the pristine kitchens at Zuni

On stage at the Google Sales Conference - this is my assistant Liesl with Debbie Olson, who provided the beautiful and delicious cherries from Sunnyvale for my demo. 

This is an assortment of old and new cherry pitting tools.

And, of course, 1-800 FLOWERS provided Martha Stewart flower arrangements for all the tables - 150 of them!

Debbie Olson and me - the Olson family has been growing cherries since 1899.

Susan Lyne and I were interviewed by Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google.

The stage was beautifully designed by Google using all things Martha!

After the interview, I showed the audience and Tim Armstrong, Google's chief marketing officer, how to make cherry mojitos.

Two surprise 'helpers' showed up - the brilliant engineers and co-founders of Google (which, by the way, means 10 to the 100th power) - Larry Page and Sergey Brin - they were so helpful!

Sergey and me - he and his partner Larry created the world's largest search engine when still students in college - I thought he would be the best cherry pitter.

He showed some interest in the various pitters.

He was not too interested in the Imperia vodka - only in the fact that Russian words were on the bottle.  Sergey, by the way, has plans to travel into outer space aboard a Russian spacecraft, like my friend, Charles Simonyi.

Larry was the lime squeezer.  He had never once used a hand squeezer or a reamer!

All three guys loved the final mojitos - thank heavens!  The audience was also served the same drink.

our toast to a successful demo

There was a raffle of Martha Stewart Collection items - the lucky winner was beaming!

The raffle - notice Sergey drinking his mojito - he really liked the flavor.

Comments

[mod*mom]

i really enjoyed your trip to my neighborhood--vicariously. what a wonderful story you tell with pictures. you're my hero martha!
i grew up shopping at macy's union square (visiting their christmas decorations, santa + window displays is a tradition too). i LOVE your collection + 4th of july displays + your china is gorgeous! i've got to go + see it in person right away + try those restaurants :) i live in sunnyvale now near google, + my daughter attends nursery school at stanford university where the founders of google went to college, so your post is especially interesting to me.

[MMC from San Diego]

. . .whirlwind, indeed! San Francisco is always a charming city to visit.

[Mary Smith]

Mmmm... the food dishes look divine!

[Pru]

It looks like you had great fun. Am hoping that you will be blogging all about your time in London.

Pru

[liisamarja]

a petition to you martha, with a pretty please:

you absolutely need to find an european partner to sell your merchandise over here as well. there is only so much one can haul back home after a trip to the US...

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for a glimpse behind the scenes at the Google National Sales Conference you attended in San Francisco. With products like those in your Macy's line, no wonder your company is seen as one on the leading edge. The Fourth of July items would create a wonderful holiday celebration, and all of your china is beautiful. The shopping and nibbling sound tempting!
I'd like to browse in Bell'occhio to see what I could find, and a cappuccino at Zuni Cafe does sound good in between the shopping.
I can just taste the chicken salad, cheese plate, mixed fresh greens with herb flowers, and lentils with grilled sardines and vegetables---and that lemon meringue tart does look scrumptious!
Kathy

[Cass]

The photo of the antique ribbons is really fantastic - great shot.

I have to say that I LOVE the display area in the Macy's with your products and I have a recommendation - show us how to display things in our homes, in our cabinets so that every time we open them we have that same intake of breath feeling as you get in the store.

[Amy]

Wow! You were not kidding about it being a whirlwind trip. Thanks for sharing all the pictures - I just loved them.

No wonder the raffle winner was beaming - what a great gift basket!

Thanks for sharing the details of your trip. It is really fun to get a taste of all you do in a single 24-hour period.

[Jaimee]

Please share your recipe for the cherry mojito! Yum!

[Sarah]

"Google considers my company as being a ‘leading edge’ organization, a world-class brand, and a valuable partner."

As well as millions of other people! I love your products and look forward to your magazine every month. I can't wait to register at Macy's too.

Several months ago I had the pleasure of hearing Gael Towey speak at Boston University. Hearing a fellow alumna's perspective on the creative process at Martha Stewart was AMAZING!

Thank you for all of your blog posts and inspiration.

Sarah
http://sarahheartsdesign.blogspot.com/

[Tina in Boston]

Hi Martha,

San Francisco is so much fun. You've tried some places that are new to me. You look so chic in your wedgies at the Google Sales Conference!

You really have expanded your products. We gave a spice rack of yours as a housewarming gift a couple of months ago. Perfect!

I use my 1/2, 1/4/, and 1/8 cup measuring spoons all the time. They are perfect for scooping out flour and pouring molasses. My all time favorite is the over the door hanger I use to hang up clothes as I iron. It holds about 10 shirts. It's perfect and reminds me of one my mother had years ago.

You'll have to look me up when you're in Boston. I will show you cafes and boutiques that you'll love!

[Nancy Gomez]

Okay, I love your products!! I especial love your Martha Everyday pans!! I have a small complaint! Please tell whoever is in charge of putting the stickers on those nonstick pans, not to put them on the inside of the pan! I've been socking it for 2 days, and that sticker is still there. I'm afraid that if I scrub it with something hard, I will ruin it!! Beside that I know that you want us housewife to have a pleasent experiance with your products!! Thanks for hearing me out! Sincerly Mrs. Gomez

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thank you so much for taking us along on your whirlwind trip to San Francisco. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous. It looks like you and everyone around you was having a delightful time. The photos of the food are absolutely scrumptious looking and the demonstration with the Google co-founders looks like so much fun. Thank you so much for sharing. Jan

[Faith]

What a busy whirl-wind day. How do you do it Martha?

[Beverly Bankston]

After looking at pictures of your
mom on computer last night just knew I had to write to you. My
mother is 95, lives across the street from me. She loves you
and always has. Sometimes I get
weary tending to her, she lives
across the street from me and I
stay there most of the day, all
days. Anyway, am so grateful
that I still have her.

You are loved,

Beverly

[Brett]

Look at that first photo of you at Bell'occhio, where you are sideways, looking at some cards or somesuch.

You are such a beautiful woman. To top everything else off, you are incredible-looking and seem to look better with age. You look better than you did 10 years ago.

(I'm gay. Not a stalker)

[Gabrielle]

Hello Martha,
I'm missing you on live TV, everyday the kids want to watch their Martha. Any ways, your are looking very beautiful and healthy. Whatever you are doing is work for you!

[Pam from California]

Martha
I always know when you have visited California, the past few weeks we have had little earthquakes and you have been here twice in and out with quick trips! You always shake us up with all your energy lol!

I am planning to visit Macy's Monterey in July, I hope the store is as big as the one in SF. Loaded with lots of MS items - better be!

Thanks for taking my call today on Ask Martha Sirius 112, can't wait to hear you on your next special At Martha's Table on Monday June 16th with Emeril Lagasse , I am glad you are hosting these but one hour just isn't enough please make them 90 minutes or two hours there is so much to cover they are so interesting the time passes by so quickly.

The pix of this trip logs a lot of stops you are super woman to me~

Enjoy your weekend.
Pam from California

[teresa betancourt]

Dear Ms. Stewart:

I love you so much! You are my mentor. In May of this year, I went to my local Macy's to purchase your French rolling pin that I have been searching for. Next, thing that occurred was a dream come true! Macy's announced that the mall was on lock down and that no one would be allowed to leave the store or the mall. There was a burglary at the mall involving a shoot out. Most people were very alarmed; but, I felt as if I gone to heaven! I was locked up with all of Martha Stewart's products and no way out. Of course, I had a ball and bought everything! No one was hurt because of this event, luckily. See, you make everything so much better, even an armed burglary!

[Matthew]

I love the pitters fixed over canning jars! I have never seen those before.

[Maureen]

Wow, what lovely dishes in your new collection.

I have a couple of your sets from SEARS (where they are sold here in Canada) and they are great, but maybe it's time to invest in your new ones. The Wedgewood ones are so pretty, especially the green bordered ones.

[Bipolar Christy]

Hi, Martha! I just wanted to compliment you on that lovely Gucci-looking blouse you are wearing... I've seen you wearing it once before on a Sirius ad, and I had to tell you how great you look in prints. Ever considered wearing more of them?

[Virginia]

So glad to hear you had a good time in my hometown (and where I'm fortunate enough to still live!). We are lucky to have such a bountiful place-- food, wine, creativity, design --west coast life at its best.
Come and do a week of your show here!

[Katrina]

Thanks for speaking at Google's national sales conference! I was in the audience and I must say I have seldom heard the leader of an organization speak so honestly. You, and your brand, are truly inspirational. I think you reminded us all of the importance of staying loyal to our customers through and through.

Additionally, I can't wait to make your cherry mojito recipe at home. I think all of us at Google will be talking about the cherry mojito demonstration with Larry and Sergey for many sales conferences to come! Thanks again!

[Christina]

Hi Martha,
I work at Google and I have to say it was a pleasure to hear about how you with Susan at the helm, managed to make your company even stronger, despite what was happening in your personal life.

I will say though, it was even more pleasurable to see you take Larry and Sergey out of their natural element and heckle them (typically they are the hecklers). I've never seen them in a situation where they didn't know what to do!

Thanks for entertaining us with your wit! You're the best!