Day 13 – Loreal Visit - OMG I stuffed up!!

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We arrived at Paris at 8:20am! after an uneventful night, I think everyone was glad to get off the train and couldn't wait to get to the hotel to get changed! Our hotel, Opera Cadet is a very nice small little hotel, with a nice dining and lounge coupled with quality furnishing. Thanks to Carla and Sandra we were all able to freshen and get changed for the visit to L'Oreal at 11:30.

It was definitely a long day at L'Oreal although it was extremely interesting and insightful!! We were initially pampered with fine food and Wine upon our arrival. Although I could not taste anything, the look of the food was satisfying enough to make me want to eat more! We were very fortunate to receive presentations from four high-level members of L'Oreal human resources and marketing teams.

Minh Tran Kim, the Marketing Manager of Garnier for the Asia-Pacific region was my favourite amongst all the speakers. He spoke about how’s his involvement with Garnier's development and launch of a new two-in-one shampoo and hair oil product in the Indian market. It was very interesting to know how he did his research and that enabled him in identifying potential gaps in the market as well the steps involved in developing and then marketing the new product.

They say there’s always a clown that spoils a perfect ending.... Well that’s me! I mis-presented my wine to the wrong person... This would have to be one of my top 10 embarrassing moments of my life! I don’t know what I was thinking but I guess I should have looked up instead of concentrating on how to get up the stage! Instead of giving the wine to Stéphanie Daudier - General Manager Lancôme-Biotherm-Kiehl's, I gave it to the MC. Looking back I did think both of them looked kind of similar despite of their hair colour?? .. I'm sure everyone got a good laugh.. but oh boy... I hope that didn’t ruin my foot into the door ☹!!!!

After the company visit, we had a nice affordable dinner at a renowned restaurant nearby the hotel. A group of us had snail and lamp chops! Courtenay and I were a little disappointed at our lamp chops as it was all bones than meat but we had fun making okes about it! We concluded the night by going to the effel tower.. and taking some pretty amazing shots with a lot of people!

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