35 Comments
User's avatar
samara's avatar

I think this might be the best political parties to date. I’m always trying to get my friend on the California restaurant board to take me to expo west as her plus one and this helped ease the blow of us not going because of scheduling.

Emily Sundberg's avatar

Cami has a gift for walking up to people and asking them questions that other people wouldn’t even know they could walk up to

Cami Fateh's avatar

THANK YOU!! Next year, apply for a press pass and come with me. I want to go back

samara's avatar

Putting it on my calendars now

tasbeeh herwees's avatar

the LA Material team is so impressive and I can’t wait to see what they do with their resources. it’s telling he didn’t name any LA media as inspo, except LA weekly “in their heyday” !

Emily Sundberg's avatar

Why do you think the LA Times is such a mess

tasbeeh herwees's avatar

too much of the old guard in power, refusal to modernize, and a too-involved owner. the things new blood is doing at the Times like the 404 or Image Mag, are really great but the first people to get laid off are usually the people behind those efforts.

tragedyplum's avatar

This made me so glad the company I work for skipped all trade shows this year. Great recap that captures the delirium and high of a trade show. The first time is fun, the many after are hell. A piece of my soul is stuck in the vents of the Javitz center, another in the hell that is Anaheim. I’m not sure I can get either piece back. Last year I did share a Lyft with a kooky woman from the Anaheim station to the show, who told me she dated Neil Gaiman, worked for Cher and Madonna, knew Michael Jackson, Reagan, and so on. I loved listening to her lies… There’s a very specific type of crazy in LA that I really miss. I forget why she was on her way to the show. I think she “developed products”, yet when I asked what those were she came up short.

I do miss building the booth though…

Jes's avatar

Doing the lord’s work with that BLT

Emily Sundberg's avatar

I’m always looking out for the people

Shannon Ratliff's avatar

my father-in-law from oklahoma brought out his beef tallow when he was visiting recently so you know it’s big

Olivia Hawkins's avatar

I actually love the Lucky's in Soho I had an amazing experience there. But there are only like 8 tables total so I may regret saying this in public

Emily Sundberg's avatar

What did you get there

Olivia Hawkins's avatar

Went for my mom’s birthday so we balled out. Tableside martini service and a MOUNTAIN of fries on a platter were most memorable. I really liked the steak

Emily Sundberg's avatar

Ok I would definitely go. It feels quiet or slept on

Catherine Smart's avatar

I love Cami’s writing, and also this needs a trigger warning for ex-CPG founders. I was hit with a wave of nausea at the Sprout’s buyer mention.

Emily Sundberg's avatar

Wishing you a healing post-read evening

Rebecca's avatar

these later sends are nice for my train commute 😌

Emily Sundberg's avatar

Where ya going

Rebecca's avatar

philly❤️

Emily Sundberg's avatar

Safe trip!! It’s good to know there’s a benefit to any hour I send this thing

S.P.A.'s avatar

flying in tomorrow!

Rebecca's avatar

Oooo lmk if you need recs!

S.P.A.'s avatar

Would love any and all!

Snaxshot's avatar

Thanks for coming Cami! It was fun seeing you two days in the row, I can't believe we've been doing the "anti expo" parties for 5 years now, we've had brands debut at our event that are now doing millions a month and distributed nationwide, I'm a believer in the power of equalizing the dynamics in CPG, particularly grocery that's already such a tough space to compete in. I would also love to note we did protein espresso martinis at our party, before the Buffalo Wild Wing one.

Emily Sundberg's avatar

You are truly one of a kind. So happy you and Snaxshot exist.

Tatayana's avatar

Been wondering where Cami was.. Always love a West Coast Edition.

David Roberts's avatar

Great report Cami. You have a great deal of endurance! I especially liked how at the end you captured the dreams of every start-up founder.

Emily, the LA newsletter guy ducked your why Beehive question!

rb's avatar

Absolute treat of a letter today- enjoy La Jolla, love it there!

Emily Sundberg's avatar

Thank you!!! It’s fun to work on these West Coast editions

S.P.A.'s avatar

1) can't wait to hit expo west next year. my friend pitched the Taco Bell eyepatches and was sending me an insane scene report however Cami's is even more unhinged (complementary) 2) on my way to pitch LA material 3) sad I missed you in SD bc Wayfarer is everything

Sumeet Shah's avatar

One of the best Expo recaps out there. BRAVO CAMI

MRAC's avatar

SO jealous of Cami’s trip to Expo West! I can’t help but cringe at the sheer amount of waste that is generated by all the chasing-the-hype, disposable brands that don’t make it. Like, just because you *can* doesn’t mean you *should*.