If a cliché-ridden Valentine’s Day, with all its associated hearts and flowers, isn’t for you, get thee down to Camden Market. There you can find an “alternative floral pop-up activation”, the Dark Romance Pop Up Florist, which offers individually hand-dipped black roses by the stem, or bouquets on request – ideal for “unorthodox romantics”, according to the market’s owner, LabTech. And if the whole notion is entirely not your bag, you can also find Chin Chin Labs’ “Heartbreaker Cakes”, iced with slogans such as “better alone”. According to Maggie Milosavljevic, LabTech’s commercial director, “Camden is offering a truly unique interpretation on traditional Valentine’s Day celebrations for tourists and Londoners alike.” We love it.
A little more conversation
Heading to Mipim next month, but nervous about how to win friends and influence people? We’re here to help, passing on useful tips from an article by “growth platform” HubSpot that should transform your networking game: “129 conversation starters for virtually any situation.” As long, it seems, as that situation is a conference, as suggested gambits include: “Do you go to a lot of conferences?”; “What conference – real or imaginary – would you absolutely hate to miss?”; “Do you think [industry] needs more conferences? Less?”; “If you had to sum up this event in three words, which would they be?”; and “If you were giving a presentation, what would the topic be?” But it’s not all shop talk, oh no. Try: “Great [shoes/haircut/shirt!] Where’d you get it?”; “You look like you could be in [random occupation]. Am I anywhere close.”; “If you were in charge of the playlist, which song would you play next?”; “Games at parties: Yay or nay?” or “Do you listen to any podcasts?” Things could take a melancholy turn with: “Did you fulfil your childhood dream?” But at least you can replenish your stocks for the next shindig by asking: “Do you have a go-to conversation starter for these types of events?” Though it would be embarrassing if they have read this too, and answer: “That one.”
Toilet bowled over
Diary’s office toilets are perfectly fine. A-OK. They get the job done. We didn’t yearn for anything more – until, this week, an email dropped in our inbox: “The perfect toilet.” Manufacturer Toto promises “maximum hygiene, sophisticated technology and elegant design… turning even the simple toilet into something special”. Not modest in its product naming, Toto highlights its two new models, the Round Perfection and the Pendant Square Perfection: “On these slim, elegant models, the seat and ceramic appear to blend into one cohesive unit – effective, thorough and especially hygienic.” They sound amazing. So, thanks Toto. Not only will every bathroom trip now be a disappointment, but we also can’t get “Bless the rains down in Africa” out of our head.
All about that basement
Is the bottom falling out of the basement market? Will specialist developers be going under? Boodle Hatfield dug deep into the data and found that the number of approved applications in Westminster – a “hotspot for luxury conversions” where so-called “mega-basements” have been popular with the super-wealthy in recent years – dropped by 27% last year. The council said yes to 136 in 2018, but only 99 in 2019. Boodle Hatfield posits that high net worth individuals have been “put off from converting basements by negative publicity surrounding them in recent years”, including coverage of artist Damien Hirst’s four-year row over plans to extend the basement in his Grade I listed home, and a five-year battle between Robbie Williams and neighbour Jimmy Page. All of which must sound most unappealing to “wealthy families who would prefer to keep a low profile.” But where will HNWs site their walk-in humidors, gun stores, waterfall swimming pools, banqueting halls, Turkish baths and ballrooms (all apparently included in recent London basement developments)?
Price is right for sleepout
After the first LandAid sleepout went down a storm two years ago – literally, the Beast from the East drove up donations as supporters clearly enjoyed seeing colleagues suffer – the event is back and bigger and better than ever. London on 27 February will follow sleepouts in Bristol and Birmingham, where some 250 property professionals have already braved the concrete for one night, raising funds to provide accommodation for young homeless people in each local region. More than 300 of London’s finest will come together, at the Oval no less – and there is an extra incentive to support this one. Alex Price, chief executive of Fiera Real Estate, is not only flying back from New York just to take part, but has promised to deliver his sponsor’s speech in fancy dress if Fiera reaches its fundraising target – surely guaranteeing success. Support the event at www.landaid.com
EG unplugged
One particular EG reporter was having an internet detox this week, taking part in WiredScore’s Unplugged 2020 challenge. While trying to navigate her way to a meeting via the A-Z, she found that a much easier way of finding her bearings was to ask which pub was nearest the office. She only made it there three minutes late, A-Z binned. Cheers!
