If you follow us on Facebook and Twitter you’ll know that this week marks our favourite GraphicMail event of the year. Our 17 global GraphicMail teams have all congregated at our head quarters in Cape Town for one week – to brainstorm, catch up and plan how GraphicMail's new moves for 2011.
Amidst all the email marketing, sightseeing and socializing I managed to hunt a few of them down during one of their workshops to get some photos for you.
Michaela (above), who heads up GraphicMail Germany, says she loved watching each person’s presentation and learning from what GraphicMail’s other markets are doing. She was inspired by everyone’s efforts and varied strategies. She shared her most important lesson learnt this week: “Don’t underestimate the culture. What works for me doesn’t necessarily work for you, and vice versa.” We thought that was important too - that's why we prefer having teams in each country cater to everyone's unique needs.
Anne-Catherine (above), who represents GraphicMail France, agreed with Michaela. As one of our newer markets, it was the first time she’s joined in on an annual meetingand she found it inspiring to see what our other teams have achieved. When she’s not on the hunt for new French GraphicMail interns or translating our latest features, she runs around after her 3-year old daughter, India.
You might remember Rafael (or Rafa, as he's known to us) from his feedback on the World Mobile Congress. He's flies our Spanish flag from Barcelona. One of the things he enjoyed most over the past week was gathering all our international expertise around one table. He gets very excited when talking about all the new developments planned for 2011!
Guus (pictured above with Anne) was GraphicMail’s first European representative and heads up our presence in Belgium and the Netherlands. Anne runs the communications for this market, and accompanied Guus. They’re both very at home in Cape Town and actually met here. They've spent a considerable amount of time in the Mother City, making a point of coming at least one month a year. We hear Guus also enjoys a good braai - we think he was born in the wrong country.
Mark (GraphicMail UK) has just represented GraphicMail at the TFM&A (Technology For Marketing & Advertising) and will be heading to London for Internet World in May. He also made use of his time in Cape Town to go shark cage diving with the Great Whites in False Bay – a much needed distraction from a week of hard work!
Nicolo, GraphicMail Italy
Tomas, GraphicMail Slovakia
Other representatives present were GraphicMail Italy, GraphicMail Slovakia, GraphicMail Portugal and GraphicMail Mexico. (Unfortunately, our teams from from Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, and China couldn't make it.)
Highlight of the week? It was unanimous: Meeting up with all the other GraphicMailers face-to-face. Emails, chats and Skype conversations are all very convenient, but nothing beats catching up in person – especially when you can do it over a drink!
