Competitive, much?

I always knew the 3PL industry was competitive, but I had first hand experience of just how cutthroat it can get at a press conference this week.

One of the major 3PLs held a good press conference this week and after the presentation and q&a I decided to approach the company's head honcho with a couple of questions, notebook open and pen poised.

It was only when he exclaimed and called over his head of marketing that I realised something was amiss. I was at their company event, but writing in my notebook from another 3PL, with a pen from a third major player in the logistics market.

Whoops.

It was a bigger hooha than I had originally expected. The executive made sure the marketing department sent over a new company-branded notebook saying "this simply will not do!". I think he was more than just a little appalled.

I really wasn't out to offend anyone, and my attempts at telling them I still have the media gift they sent two years ago fell on deaf years after my little faux pas.

But if I may just defend myself for a minute, I guess they really don't call us starving writers for nothing. When we need notebooks, pens or recorders (just a few journalism essentials), we'll grab the first thing available. Of course there are certain notebooks or pens or post-its that we like from one company over another, but when push comes to shove and you're running out to nail that story, most of us will grab the nearest free essential we can lay our hands on.

On the flip side, it just goes to show exactly how loyal these executives are to their brands, and that's always really nice to see. Competition is healthy anyway, right?

Ps/ Unlined notebooks are the best. I'm not saying anything, but you know. Just FYI.