It’s fair to say that most of us dread the unknown number ringing our office phones. Especially when it’s an international dial code. More often than not, it’s a robot voice telling you about a car accident you never had or some other equally absurd scam. So, when the phone rang at Interlace with an unfamiliar international number, the usual eye-roll and “ready-to-hang-up” posture was adopted. But, boy, were we wrong! On the other end of the line was a charming lady from Gisou, the prestigious hair care brand, calling all the way from their Amsterdam headquarters. How amazing was that?
It turns out Gisou were on the cusp of launching a one-week pop-up event in London’s Covent Garden. And, in a classic example of last-minute supplier woes, they had thousands of delicious doughnuts ready to go, but absolutely nothing to put them in! Without so much as a blink, and with a slightly bewildered “what just happened?” feeling, Interlace said a resounding “YES!”.
The next few hours were a whirlwind. Gisou sent over their brand assets, and we got to work, crafting artwork and cutter guides faster than you can say “honey-infused hair oil.” We quickly produced a prototype, hopped on the underground, and headed into Central London for a quick fit check. Oops! The prototype was too big. Back on the tube, back to the drawing board, and prototype number two was born. Another mad dash to the client, and at around 8pm on a Tuesday evening, we got the all-important sign-off. Not bad, considering Gisou’s VIP event was kicking off at 5pm the very next day!
This is where the Interlace team truly showed their mettle. Sleeves were rolled up, the press was inked, and the printing process began. Simultaneously, the die-cutting tool was being crafted. Once the printing was complete, the die cutting machine was put to work shaping the tubs, followed by the gluing process to finally create the finished product. The first 400 units were packaged up and loaded into a van, ready for their Covent Garden debut.
But, just as we thought the chaos was behind us, our driver called in a panic. He was trapped in the notorious London traffic, and it was clear the delivery wouldn’t reach the event on time. Never ones to be defeated, the Interlace team jumped back on the tube and rendezvoused with the van. We took those precious doughnut boxes and made a mad dash, on foot, through the bustling Covent Garden crowds. We finally reached the venue with just ten minutes to spare. Phew!
While all of this was happening, back in the factory the other 2100 were still being produced to be available on Thursday morning.
It was a nail-biting, high-octane, doughnut-fuelled adventure. But it was also a perfect example of the Interlace team’s ability to think on their feet, work under pressure, and always deliver. And who knew a random international call could lead to such an exciting rescue mission? We certainly won’t be so hasty to hang up next time!
