THE MAO AND MORE STORY

The Mao and More empire was originally an odd compulsion in the mind of the Armchairman himself ­ a globetrotting entrepreneur, collector of curios and would-be table-tennis champion. ³I was gathering ideas and sensations from the four corners of the empire long before I put fountain pen to paper,² he declares with a twitch of his port-wine nose.

³I lived in China. For thirty years I journeyed extensively through India, Africa, and Melbourne ­ the countries most steeped in richness of texture, scent and colour.

"One day my travels through Melbourne landed me outside the Communist Bookshop ­ next door to the Krishna Temple. Two juxtaposed images clashed and collided.... And By George! I had my answer.²

³It would be a retail adventure both exotic and eclectic, eccentric and elegant! I would sell artifacts that stimulate the mind and arouse the senses. Curiosities from every corner of the globe! It would REVOLUTIONISE THE WORLD!²

³Starting with Surry Hills.²

The Armchairman is fascinated with the "arty" side of the cult of Chairman Mao. ³He was represented as the definitive people¹s hero ­ even Andy Warhol said so. He was really the ultimate Chairman, with one exception,² and here the Armchairman smiles modestly.

³Mao and More is, of course, about so much MORE than Mao. Today, you¹ll find me bartering with Arabs and bribing officials on the borders of Morocco ­ hunting down extraordinary items ­ each with a story to tell.²

The Armchairman believes in giving back to the communities that produce his goods. ³We merchants have to stick together, what?² he booms.

³And of course, noblesse oblige ­ it¹s our duty to look after the natives!!!²

³We must also, of course, acknowledge that the twenty first century beckons. So we have employed this arty-farty new fangled computery mob called
³Spring in Alaska² to weave us one of these spiderweb sites that are so in vogue right now.²