About watch retailers

Retail

THE WATCH FILES

Retail

Founded as a trade magazine, Europa Star has always remained close to watch retailers on the ground. This selection of articles focuses on the “arteries” of the watch business all over the world.

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The case against flagship stores

The case against flagship stores

OPINION

Of course, Apple is very successful at running their own stores. However this does not mean that every other brand, even a close competitor like Samsung, (...)

Pure Play or Pure Pain?

Pure Play or Pure Pain?

THE MYTHS OF COMMERCE (PART 2/5)

In part 1 of my essay, I might have had you believe that I do not like e-commerce!? Just to be clear…Everybody who has something for sale should consider an (...)

The end of the “regular” retailer

The end of the “regular” retailer

12 DISRUPTIONS IN THE WATCHMAKING INDUSTRY

Bucherer’s acquisition of Tourneau is the latest sign to date of a consolidation in distribution, a move towards becoming more powerful in negotiations with (...)

From retail to e-tail

From retail to e-tail

WATCHWORDS

The English word “retail” has come a long way from its first recorded use, sometime in the 14th century. It comes from the Old French verb retaillier which (...)

Les Ambassadeurs: the “doors” concept

Les Ambassadeurs: the “doors” concept

RETAIL

“From the beginning we had a very clear strategy and positioning as a multibrand retailer."

“The enemy we have to beat is the online grey market”

“The enemy we have to beat is the online grey market”

RETAIL REPORT

“It’s crucial to go digital, and the watch brands have to start engaging with it now or things are going to get very complicated." sinon cela va devenir (...)

Getting future watch distribution right – the fate of an industry

Getting future watch distribution right – the fate of an industry

SCENARIOS

Statements by industry professionals made some 15 years ago reveal that even experts had only a vague idea about what watch distribution would look like (...)

Brick-and-Click Watch Retailing

Brick-and-Click Watch Retailing

EDITORIAL

Once upon a time, things were simpler. A watchmaker would find an agent for each country. That agent had representatives who would pack their watch samples (...)

“A garden of tranquillity in contrast with the digital jungle”

“A garden of tranquillity in contrast with the digital jungle”

BRICK & CLICK / GERMANY

“Faced with chains, supermarkets and mono- brand boutiques, a good number of traditional family boutiques have closed. And this concentration of the market (...)

“We are a service company, not a supermarket”

“We are a service company, not a supermarket”

BRICK & CLICK

A testimonial by Pablo Fuster, Relojería Alemana, in Mallorca (Spain).

“Reinventing yourself as a concept watch store”

“Reinventing yourself as a concept watch store”

BRICK & CLICK / SWITZERLAND

“We’ve been a family business for fifty years. Besides the boutique, 35 years ago we took over a vintage watch shop called Au Vieil (...)

“Necessity is the mother of invention!”

“Necessity is the mother of invention!”

BRICK & CLICK / BELGIUM

"We’re two associates and we launched our multi-brand boutique fairly recently, in 2009. And in the summer of 2017, we also opened the Rolex boutique in (...)

“We believe in the strength of omnichannel”

“We believe in the strength of omnichannel”

BRICK & CLICK / NETHERLANDS

“We come from the diamond sector, where our father already worked. And even today, our turnover is still fairly evenly balanced between jewellery and (...)

“Why would the customer want to buy this product from me?”

“Why would the customer want to buy this product from me?”

BRICK & CLICK / SWITZERLAND

"2017 started quite well in comparison to last year. We have many more guests from abroad back in Lucerne."

“Seeing with their own eyes”

“Seeing with their own eyes”

BRICK & CLICK / JAPAN

"2016 was a difficult year. In reaction, we increased our appeal to new customers by launching a website dedicated to watchmaking."

“Brands must limit production, control supply and stabilise pricing”

“Brands must limit production, control supply and stabilise pricing”

BRICK & CLICK / AUSTRALIA

“2016 was certainly a challenging year for retail. The increase in grey market activity and the aggressive pricing stemming from product dumping resulting (...)

“Consumers are looking for an experience, online or offline”

“Consumers are looking for an experience, online or offline”

BRICK & CLICK / PORTUGAL

“The Portuguese market still outperforms the global current trend."

“A more direct distribution structure needs to happen”

“A more direct distribution structure needs to happen”

BRICK & CLICK

“We set up an online shop-front for each brand on Skolorr, once they have been vetted and approved as a partner (to ensure trust, credibility, quality, (...)

Points of sales online engagement in 2017

Points of sales online engagement in 2017

BRICK & CLICK

Digital media are playing an increasingly important role in the purchasing process for luxury products in general, and watchmaking and jewellery in (...)

Business climate, competition and the digital future

Business climate, competition and the digital future

THE HOUR GLASS

The Hour Glass is present in the markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. In 2016, in most of these markets, the watch (...)