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.

Concentration continues in watch distribution

Concentration continues in watch distribution

MARKETS

A distribution strategy that emphasises monobrand stores is benefitting a small number of powerful retailers with the necessary logistical and financial (...)

A retailer provides free parking to an entire town

A retailer provides free parking to an entire town

PORTRAIT

Ahee Jewelers, a multi-generational retailer based near Detroit in the United States, decided to offer free parking for two months to residents of its (...)

Lucerne: why Gübelin is joining forces with TimeVallée

Lucerne: why Gübelin is joining forces with TimeVallée

The mid-sized traditional Lucerne retailer, which enjoys a well-established reputation but lacks the critical mass of the watch distribution giants, has (...)

Watches of Switzerland goes on the offensive in Europe

Watches of Switzerland goes on the offensive in Europe

RETAIL

British retail giant Watches of Switzerland, already well established in the United Kingdom and currently enjoying strong expansion in the United States, (...)

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Bigger, better, stronger

Bigger, better, stronger

REPORT

Discover our report on the emergence of “super-retailers”.

Beyer Chronometrie: deep roots and NFTs

Beyer Chronometrie: deep roots and NFTs

COUNTERPOINT

Despite numerous requests to do so, the world’s oldest watch retailer has always refused to open any points of sale outside its original stronghold in (...)

“Continuing to set the standard in our region”

“Continuing to set the standard in our region”

3 QUESTIONS FOR...

Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, Chief Commercial Officer, Seddiqi Holding

“Brick-and-mortar remains our most dynamic activity”

“Brick-and-mortar remains our most dynamic activity”

3 QUESTIONS FOR...

Anthony Tsang, Senior Marketing Manager Greater China Region, Oriental Watch Company

Super-Retail: the race for global dominance

Super-Retail: the race for global dominance

REPORT

An increasing number of retailers are moving out of their home markets and successfully establishing themselves in other parts of the world. This (...)

Watches of Switzerland, a “super retailer” in the making

Watches of Switzerland, a “super retailer” in the making

INTERVIEW

Operating from its British stronghold and publicly listed since 2019, Watches of Switzerland has massively expanded its footprint in both the UK and the (...)

What does the future hold for independent distributors?

What does the future hold for independent distributors?

REPORT

In this special report, consultant and cofounder of the Watch Distributors Directory Thierry Huron shares his latest findings and data on the changing (...)

The resilience of in-house jewellery for retailers

The resilience of in-house jewellery for retailers

INTERVIEW

For decades, family-owned London Jewelers has represented prestigious brands on Long Island. In the midst of the pandemic, the retailer renovated its (...)

Bucherer BLUE: “Bringing exclusivity back to retailers”

Bucherer BLUE: “Bringing exclusivity back to retailers”

INTERVIEW

More and more brands are reserving their most sought-after models for their own shops, which is causing increasing difficulties for multi-brand retailers. (...)

Watch retailers: strategies for dealing with the pandemic

Watch retailers: strategies for dealing with the pandemic

REPORT

With international travel halted, the absence of tourist customers has been keenly felt by the watch retail trade. Without this category of buyers, many (...)

An app to regain control over watch distribution

An app to regain control over watch distribution

SELLING WATCHES

A new word, promising if not exactly elegant, has made its way into the horological lexicon in 2020: “phygital”. Thomas Baillod is among those who have (...)

The watch retailer of the tech entrepreneurs

The watch retailer of the tech entrepreneurs

IN THE SILICON VALLEY

“The watch culture is very strong here, and we are really just scratching the surface of it as a retailer,” says Jared Silver, who represents the most (...)

“Sell-out has been declining since the start of 2019”

“Sell-out has been declining since the start of 2019”

WATCH INDUSTRY

The monthly sell-out index, compiled by consultant Thierry Huron, reveals that watch sales are in a fragile state of health. In the first quarter, the (...)

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 (...)