Comments on: How To Move Forwards While Looking Backwards – Innovation In The Watch Industry Part.4 http://thewatchlounge.com/how-to-move-forwards-while-looking-backwards-%e2%80%93-innovation-in-the-watch-industry-part-four/ Tue, 15 May 2012 23:58:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tom Mulraney http://thewatchlounge.com/how-to-move-forwards-while-looking-backwards-%e2%80%93-innovation-in-the-watch-industry-part-four/comment-page-1/#comment-2331 Tom Mulraney Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:08:38 +0000 http://thewatchlounge.com/?p=2155#comment-2331 I think you're right Olivier. Like in any business, watchmakers want to reduce their range and focus their attention on their most profitable pieces, although some of the bigger brands can't do this as easily as the expectation remains from their customers that they will continue to offer all (or most) of their different references. Still as brands like Hublot are demonstrating, a limited reference approach can prove hugely successful if done correctly. I think you’re right Olivier. Like in any business, watchmakers want to reduce their range and focus their attention on their most profitable pieces, although some of the bigger brands can’t do this as easily as the expectation remains from their customers that they will continue to offer all (or most) of their different references. Still as brands like Hublot are demonstrating, a limited reference approach can prove hugely successful if done correctly.

]]> By: Olivier Muller http://thewatchlounge.com/how-to-move-forwards-while-looking-backwards-%e2%80%93-innovation-in-the-watch-industry-part-four/comment-page-1/#comment-2320 Olivier Muller Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:50:15 +0000 http://thewatchlounge.com/?p=2155#comment-2320 Bonjour Jérôme, I do agree with you ! The industry is like moving towards smaller range of products : AP bets on its Royal Oak, Hublot has only 2 references, etc. Usually watchmakers told us they wanted to capitalize on their historical references, but the fact is that they just want to reduce the number of references in the catalogue. But at the same time, we must admit that well-known brands still have a large number of references, still alive after decades : Breitling, JLC, etc. So IMHO, we have in some ways two kind of business models : very high-end watchmakers with only 1, 2 or 3 models. And then, mass-market watchmakers with still a large numbers of references (see the Chronolog of Breitling : 100+ pages !!). This is not really new. But the new thing is that there is no space any more in-between for a "best of breed" approach. Well, to date, at least. I must admit that I was very sceptical about Romain Jérôme, but their new CEO, Manuel Emch, is really impressive. Sounds like he has learnt everything from people like Mr Biver, and goes one step further. So, IMHO, we have to closely look at what he does - for RJ, or, maybe, later on, some other brands. Some people has an opinion on the market. This man has a vision. Au plaisir de vous lire et merci pour vos commentaires toujours très intéressants, Olivier Müller - The Watch Lounge Bonjour Jérôme,

I do agree with you ! The industry is like moving towards smaller range of products : AP bets on its Royal Oak, Hublot has only 2 references, etc.

Usually watchmakers told us they wanted to capitalize on their historical references, but the fact is that they just want to reduce the number of references in the catalogue.

But at the same time, we must admit that well-known brands still have a large number of references, still alive after decades : Breitling, JLC, etc.

So IMHO, we have in some ways two kind of business models : very high-end watchmakers with only 1, 2 or 3 models. And then, mass-market watchmakers with still a large numbers of references (see the Chronolog of Breitling : 100+ pages !!).

This is not really new. But the new thing is that there is no space any more in-between for a “best of breed” approach. Well, to date, at least.

I must admit that I was very sceptical about Romain Jérôme, but their new CEO, Manuel Emch, is really impressive. Sounds like he has learnt everything from people like Mr Biver, and goes one step further. So, IMHO, we have to closely look at what he does – for RJ, or, maybe, later on, some other brands. Some people has an opinion on the market. This man has a vision.

Au plaisir de vous lire et merci pour vos commentaires toujours très intéressants,

Olivier Müller – The Watch Lounge

]]> By: Jerome Pineau http://thewatchlounge.com/how-to-move-forwards-while-looking-backwards-%e2%80%93-innovation-in-the-watch-industry-part-four/comment-page-1/#comment-2305 Jerome Pineau Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:48:52 +0000 http://thewatchlounge.com/?p=2155#comment-2305 IMHO there's a lot to be said for one-trick ponies and clearly there's always room to improve a mainstay product line. In a way, it's a bit like Hublot isn't it? It's certainly simpler to manage from a messaging standpoint - more focused. It's like having a painting you keep touching up and re-positioning vs. a multitude of still-shot photos. Also it gives people a sense of "security" - notwithstanding popular assumptions, people don't really like choice very much - too much choice that is (and 3 or more is too much choice)- this is just my personal experience and in no way reflects the opinion of my employers :) IMHO there’s a lot to be said for one-trick ponies and clearly there’s always room to improve a mainstay product line. In a way, it’s a bit like Hublot isn’t it? It’s certainly simpler to manage from a messaging standpoint – more focused. It’s like having a painting you keep touching up and re-positioning vs. a multitude of still-shot photos.

Also it gives people a sense of “security” – notwithstanding popular assumptions, people don’t really like choice very much – too much choice that is (and 3 or more is too much choice)- this is just my personal experience and in no way reflects the opinion of my employers :)

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