Linde Werdelin's direct approach improves personal relationships with customers

A 2016 article in the Financial Times based on an interview with Linde Werdelin co-founder Jorn Werdelin caused a bit of a stir when he said that stalling sales in 2015 marked the start of significant correction that could take years to work through Linde Werdelin, which released its first watch collection in 2006, had enjoyed rapid growth for its top end watches for mountaineers and divers and was selling almost 1000 watches per year before the market turned in 2015 The watches were sold through the traditional wholesale route, and Linde Werdelin had dozens of retail partners around the world at its peak.

Today Linde Werdelin makes around 150 watches per year, and has moved from a distribution model to a direct to consumer sales strategy "We hop onto planes to personally deliver watches to customers all over Europe," Mr Werdelin told WatchPro yesterday Linde Werdelin's Swiss-made watches range in price from around £5000 to over £20,000, mainly numbered limited editions, with most selling at around the £10,000 mark, according to Mr Werdelin.

Mr Werdelin waved the white flag in the battle to grab and hold space with retail partners because the big groups were squeezing out independents. . Source