The rise of the consumer watch fair

CLOSE 5 min read Will consumer watch fairs overtake trade fairs in the future? Watch Time New York, an event dedicated to watch enthusiasts and collectors, was a sellout again this year, with 1,600 guests and 37 exhibiting brands.

Some were making their world debut: Zenith was informally showing guests its new El Primero with a redesigned ceramic bezel, which was under embargo until after the show Interacting with collectors and enthusiasts has become an important part of their marketing strategy, and the top brass welcomed the chance to interact directly with watch collectors and consumers at WTNY Eric Hofmann, SVP of business development for Seiko, for example, commented: "This show is attended by people who understand the brand.

There are social media groups posting about Seiko every day We want to meet them, talk to them, find out what they think and what they want They have already changed the way we distribute and market the brand" "Jewelers sometimes have had a hard time bringing in a younger audience, so we have to market in different ways," says Mike Princiotto, senior marketing manager of Casio, which showed its upscale G-Shock MT-G series at the show, which can sell for up to $5,000.

"It's a regional show, but people travel for it - it's a nice time to be in New York." Others planned store events around the same time, inviting guests to their boutiques for special showings The show was a gathering of timepiece cognoscenti, from small independents to big brands, with watches from $500 to $1-million, and there were even a few celebrity watch lovers on hand Actor Aldis Hodge, from the TV show City On A Hill, is a watch lover and self-taught watchmaker who is getting ready to introduce his own brand. Source