Jason Gallen named Victorinox Fashion President

Jason Gallen

Victorinox, the inventor of the original Swiss Army Knives, has appointed Jason Gallen as President of the Fashion Division. Gallen has been working for the company since 2012. Before he held different positions at Original Penguin, Tommy Hilfiger and Gap Inc.

Based in New York, Jason Gallen was responsible for the retail business in North America in the past few years, working closely with creative director Christopher Raeburn. Together with him, Jason Gallen is now going to take care of further development of the collection and the reorganization of the distribution.

Victorinox has also designated a new Sales Director for Central Europe with immediate effect: Tom Hurler. He has been working for the company since 2011 and prior to his promotion, he was responsible for the markets in Switzerland, Austria, Southern and Eastern Europe.

BigTimeUK.com

A tortured Dalai Lama confesses: “I love Rolex”

by Paola Battista 

“A man who doesn’t have a Rolex at 50 has wasted his whole life.”
  
These are the words attributed to no other than the Dalai Lama – who is visibly shaken, bruised, beaten and still bleeding. The idea comes from Amnesty International Belgium and is part of a global campaign against torture. 

The strap-line says: “Torture a man and he will tell you anything.” The graphic project is certainly hard-hitting in underlining how ineffective torture is in extracting confessions and information from people. Shocking tactics are known to include humiliation, withholding water, electric shocks, brutal physical attacks, psychological torture, sleep deprivation, mutilation, injections and exposing people to attacks by wild animals. “History shows that victims of torture are ready to say anything to put an end to pain and fear: they could tell the truth, part of it or the exact opposite,” says the director of the Belgian-French section of Amnesty. It’s an inhuman barbarity that goes against fundamental human rights, the association repeats tirelessly. This time Amnesty has got a rock idol on board to raise awareness of the topic among young people. Iggy Pop is ready to admit that Justin Bieber is the future of rock and roll in order to escape torture.

BigTimeUK.com

Private Viewing of the Rolex Basel 2014 Collection for Rudell’s Clients

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

32 St James’s Square, London provided the perfect venue for some of Rudells VIP Rolex clients to view the latest models launched at the Basle Fair earlier this year. Rudells guests were some of the first to see the latest introductions and line extensions before they reach the Rolex network in the UK.

There were many beautiful and elegant timepieces on display and Rudells clients were eager to try on these creations. One of the highlights was a Ladies Rolex Pearl master in Rose gold which featured a diamond studded bracelet and a bezel set with the most vibrant pink sapphires. For the gentleman, the Rolex Cellini collection was very well admired as was the Platinum Cosmograph Daytona with a pave diamond set dial and baguette cut diamond bezel.

The private viewing was then followed by lunch which was served in the luxurious dining room in this exquisite 17th Century, Grade II listed building which has previously been the home of some famous (and infamous) characters of the past. During lunch the collection made another appearance and Rudells guests were free to dine and pay closer attention to the quality and craftsmanship of the world’s most recognisable Swiss manufacturer.

As the event came to a close and the clients were transported back to the West Midlands, everyone agreed that the day had been simply wonderful!

Rudells MD, Jon Weston, thanked the clients for attending and agreed that the whole day had elevated Rolex even further as one of the most important brands with the Rudells portfolio.

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Swatch Waiting With Apple for Smartwatch Market to Grow

By Corinne Gretler and Jan Schwalbe Jun 17, 2014 8:35 AM GMT

Swatch Group AG (UHR) Chief Executive Officer Nick Hayek doesn’t mind losing the lead in smartwatches. For now, he’s happy to wait and see whether anyone actually wants to buy them.

 

Photographer: Gianluca Colla/Bloomberg

Swatch Group AG Chief Executive Officer Nick Hayek speaks during a news conference

As technophiles speculate about Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s plans to join Samsung Electronics Co., Sony Corp. and LG Electronics Inc. in making electronic gadgets for the wrist, the world’s largest watchmaker is steering clear of a market it unsuccessfully tried to pioneer over the past two decades. 

“You won’t see us participating in a race of who’s going to introduce what first,” Hayek said over coffee in his cluttered office in Biel, Switzerland. “There’s still big resistance from the consumer, so we’re going to wait.” 

Hayek says his company has all the technology it needs to make a smartwatch. His plan is to sell components to others, a quiet way to benefit from a potential revolution in the $62 billion watch industry. If demand crystallizes, the company is ready to jump in and push a smartwatch through its extensive distribution network. 

Swatch knows the perils of moving too fast. The company still has unsold models of a 1991 pager that flopped, and of the Paparazzi, a mid-2000s attempt with Microsoft Corp. to sell a watch that could receive messages and stock quotes. 

“I believe in the smartwatch, but not as a replacement for watches,” said Hayek, who wears a timepiece on each arm but uses an older model Nokia mobile phone that does little more than make voice calls. “If a market for smart objects on the wrist really develops, then we’ll be there.”

Fitness Bands

While Hayek wouldn’t name clients who buy components for intelligent wrist devices, he said they include a U.S. maker of fitness bands. Increased sales of parts for smartwatches could boost Swatch’s sales by 200 million Swiss francs ($222 million), brokerage Kepler Cheuvreux estimates. 

“They’re keeping one foot in the door, so the risk isn’t too high,” said Jean-Paul Jeckelmann, chief investment officer at Banque Bonhote & Cie. in Neuchatel, Switzerland. “Once the market develops, they’ll be ready to go in at full-speed.”
Swatch shares traded 0.4 percent higher at 529.50 francs at 9:23 a.m. in Zurich. They’ve dropped 10 percent this year, heading for the first annual decline since 2011. 

Apple could add as much as $11 billion in annual revenue by selling a smartwatch, RBC Capital Markets predicts. Samsung and Sony already sell second-generation versions of their offerings. Google’s Glass eyewear, with features similar to those found on smartwatches, went on sale this year. UBS analysts say Apple may introduce a smartwatch by year-end. Apple declined to comment on its plans for the devices.

Holding Back

“Everyone is waiting for Apple and Swatch to come out with a smartwatch, and exactly those two players haven’t jumped into the pool yet,” said Rene Weber, an analyst at Bank Vontobel AG in Zurich. “Swatch will definitely wait to see what Apple’s product is before it joins the others.” 

Swatch has decades of experience developing technology that might go into a smartwatch, such as long-lasting batteries so thin they’re bendable. The company’s Tissot brand has made watches with touch-screens since 1999 that now offer an altimeter, a compass, and sensors to record a diver’s descent.
Hayek has called his company’s Breguet and Blancpain timepieces -- which can cost more than $100,000 -- “smart watches” because they make the wearer “look like a smart guy.” However, the term generally refers to watches that transmit and receive data or phone calls, which Swatch’s current offerings can’t do, though it’s developing Bluetooth functions for some of its models.

Paparazzi Watch

The company’s most ambitious “connected” watch was the Paparazzi, a bulky $150 timepiece that Hayek and Bill Gates unveiled in 2004. The watch, which displayed news, weather, horoscopes and stock quotes for a $59 annual subscription fee, was later dropped, and Microsoft has discontinued the service that provided it with data. 

Swatch has been getting increasingly frequent visits from tech companies interested in its smartwatch expertise, Hayek said. Yet he remains skeptical of the concept, saying the disadvantages include small screens, the need to recharge batteries, and that they often require two hands to use effectively. Consumers also want to change their timepieces and don’t wear the same thing to an opera and to the beach, he said.

Watch Aesthetics

“Many developers in the electronics devices industry only think about technology, not about the beauty and emotions of the product itself,” Hayek said as he fiddled with an unlit Tudor Macanudo cigar. 

The Swiss watch industry ignored the threat of battery-powered quartz watches in the 1970s, which drove many producers out of business. Swatch may be similarly underestimating the potential impact or smartwatches, said Trung-Tin Nguyen, a hedge-fund manager at Trimax Capital AG in Zurich. 

Most at risk would be lower-priced marques such as Swatch’s namesake brand, Nguyen said. He suggests cooperation with a company like Samsung or HTC Corp., which could benefit from Swatch’s distribution network. 

“They need an alliance, or at least need to do something, or they may miss the boat,” Nguyen said. 

While researcher IDC has forecast shipments of wearable gadgets, including eyewear and smartwatches, will reach 112 million units in 2018, up from about 19 million this year, Hayek says he’s in no hurry. 

“Smartwatches can give us new opportunities,” Hayek said. “But there is no need for us to rush and create that market.” 

BigTimeUK.com

Why Fossil’s Good Days Will Continue

Watch and accessory designers are having a tough time after the debut of Michael Kors (KORS) since the retailer is taking away all customer attention. However, there are companies who are still being able to shine on by providing great products to its customers, Fossil (FOSL) being one of them.

Fossil’s recently reported quarter was a blockbuster one with a 14% rise in the top line. One of the primary drivers of higher sales was the watch segment which grew a whopping 17% over last year. Fossil witnessed growth in all the segments, including the retail and the wholesale segment which grew by 18% and 12.8%, respectively. However, same store sales declined 2.4% during the quarter as store traffic took a hit because of severe weather. Nonetheless, the company managed to register an increase in the bottom line to $1.22 per share as against $1.10 per share in the prior year’s quarter.

The competitive side

On the other hand, peer Coach’s (COH) quarter was not up to the mark. Its top line stood at $1.1 billion, a decline of 7% over the previous year’s quarter. Analysts were expecting it to be at $1.13 billion. Also, the bottom line dropped 19% to $0.68 per share. Even Coach faced similar problems, of lower mall traffic in the U.S., which led to a decline of 18% in revenue from the region. Nonetheless, the company has undertaken a brand transformation initiative in order to position itself as a global lifestyle brand. Also, it plans to expand its footprint in the international markets such as China and Japan.

Although Fossil has been a better performer as compared to Coach, Michael Kors is definitely the leader. With a total stock price appreciation of 286%, since its inception in December 2011, Kors has become very popular among customers. Also, its quarterly revenue has jumped by almost 58% in the last one year as its fancy designer products continue to lure customers.

The retailer now plans to strengthen its business through various expansionary measures. It has recently announced its partnership with Luxottica, one of the leading providers of sports eyewear. The 10 year agreement will help Kors add luxury eyewear designed by Luxottica. The first collection of the combined entity will be introduced in spring 2015. This new range of eyewear should bring additional revenue to Michael Kors’ coffer.

Although Fossil faces stiff competition from some players such as Kors, it has been able to do better than companies such as Coach. In order to strengthen its business it plans to increase its promotional efforts and expand its footprint globally. Also, it plans to launch a new Android wear, in collaboration with Google. These efforts make Fossil even more interesting.

Final verdict

Fossil is doing well as it provides a wide range of accessories and apparels for customers’ needs. In fact, it has variations in that too. The prices of its products start from $7 and goes up to $2,000 per product. This is probably the reason why the retailer has managed to register growth. Further, its growing numbers, good performance and initiatives for the future make it look attractive. Therefore, Fossil makes a good buy.

BigTimeUK.com

Straight off the LC:M catwalk: Matthew Miller’s collaboration with Casio G-Shock

By Tajinder Hayer 15 June 14

If you've just been taking in the cut-up urban pinstripes at Matthew Miller's spring catwalk show, you might have noticed that a few of the models were sporting some rather eye-catching timepieces on their wrists. Turns out, this watch is the result of a collaboration between the Staffordshire designer and Casio G-Shock - and we've got an exclusive first look at it close-up here.

 

A limited-edition of the instantly recognisable G-Shock GB-6900B, Matthew Miller has kept the face sleek and white while splashing a print over the strap which, we're told, is meant to represent inner city rock formations. Of course under its new skin, the watch still has all of the features that make G-Shocks special: smartphone-synching Bluetooth comes fitted as standard as well as five independent alarms (so there's no excuse to be late for a catwalk show), and it's been thoroughly product tested to be one of the toughest, most durable watches on the market with shock resistance technology that protects against impact and vibration. Solid as a rock, you might say.

BigTimeUK.com

Michael Kors brings trends at discounted prices to Gulfport Premium Outlets

Michael Kors brings trends at discounted prices to Gulfport outlet mall

By JUSTIN MITCHELL

jmitchell@sunherald.comJune 14, 2014 

GULFPORT -- You'll find 10 items in Jessica Hoda's closet with a Michael Kors label -- five purses, three wallets and two watches.

Hoda, 24, said she loves the quality of the designer products.

And when she caught wind of a Michael Kors store opening in the Gulfport Premium Outlets, Hoda said she couldn't contain her excitement.

The hairstylist and a server loves to shop, but does so on a budget.

For her, Michael Kors purchases are splurges.

"I've been very good lately, but I'm holding out for the new outlet," Hoda said.

The 3,000-square-foot space will hold handbags, accessories and apparel, said Rhonda Roberts, director of marketing at Gulfport Premium Outlets.

The store is set to open July 10.

Customers will save between 25 percent to 60 percent when shopping at the Michael Kors outlet, Roberts said.

Hoda said the savings will allow her to stay in budget when shopping for designer labels.

The outlet will be located between Reebok and Guess Factory Store, Roberts said.

The city of Gulfport is very excited for the opening of the store.

"Prime Outlets has a knack for bringing in desirable brand stores that provide outlet products at great prices," said Lisa Bradley, business and economic development director for the City of Gulfport.

Three other stores recently opened for business at shopping center. The Body Shop, Skechers and Torrid have joined a list of 70 name-brand and designer stores at the outlet mall.

Roberts said The Body Shop sells bath products, skin care supplies, makeup and fragrances.

Torrid sells on trend apparel for plus-size women, and the Skechers store offers footwear for men, women and children.

"People will drive from neighboring areas to shop an area with a mass of these types of stores like we have in Gulfport at our outlet center," Bradley said. 

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/06/14/5650395/michael-kors-brings-trends-at.html?sp=/99/184/201/#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/06/14/5650395/michael-kors-brings-trends-at.html?sp=/99/184/201/#storylink=cpy

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