1. Mauron Musy began business in 2016, so a rise in sales is inevitable.

 2. The most important thing is to exercise caution and secure the future of our small company. Our targets are realistic and were set with a view to the current global situation. Mauron Musy is set to have a peaceful, calm year, unlike larger structures which are facing countless risks. We’re studying a number of distribution and communications networks. Since our marketing budget is very limited, we give priority to the Web, with its strong potential. Our innovative nO-Ring and the fact that our watch is gasket-free have also got people talking about Mauron Musy. As for the markets, we’re still feeling our way around, but we’ve had excellent feedback from Scandinavia, Russia and the US.

 3. Mechanical watches won’t disappear. Just the opposite—the more the new technologies progress, the richer and more prestigious mechanical watches will become. They will always be a vehicle for savoir-faire and emotion. Smartwatches are a good way of getting young people interested in horology. It’s up to us to turn it to our best advantage! The arrival of smartwatches will probably affect the under-CHF800 price segment.

 4. This is our second time round at Baselworld. It’s too early to say if it’s “decisive”. But we have plenty of expectations this year. We’ve handled the preparation perfectly and we can sense a keenness to meet us on the part of the media and retailers. For us, it will have been a successful trade fair if it allows us to open up points-of-sale abroad. And I’m hoping for some worthwhile informal contacts that might change the course of our history!

EUROPA STAR’S FOUR QUESTIONS

1. What are your predictions for 2016? Do you think that exports will recover, or will the markets stagnate or continue to decline after the slump we saw in 2015? And what do you think were the reasons for the downturn in 2015?

2. What are your priorities for the coming year: consolidating your existing markets, actively exploring new markets (if so, which), rationalising / consolidating / expanding your distribution network, launching new products, PR initiatives, etc.?

3. Over the longer term, do you believe that mechanical watchmaking will gradually die out, hybridise, or continue to occupy its own exclusive niche? Do you see the advent of smartwatches as a potential threat, or an opportunity for growth and diversification?

4. What exactly do you hope to achieve from your participation in Baselworld 2016? Do you feel your presence at the fair is essential to your business, or are such forums less important now than they were in the past?

LIST OF RESPONDING CEOs