ENTRY-LEVEL
“More and more older people are interested in smartwatches”

“Of course the under-1,000 franc price bracket is going to suffer even more as a result of the development of smartwatches: since they branched into the health sector they not only interest geeks, young people and early adopters, but older people too, for whom they offer a real bonus. Moreover, you can’t just talk about the Apple Watch; I’ve worked for Samsung, for example: the players are many, the smartwatch market is highly competitive and Apple isn’t the leader in every country. To resist, you need to give a high added value alternative to what the smartwatches are offering today. For instance, buyers appreciate niche concepts which are unique.”

"To resist, you need to give a high added value alternative to what the smartwatches are offering today."

POLARISATION
“People sometimes behave like sheep”

“People sometimes behave like sheep and don’t dare to stand out from the crowd, thinking they will be better accepted if they wear and behave exactly the same as their ‘tribe’, until it is too late and they regret they did not live their dreams, passions and love. On the other hand, for others, money is so important that they think that buying a piece that is highly sought-after will be easier to sell later, but everything changes.”

Yvan Arpa, Owner of Artya

DISTRIBUTION
“Stop being so arrogant or snobby in sales”

“The process of evolution is accelerating in every domain, so of course also in distribution. The old business models are over. I think that the new keywords are authenticity, creativity, honesty and value: if you offer those, you can sell in a store, online or directly to customers and offer a true shopping experience, rather than doing it in an arrogant or snobby way.”

OPPORTUNITIES
“There is still so much to do in aftersales service”

“We must think quality and not only quantity. There is still so much to do in terms of after-sales service: when I hear the deadlines and prices of some of my competitors, it is unbelievable. We must educate the planet about our industry and it should begin in the Swiss schools. So many Swiss don’t understand a thing about watches and they should be our best ambassadors.”