The Company of Master Jewellers (CMJ) has joined a powerful list of organisations signing up as Gold Partners for the WatchPro Hot 100.
The agreement is on top of its long-standing support of WatchPro’s sister event, the Professional Jeweller Hot 100, for which the CMJ has been Principal Partner for the past three years.
CMJ chief executive Willie Hamilton said: “The CMJ recognised many years ago that there was a lack of cohesion between independent jewellers and the watch brands in the UK. One of our core principles is to bring the two parts of the supply chain closer together and we believe that WatchPro magazine and the WatchPro Hot 100 does that, along with celebrating the leaders in the industry here in the UK.”
The WatchPro Hot 100 Partnership comes at a time when CMJ members are enjoying record growth, with watches accounting for a growing share of sales.
Hamilton said: “Watches are now becoming more of that mix and we have seen double digit-growth of watch sales through the CMJ group over the past financial year.”
Watches are also accounting for a larger percentage of exhibitors at the group’s bi-annual buying meetings.
Hamilton added: “The CMJ trade shows continue to develop brands within the portfolio of CMJ, which cements long term relationships and lays the foundations for new developments. We have seen substantial sales growth by working on this strategy and we believe that by working in partnership with WatchPro the relationships will be even stronger, so it’s more of the same but with more partners.”
The WatchPro Hot 100 party takes place on July 2 at Altitude 360, the highest party venue in Central London with wrap-around views of the capital’s skyline. Tickets are by invitation only from WatchPro and its Hot 100 Gold Partners, which now include the CMJ, Bremont and Bering.
