Watch firms GB-RS and Haigh & Hastings have inked a “mutual” distribution partnership that will see each company’s core collections sold on opposite sides of the world, WatchPro can reveal.
As part of the deal, GB-RS, the brand owner and distributor of Minster1949 and SwissEmporio, will begin the distribution of Haigh & Hastings’ Australian lifestyle and adventure timepiece brand in the UK market.
Likewise, Perth-based Haigh & Hastings will market and introduce GB-RS brands into the Australian watch market.
Giles Bushby, CEO of GB-RS, has known his counterpart Simon Haigh for some time and said he has a great deal of respect for the business.
He is confident that the Norfolk-based outfit will be able help the brand fulfill its potential in the UK.
“As the first lifestyle and adventure Australian watch brand to be introduced into the UK this is another example of our attempts to secure brands with unique selling propositions, compelling margins and real points of difference for the retailer and end consumer,” said Bushby.
Hastings’ new brand designer is Emmanuel Geuit, best known for his work at Audemars Piguet and Rolex.
With his watch lines ready for release soon and a fresh global web and social media campaign launching later this month, Simon Haigh said his brand is all geared up to launch in the UK.
“Haigh & Hastings is already proven in Australia, we now have a distributor in the USA and we are selling into Asia,” he said. “I am sure this will be a successful and profitable brand for the retail jeweler in the UK. With his pedigree in the watch industry, Giles was a natural choice as a strategic partner. We love both the GB-RS brands and are confident of their continued success in Australia.”
