The Company of Master Jewellers (CMJ) buying group has reported growth in Christmas sales among its retailer members, with a number of watch brands named top performers.
The CMJ works with approved watch brand suppliers and retailers across the UK. It has drawn together feedback from its retail members with Citizen reportedly the best-selling watch brand for its members during the Christmas period.
Skagen was also a top selling brand, followed by Rotary and Bering. CMJ members also reported good sales performance for pre-owned watches, describing them as “becoming a bit of a brand in their own right”.
All of CMJ retail members were surveyed, with 46.7% stating that business was better in December 2012 compared to 2011. Of its retail members, 18.3% said business was the same, while 35% said it was worse than December 2011, though many of these retailers said that a worse performance was expected and that sales had improved compared to the early months of the year.
The overall message from CMJ retail members was that sales came late in the month after a tough start and that retailers had to work harder to secure sales.
