When you think that Indira Bhoja only starting working part time to help take care of her young family, her development in her role and the watch trade in general is simply astounding.
She is now in charge of driving the Condor Group – famous among other things for its pocket watches – forward in the UK but she says it was merely an accidental career and she simply grew into it as her children grew up.
When she looks back over the past year she can reflect on plenty of highlights, and some serious air miles.
On the trade circuit there was Spring Fair, where she launched Royal London’s exciting range of automatic watches with an extremely competitive price architecture. And then it was on to Basel. “The new-look fair was of concern initially but turned out to be very good for us,” she says. Then she really hit the road with trips to customers abroad that are actively promoting the brand. “In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, they have created dedicated space in some very popular shopping malls.” And next she was busy forming a new business partnership in Germany.
It’s a good job her children – who she says are her proudest achievement – have grown up. But Indira is a cultural butterfly, never happier than when outdoors or experiencing new cultures, so you can expect her to continue travelling. She says her priorities for the year ahead are to explore emerging markets, to work on new products and to continue raising her brand’s profile. It’s a pretty straight answer but then she says her directness is her greatest trait – and also her worst. Well, however you look at it, it’s definitely working.
Royal London director Indira Bhoja was a CMJ Brand Champion in the WatchPro Hot 100 2013 in association with The Company of Master Jewellers. To read a digital version of the book in full online, click here.
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