When you think of watch retailers, perhaps Debenhams doesn’t instantly spring to mind, but it should. The department store chain now has a roster of 70 watch brands and, under the stewardship of Richard Maynes, it has its sights set on becoming “the destination of choice for watches on the high street”.
“Debenhams has been investing in British design for 20 years through its exclusive Designers at Debenhams portfolio and with the success we have seen over the past 12 months in the OEM Designer at Debenhams ranges, it cements Debenhams’ position on the high street for providing high quality, great value product,” enthuses Maynes.
Particularly successful watch brands over the past year have been Floozie, J by Jasper Conran and Maynes’ new favourite Hammond & Co. “I have also had the pleasure of working with the exceptionally talented Patrick Grant, developing an affordable premium range of gent’s watches under the Hammond & Co brand,” he says. “Working with Patrick has been a pleasure as he has a true appreciation for the art of watchmaking and an exceptional eye for detail, as one would expect from a Savile Row tailor.”
In the workplace Maynes is a stickler for detail, as you might expect, but his home persona – he lives not far from London’s Royal Victoria Docks, where you see him here – is a completely different story. “As I’m a bit of a workaholic, I leave all my social planning to my partner, meaning I rarely know what I’m doing, who I’m seeing, or where I’m going one weekend to the next,” he says. “It’s a complete contrast to my work life where I plan everything meticulously.”
