Thomas Sabo is lighting a fire under its watch business in the UK this year, and is pressing its authorised retail partners to treat timepieces with just as much enthusiasm as they give to jewellery collections.
In a briefing with WatchPro, Nick Callegari, wholesale director for Thomas Sabo UK and Ireland, said the brand is telling retailers to do more with watches, or face losing them.
“We absolutely believe in the watch category for our current partners but potential new watch-only trading partners as well,” Mr Callegari asserts.
Thomas Sabo provides a degree of geographic protection for its official partners in city boroughs and towns, but partners that refuse to do more with watches are being told that the brand will look for other partners that will be offered only watches.
In a visit to the flagship Thomas Sabo store on Molton Street in central London, WatchPro found that, although the majority of the boutique was devoted to jewellery, the men’s watch collections were presented in cabinets right by the tills.
Thomas Sabo has brought prices down for its current collection, with watches like the Rebel Spirit (pictured above right) retailing for £180. The 42mm stainless steel watch on a Milanese mesh bracelet houses a Miyota quartz movement. The chrono version (above left) retails for £270.
