WatchPro is delighted to announce the finalists in the Department Store Watch Retailer of the Year category of the 2016 WatchPro Awards.
Retailers in this category must be independent or national department stores with specialist watch zones.
The winners of each award will be decided by a private vote among WatchPro readers.
A survey form will be sent on September 26 to a list consisting purely of retail executives, asking them to vote on awards categories concerning watch brands and wholesalers.
A separate survey will be sent on the same day purely to executives in the watch brand and wholesaler community, asking them to vote on awards categories concerning retailers.
The winners will be announced at a spectacular black tie dinner taking place on October 26 at the Globe Theatre in London.
Click here for details of table and ticket sales.
The finalists in the WatchPro Awards Department Store Watch Retailer of the Year category are:
House of Fraser
Watch Station within House of Fraser is run by Fossil Group, which explains why the department store has become one of the biggest retailers, by volume, of watches in the UK today with its strongest brands, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Armani Exchange all firm fashion favourites.
Selfridges
The Watch Gallery runs the Wonder Room within the Selfridges London flagship store, making it a magnet for luxury watch buyers, and a prime target for brands looking to reach as wide an audience as possible in the UK.
William & Son
Mayfair’s William & Son, which moved to a new two-storey location on Bruton Street last year, is a unique department store offering only the very finest luxuries the world has to offer; mainly from maisons that only its millionaire clientele will recognise. Watches from F.P.Journe, De Bethune, Romain Gauthier, Laurent Ferrier and Ludovic Ballouard are all exclusive to William & Son in the UK.
Debenhams
Debenhams head of watches Richard Maynes says he wanted to make the store “the destination of choice for watches on the high street”. Judging by the number of brands nominating the retailer, his plan is working. The 240 store chain is now adding exclusive watches to its Designers at Debenhams roster alongside bankers like Timex, Seiko and Sekonda.
John Lewis
A listing at John Lewis guarantees watch brands will be presented to millions of customers every year. Last Christmas was exceptional for the group, with jewellery and watch sales up 23.3%. Strong footfall, upmarket demographics and soaring watch sales has attracted even upmarket brands like Oris, Montblanc and Frederique Constant to work with them.
