Rudy albers

Wempe shows its family values as its keeps paying staff at 35 stores closed worldwide

Rudy Albers, president of Wempe North America, says 750 people are still being supported.

The Wempe family is not the type to travel around the world in private jets and super yachts, which means the luxury watch and jewellery business is well-capitalised to emerge in good financial health after the current Coronavirus pandemic eases.

That is the view of Rudy Albers (pictured top), president of Wempe in North America and the man who runs its iconic 5th Avenue store in Manhattan.

Speaking in a live Instagram interview with Watchonista editor Josh Shanks, Mr Albers said that, despite closing 35 stores world-wide, Wempe was managing to keep paying its staff.

“It is a major challenge to our company and our 750 employees, and it is times like this when you really feel the love that comes from being part of a family business. Our owners have the resources to get us through this, we are still paying our staff and still paying our invoices,” Mr Albers says.

Wempe does not have an ecommerce business in North America but is keeping in touch with customers through social media and is also speaking one-to-one with its regular clients, according to Mr Albers.

Watchonista HomeTime

Watchonista’s HomeTime series of Instagram Live interviews continues today at midday EST (5pm BST) with Breitling CEO Georges Kern taking questions on the impact of the global pandemic, his first two years at the brand, and his views on building a luxury watchmaking and retail brand.

George Kern, CEO of Breitling

Also on the schedule for next week is famed tattoo artist Mo Coppoletta and master watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi (of Akrivia).

Follow Watchonista on Instagram to take part in the #HOMEtime interviews.

 

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