Watches represents your personality - Mr. Rick De La Croix
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Bombastic watch brand Bomberg has entered the Kuwait market. The brand, founded in 2011, is now introducing Kuwait retailers to its range of large, colorful bullhead chronographs and detachable watch heads that fit on straps and chains.
The Chairman of Bomberg watches Mr. Rick De La Croix was in Kuwait recently for the official launch. In an exclusive chat with IndiansinKuwait.com, Mr Rick De La Croix and Jacques Tedeschi, Middle East Sales Director, shares their views about the brand and its prospects in Kuwait.
IIK: Welcome to Kuwait! Bomberg is a new comer to the world of watches, especially to the Swiss Watch making Industry. What is your strategy to keep up your place?
We are in the 4th year now. We are out of our nappies. We have brought our experiences into the global market and being good in business. Being good in business with strategic vision, good planning and delivering, giving overall satisfaction to our local partners and consumers, today the customers can buy our watches anywhere in the world. Our philosophy starts with the product - extremely creative in what we do. We do not inspire ourselves with other brands.
Though the brand is still young in the industry, it has successfully captured the contemporary spirit of fashionable groups with its unconventional, out-of-the-box approach to design and function.
Now we are in 40 countries with 600 points of sale. We are satisfied with the results. We have a distinct approach. We always look for new products and new ways of marketing. A big focus on digital, online and social media which is a type of communication we can afford.
IIK: What are your top product lines?
We started our first collection called ‘1968’, which was an asymmetrical design. I wanted the timepieces to really follow the wrist and not sit on the wrist. It has a very special curve. The crowns is placed in 12 0’ Clock and as an identity that is very recognizable.
1968 is a watch that takes the shape of the wrist. Bolt - 68 is multifunctional. Bolt -68 consists of 18 statement pieces where each stainless steel casing features the buttons and the crown placed at 12 o’clock instead of on the side as is the norm for most timepieces. You can wear it on your wrist, or use it as a pocket watch, desk watch or you can use it as a neck watch (wear it on a chain). 1968 was launched in 2011 and Bolt - 68 was launched in 2014.
IIK: Bomberg watches are too masculine in style...
We don't make a watch for man or women. We sometimes mark it for Men. Women have much stronger personalities than men. Today in the watch industry in all brands the majority of buyers are men. Men have very few accessories compared to ladies. Watch is one of the main accessories for men. We will never say no to a lady who wants to buy Bomberg watch.
IIK: In this age of smart phones, how do you position watches as a time keeping machine?
Connectivity unfortunately is a fact. We cannot be without the phone. It’s become part of our life. The way we look at the watches is different. We create lifestyle. We want to create watches with character and attitude. Watch is a way of open conversation. You like it or hate it, you talk about it. That is how we create a brand. We have to look at watches beyond just telling the time. Our vision is watches are your personality.
IIK: How do you find your entry into Kuwait with Behbehani group?
Luxury is here, Professional partners, consumers are demanded. Kuwait in terms of quality is in par. We have high expectations. We know the Behbehani family from many years. We are very excited to be with them in Kuwait. The watches are already launched in all showrooms of Morad Yusef Behbehani across Kuwait.
IIK: Do you have any plan to enter the Indian market?
India is a challenging country and has a strong potential. We have a lot of thousands of followers from India in the social media. We are working and creating demand. Hope the demand will build up and distributors from India will come to us next year.
IIK: What would be your message to your Indian customers?
We are very excited about the Kuwait Market and future of India. Indians are travelling globally so they have started to see the brand more and more with top retailers and top brands. We are happy now that we are in Kuwait and future we will be in India. Be patient we may be in India soon.
IIK: Thank you very much for your valuable time spending with IndiansinKuwait.com
Thank you
s
Deepika Nambiar is part of the IIK team and IWIK core team. She does regular contributions to the news portal IndiansinKuwait.com and also for Timesofindia.com.
View full profile