Beyond time

Beyond time

The time-telling devices in the region have moved beyond style statements to pieces of art and of course, big business.

August 8, 2009 11:11 by Ehtesham Shahid

Some brand-owners believe if a distributor has a foundation in the region in terms of the products and store concepts, and a philosophy surrounding how to sell products, then there is more to gain by leveraging expertise than going in 100 percent on its own. James Greenfield of Kenzo says his company’s partnership with the Chalhoub Group is based on “expertise in each market in terms of location, training and marketing” thereby helping extend its reach.

According to him, decisions that are taken with regard to point of sale are fully thought out and changes from company to company. “For some brands even assembly lines are done through third party manufacturers and still nobody questions the credibility of their products and services. So it is all about the quality of partnerships,” says Greenfield.

The advantage of long standing presence in the market though cannot be taken away. Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, for instance, opened its first shop in the old Souk of Dubai in the late 1950′s. The shop still exists and is maintained alongside its 50 other outlets across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, the vice president, sales and retail at the company, says the company got entrenched as a leading distributor because it could “ensure that market demands are met by identifying growth opportunities, be it location, portfolio or service for our array of clients.”

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Tags: business, buyers, consumers, Middle East, Money, style, swiss watches, UAE, watch