Attire Accessories - May/Jun 2019 (Issue 76)

PROFILE 65 MODE9 UK T: +44 (0)203 500 2517 W: mode9UK.com @mode9UK How has the product offering changed over the years, and how would you describe your current collection? Our portfolio of brands has grown in range, allowing us to cover a price point starting with an RRP of £45 for the Nowley ladies’ fashion watches going up to an RRP of £100,000 for the Emile Chouriet Tourbillon. Our collection of brands offers the consumer everyday, sport, dive, colourful fashion, elegant dress and 5.9mm slim watches, as well as elaborate timepieces with in-house innovations, such as the EPOS Oeuvre d’Art – Verso, Big Moon and the Emile Chouriet Tourbillon. How often do you launch new lines? Each brand has its own strategy when launching new watches and styles. The luxury and Swiss brands normally release new designs annually, at the Baselworld show in March. The fashion brands tend to release new models twice a year, with a Spring/Summer collection being released in March followed by the Autumn/Winter collection by September. We then add the new designs to our existing promotions. What trade shows do you attend, and which ones work best for you? We have taken part in three trade shows: Spring Fair, IJL and Salon QP. By far the best has been the SalonQP, hosted by Hearst Media Group at the Saatchi Gallery each year. When was the website launched, and how does it support the business? Our website was launched in 2016 as an informative site providing basic information on who we are, where we are based, the brands we distribute and where we sell. The site is being completely redeveloped by Red 13 Digital. What have been the key milestones in the business? Each of the brands that we have secured, the decision to venture into the UK market, trade shows where we have hosted a stand and signing up to work along with Cherish PR are all memorable moments. The Caribbean and Alaskan markets are seasonal and reliant on tourism. In addition, the Caribbean is regularly and adversely affected by severe weather, with 2017 having the most destructive hurricane season in a decade. In hindsight, the decision to venture into the UK market was a positive move, as the marketplace is quite different to the Caribbean and Alaska. How do you view the current market, and what trends – in both product and business – do you see emerging over the current months? The trend in the market has been challenging. The expected sales for products in the £100 to £700 RRP range has been poorer than anticipated. A number of clients have stated that there has been a slowing in the market. However, the expected sales of products selling with RRP below £100, as well as above RRP £1,000, has Mode9 portfolio UK • Continental • Emile Chouriet • EPOS • EverSwiss • Nowley CARIBBEAN / ALASKA • Continental • Emile Chouriet • EPOS • EverSwiss • Storm of London actually increased. There are a few economic, political and lifestyle factors that contribute to the trend. As any business that wants to continuing growing, we want to see a stable exchange rate and a liquid consumer base within a stable and growing economy. What are your future plans for the business? We would like to increase awareness of all our brands with the consumer, increase retail outlets and… watch this space! Is there anything else you’d like to add or say about the company? We feel blessed to be able to work alongside the brands we have in our portfolio. We are looking forward to meeting with new stores over the next few years with the aim of building a long-term business relationship with each client. The future is exciting!