Since formally entering India in 2007, Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko has become one of the top three premium watch brands in the country. BW Businessworld’s Manish Kumar Jha talks to Susumu Kawanishi, Sr. Vice President and Niladri Mazumder, President, Seiko Watch Corporation about the brand, and the luxury watch market in India and abroad, among other things. Excerpts:
Mazumder: We didn’t start in 1958, we had a lot of collaborations going on. Officially, we started retailing in India in 2007 with a 100 per cent subsidiary. Of course, we have seen Seiko with our grandfathers and fathers, uncles and it has been passed on from one generation to another. So it’s been a pretty decent journey for us.
A Seiko product typically stands for substance. If we are charging a price for that, we assure that there is quality in that product and it’s not just marketing.
Our journey in India started with us being perhaps perceived as a brand which sells just above Titan. Today, we are selling our watches in the price range of Rs 30K. The Indian consumer has now understood that there is value in this product and it’s in tune with the rest of the world.
The first 11 years have been good. Our CAGR in the last five years has been around 15-20 per cent, which is not a bad growth rate, even in a growing economy like India.
We have only 13 national offices worldwide and India is one of them, although we sell in 180 countries. That shows how important India is to us not just now but from the future perspective also.
Please tell us how many watches you sell in India? Can you also tell us who your competitors are?
Mazumder: We have been one of the last watch brands to enter India officially. All the Swiss brands came a decade before us. They have had 10 years more than to us to build their brand in the country. The positive for us is that we have seen their mistakes and try not to make them. Our turnover is double compared to some of the Swiss brands that have been in the country for more than 20 years.
This story is from the November 24, 2018 edition of Businessworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 24, 2018 edition of Businessworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS
Ratan Tata was an exceptional human being. He was a visionary leader, esteemed industrialist, and a humanitarian, who left an indelible mark on India and the world.
The Robotaxi Market
The robotaxi market is shaping up to be a high-stakes battleground as tech giants and automakers race to transform urban mobility.
And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI
The recent Nobel Prize T awards to AI pioneers affiliated with Google have sparked a broader conversation about Big Tech's influence on research and the limitations of traditional prize categories.
Ola Electrified
Once considered a trailblazer in India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Bhavish Aggarwal’s Ola Electric now faces a major accountability crisis.
Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali
India’s index of industrial production (IIP) saw a sharp reversal in August, contracting by 0.1 per cent, in stark contrast to the 4.7 per cent growth in July, mostly because of significant contractions in mining and electricity generation.
Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification
RAJEEV KASHYAP on the economics of solar power, the hurdles in scaling it, and much more
A WELL-GREASED MACHINE
The OmniBook X14 laptop runs on first-generation Snapdragon X Elite, which bets big on Al-enabled productivity and battery life, but falls short when it comes to overall experience, says Deep Majumdar
DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
For a family of four living in a metro, it is recommended to opt for a family floater health insurance plan with a sum insured of at least Rs 15-20 lakh
Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures
ALBERT EINSTEIN FAMOUSLY said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment
We are on the stage of global warming, and these technologies not only help prevent further damage but also leave behind a better environment for future generations.