Welcome to the latest edition of The Moodie Davitt Spotlight Series eZine, in which we turn our attention to TimeVallée, an innovative retail concept that has gained tremendous traction and acclaim over recent years.
Although owned by luxury powerhouse Richemont, which created the business in 2014, TimeVallée is anything but a parochial, in-house enterprise. Instead, it hosts a glittering line-up of the watchmaking world’s finest brands from both within and outside the group.
In less than a decade, TimeVallée has become an outstanding showcase for watchmaking excellence and innovation, opening 36 stores worldwide (35 permanent and one pop-up) with several exciting additions in the pipeline.
What began as a China-only concept, dedicated to serving burgeoning interest in fine timepieces across the vast Chinese nation, is now a truly international concept that embraces multiple formats and varying geographies.
TimeVallée is far more than a luxury watch store. As Global CEO Michael Guenoun explains in a compelling interview, each boutique is designed to be a destination in itself, both for long-time watch aficionados and, crucially, newcomers to the high-end watch sector.
TimeVallée aims to create value for three partners, the Maison, the chosen retail partner and the end consumer. And, one could argue, a fourth partner – the luxury watch industry as a whole. For TimeVallée is as much about education and enlightenment in terms of consumer awareness of fine watches as it is about commerce.
To ensure that is the case, TimeVallée brings not only a well-proven retail concept and brand connections to its partners but also extensive staff training and retail expertise.
As we describe in this edition, TimeVallée is rapidly increasing its travel retail footprint – again across diverse markets and formats. You can discover a particularly thrilling case study at Hamad International Airport in association with Qatar Duty Free as a show-stopping element of the Doha gateway’s magnificent new expansion.
There are and will be many more incarnations in the travel retail channel, from smaller but well-executed examples at sea with MSC Cruises to some of China’s most exciting domestic air terminal developments. Excitingly, as we reveal, some of them will feature Watchfinder, Richemont’s highly successful, pre-owned, pre-loved luxury watches concept.
Enjoy this edition of our acclaimed Spotlight Series, undoubtedly one of our most exciting to date.
– Martin Moodie, Founder & Chairman, The Moodie Davitt Report
