UK. Ambitious UK-based duty free company Scorpio Distributors has acquired the Time Design watch brand and intellectual property rights worldwide.
Scorpio has been the brand’s exclusive duty free distributor for over five years. In that period it has developed Time Design into one of the channel’s fastest-growing brands, mainly in the airline business.
Managing director Stuart McGuire said that following the acquisition of the brand, Scorpio will re-launch a full collection of high fashion time pieces throughout duty free and selected domestic markets. The brand has concentrated traditionally on offering high fashion quality watches at very competitive prices, and this will remain the core image.
McGuire said: “‘We have proved over the past few years that with the right designs, quality and approach it is possible to achieve staggering sales results in a highly-competitive market place. With the acquisition of the brand, we can now make a full investment on cutting edge new designs and sales techniques to ensure that Time Design remains one of the leading watch brands inflight, as well as growing sales in our domestic markets.”
Meanwhile, the company has also assumed the exclusive worldwide inflight distribution for the Police watches and sunglasses collection. The watch range is new to worldwide markets, having been launched in late 2003, and is aimed at the high-quality fashion market, with solid steel cases and bracelets, innovative registered designs, and high specification movements and construction. Duty free retail prices range from around US$99.00 to US$249.00.
The watch range and the established sunglasses line-up benefit from the brand’s association with football icon David Beckham, whose face is used in the global advertising campaign for the sunglasses. Already launched exclusively on Cathay Pacific from 1 January, the products will be previewed on selected airlines during 2004, including British Airways from 1 May.
McGuire commented: “The Police brand is already regarded as one of the world’s leading brands and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to market the watches and sunglasses in the airline territory. It is our intention to use the image of David Beckham wearing the sunglasses in the inflight sales magazines, which will undoubtedly lead to great sales and exposure for both the airline and the brand.”
In other news, Scorpio’s new extended website (www.scorpdis.com) goes live from 1 March. Already fully operational for inflight products, the site is being expanded to include travel retail and domestic products.
McGuire said: “Our aim was to be able to give our customers the opportunity to view our entire product ranges online while also enjoying the design and ease of use of the site. The entire project was conducted in-house, and is part of our development into e-commerce. We are currently working with a partner to offer a restricted online sales site, which will give the opportunity for selected consumers and customers to buy directly online, as well as monitor sales service, stock lines etc. This is all part of our continued dedication to 100% customer satisfaction.”
In another major development, Andrew Groom is joining the company as commercial director, effective 1 March. Groom is an experienced figure in duty free, having spent time with Allders (now Nuance), Britannia Scandinavia and British Airways (where he managed the Air New Zealand concession for two years) before he joined UK high street retailer Boots as men’s product manager. His role will be to develop and maintain the product ranges for Scorpio’s domestic and duty free items, as well as management of quality control and the supply chain.
McGuire commented: “We are delighted that Andrew has decided to join us in this challenging role. He brings excellent experience both from the travel retail and domestic markets, and will be key to our development and growth in these areas. As the rapid development of our business continues, we were looking for a professional and dedicated director to help us achieve our goal of 100% customer satisfaction and constant double-digit sales growth.
Background: Scorpio Distributors is a specialist distributor of branded watches and fashion accessories to the inflight, travel retail and domestic markets. Brands represented include:
– Lacoste Watches
– Pierre Cardin watches
– Beverly Hills Polo Club watches and fashion accessories
– Fila Watches
– Police Watches and Sunglasses
– Time Design watches
– Generic travel gifts
Since its creation in 1995, Scorpio has grown its business to over US$20 million in sales per annum. The Scorpio website – along with all travel retail inflight news – can be viewed by clicking on the image on the airlines page of The Moodie Report.com
