Chopard Partnership Convention 2015 in Tokyo

Mar 01, 2015,00:27 AM
 

I was invited by Chopard to its "Partnership Convention 2015".  "Partnership Convention" - this is the event where Chopard reports and presents the result of the previous year (2014) and initiatives they will take in the new year (2015), to the "stake holders" including, sales channels (ADs including the Department Stores), suppliers (?), and the media.


I would like to report based on the presentation of how much progress they made, what they accomplished in 2014, and how they intend to grow in 2015.  Impressive result and challenging goals they intend to accomplish.  Some are specific to Japanese market, but most I report here is about their global presence as well as growth plan.








Mr. Scheufele on the left and Mr. Ritzman (President of Chopard, Japan)



... and Mr. Dobeli, Sales Director of Chopard Japan on the right.



Mr. Scheufele gives opening speech.






State of the company in 2014:
- Position in the industry, continue to invest.
- Revenue level, Production level, and the number of the employee (more than 2000)
- First luxury brand factory (Fleurier) which the Switzerland government officials visited (and learn how to make watches)
- Purchase of Hotel de Vendome in Paris (the building Chopard Boutique is in) - great location of the plaza crowded with many luxury brands' boutiques
- Mille Miglia 25 years of passion
- Opening of Chopard Museum (1/ 2015)
- Lots of "Corporate Responsibility" activities for the world.
- As always, one of the most popular brands at Cannes Film Festival (and one of the biggest sponsor as well)

News Flash! (Convention was held on Feb. 23)



Congrats, both, and congrats Chopard!





Mr. Ritzman, CEO and President of Chopard Japan



- Stake holders and surrounding six goals presented last year and all were achieved
- Chopard Japan revenue is growing at the pace faster than expected.
- Mr. Scheufele and Ms. Caroline Scheufele both visited Japan last year.




Mr. Dobeli talks about the detailed accomplishment of 2014 and strategy for 2015 in JAPANESE!






- Investment in marketing increased substantially and as a result...
- The new products and Limited Edition all sold well.
- Various events, new locations opened and doing quite well.
- Sponsored FIA's WEC (World Endurance Championship) at Fuji Speedway.
- Introduction of the new product for 2015: "Superfast", collaboration with Porsche.
- L.U.C 35mm
- L.U.C Perpetual T in Platinum case
- Happy Sports 30mm Automatic
- etc....





Now, the Convention, Act II - Reception party where excellent retailers were awarded, as well as raffles where anyone could get something nice from Chopard (the top award was Mille Miglia watch!).






Started with Mr. Scheufele's "Kanpai!".







The top seller was awarded the trip to Geneva air ticket!




Some of the 2015 Novelties.










SUPERFAST!






Machine for WEC.













Phew!  Chopard has indeed accomplished quite a lot and I am so much impressed.  2015 will be again a year with the challenging goals, but I am sure they will do well.  I am looking forward to seeing more of their offering at Basel.

Thanks again for inviting me:

Chopard & Cie, S.A.
 Mr. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President

Chopard Japan
 Mr. Stephan Ritzman, President
 Mr. Thomas Dobeli, Sales Director
 and Ms. Ninomiya who were so kind to arrange my participation as well as various appointments.


Thanks!

Ken
This message has been edited by KIH on 2015-03-01 00:37:33 This message has been edited by MTF on 2015-03-01 02:56:51


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Comments: view entire thread

 

Most luxury brands improving in Japan

 
 By: MTF : March 1st, 2015-02:17
Thanks Ken for the convention report. Chopard Japan should not be surprised about sales improvement in Japan for them to describe as "above expectation". Most luxury brands like Audemars Piguet, Cartier, JLC and Montblanc are also reporting up to 400% inc...  

Yes, the same place...

 
 By: KIH : March 1st, 2015-03:17
... but I don't know the "bar" you mention. My father was in the opposite school as Mr. Tange's as an architect, so I am not a big fan, either :-) Well, as for the luxury brands performance, you may be right. But steady increase YOY including 2011 is stil... 

By the way, Melvyn, are you sure...

 
 By: KIH : March 5th, 2015-03:24
... about this statement? " Most luxury brands like Audemars Piguet, Cartier, JLC and Montblanc are also reporting up to 400% increase and some brands even 800%! This sounds impressive until we notice that the baseline was the almost zero sales in the aft... 

CORRECTION about Japan

 
 By: MTF : March 5th, 2015-04:17
Ken, Thank you for the question that requires clarification. My comments were based on private discussions with other brands' personnel and commentators. Not all luxury brands went unscathed after the 2011 Japanese disaster, following repeated global econ... 

Now I understand :-)

 
 By: KIH : March 5th, 2015-04:35
Chopard seems to have been enjoying steady growth despite those "swingy" times :-) Thanks. Ken

To Blame or Not to Blame?

 
 By: MTF : March 5th, 2015-04:54
Ken, It is a difficult choice for Japan sales directors and politicians and governments. Do they blame or credit 'outside' factors for their economic situation? If they blame the disaster for a poor baseline, does that mean that any improvement is not bec... 

In this country....

 
 By: KIH : March 5th, 2015-06:10
.. no one blames anyone, anything, even the nature, and no one takes the credit. No one expects much. It is what it is. That's how we "evolved". What is the point of blaming the nature. People are too powerless in front of the nature. Actually, we now rat... 

We both understand Wa and karma but

 
 By: MTF : March 5th, 2015-06:41
Ken, I understand and agree with your summary of Japanese Wa and karma situation. But as expatriate workers in Japan, we have bosses at HQ who require succinct summary of Situation, Target, Action and then Results. We always need to identify cause, remedy... 

Sure we do, too.

 
 By: KIH : March 5th, 2015-07:15
Yeah, but I wouldn't do that so "systematically". Just "individually use each brain". I understand the principles and I agree. But just that those are done voluntarily and usually silently on my own. Think, respond and act individually, but collectively i... 

Wonderful report Ken, thank you!

 
 By: MichaelC : March 1st, 2015-16:08
How amazing is that calendar tourbillon...mama mia! I love it. I know one day I will add a Chopard to my collection.

The 2015 Chopard novelties may sway your "one day"...

 
 By: MTF : March 2nd, 2015-01:46
Michael, The Chopard novelties for 2015 have rocketed to the top of my 'wish list' in both LUC and Mille Miglia ranges; like they NEVER have before! These are THE novelties we've been dreaming of for years..... The Swiss National Bank uncapping of foreign...  

I sure hope so!

 
 By: MichaelC : March 4th, 2015-13:39
I really want to join the "official" Chopard owners group :-) Lots of tempting offerings, definitely a brand with great momentum.

Ken, wow, what a great opportunity.

 
 By: CaliforniaJed : March 5th, 2015-08:56
Thanks so much for attending and covering the event. (And thanks to Chopard for inviting you.) This looks to have been an interesting opportunity to see the business side of Chopard. I am always curious to see the business culture behind the products and ... 

I felt truly honored!

 
 By: KIH : March 5th, 2015-13:37
Thanks, Jed! Ken