Fair news 2008

HIGHER AND HIGHER

We set off for this year’s fairs with mixed feelings, the endless discussions about the turbulent development of the stock exchange and the fraught situation in the American real estate sector only too present in our minds. However, after a quick walk past the booths, all of our fears quickly disappeared and were replaced by a feeling approaching euphoria.
Already on the first day, the CEOs and proprietors of the major Swiss watch brands appeared in a cheerful mood, and in many places, the increase in orders reached high double-digit percentage figures.

Our friends from the American retail business also flocked in large numbers to Basel and Geneva, radiating enormous optimism, and they, too, experienced bottlenecks in their stock supplies.

Contrary to the current evaluation by the stock exchange relating to luxury goods retailers, the watch and jewellery business is only at the beginning of what promises to be the biggest growth phase ever. This is all too clearly demonstrated by the sheer number of Asian purchasers attending the shows.
The Swiss watch and clock industry is flourishing – and how! Together, we should rejoice in this development and be proud of our success!