My business idea

[ShadownINja]

It's not exactly rocket science or new. Here's the thing. As many of you know, I am quite a fan of Aeromatic watches (the ones Werners sell), particularly the automatic ones. I was doing some research and found out that they are in fact Chinese watches... maybe the straps are put on the cases in Germany so they can call them German watches or maybe they get buxom Bavarian wenches to jiggle the watches in their heaving bosoms, I can't remember.

It got me thinking. I like cheap automatic watches that have a quality feel, so why not source a Chinese watch manufacturer and sell re-branded sub-£100 automatic watches myself... models that I would be proud to wear on my wrist... ones like those sold on Werners' website?

WRT Chinese watches, I currently have experienced
-one slightly strange watch (Aeromatic's Tri-phase Regulator)
-one normal watch (Aeromatic's Berliner)
-one quartz (Astroavia S8 - looked nice enough but very light and therefore felt cheap)
-one cheapy cheapo (lk colouring, it went wrong within days) and
-another cheapy cheapo "China Army" which is still ticking on and seems to keep good time although it looks a bit too bling for my liking and the design elements are poor.

All in all, my experience of Chinese watches seems pretty positive in terms of reliability and feel. Something I feel is necessary as I have to believe in the product to sell it.

The trick is (1) choosing the right designs (2) finding a reliable, trustworthy source (3) marketing (4) branding

(1) Well, that's down to me. I like to think I have good taste when I can be bothered. I have a very good eye for design, anyway. This is part of my former career.
(2) This is the tricky part. I need (a) samples to test (b) a company who doesn't insist I send them £10k before they send me products.
(3) This is easy as it's my former career.
(4) Again relevant to my former career so fairly straightforward.
(5) There is no (5). Pay attention.

So, is this a stupid idea? What am I over-looking?

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 5th May 00:47

[micky g]

I don't think it's a stupid idea, but I am certain that it lives or dies by your skill in marketing the product.

[lenientism]

I will only provide clients quality product, or give them sufficient information related to the product, sell at lower price for the lower quality products.

I have my skin with hypersensitivity against watches metal made of, cheap watch is an apparent allergen to itch my wrist. Sensitivities vary from one person to another and it is possible to be allergic to an extraordinary range of substances.

It will give us more benefit from selling average product at price level approaching that of genuine quality. But I think we have to responsible also whenever we have clients in trouble for using the products...
I'd rather being selective for watches, only use them the original titanium made of...

[V8mate]

The biggest problem which I see with your idea, OP, is that we currently live in brand-driven times. People want to wear a 'name' - whether it's their pants and socks or their watch, they want the brand to be recognisable to all who see it. And whilst women like 'lovely things', I'd say that men are worse for wanting the brand name visible.

Finding people who are happy to enjoy your product's form alone, may be a tough gig.

[ShadownINja]

V8mate said:

The biggest problem which I see with your idea, OP, is that we currently live in brand-driven times. People want to wear a 'name' - whether it's their pants and socks or their watch, they want the brand to be recognisable to all who see it. And whilst women like 'lovely things', I'd say that men are worse for wanting the brand name visible.

Finding people who are happy to enjoy your product's form alone, may be a tough gig.

I know what you mean but at sub-£100, I am not competing with Rolex etc. Most other manufacturers in this price range produce the usual quartz units, and that is why I think Werners does well and Aeromatics do sell on ebay. I will, of course, have to invest in some market research.

[Andrew[MG]]

Sounds like a good and viable idea to me. I was going to buy one of their watches recently but my girly wrists would be dwarfed by their size

[ShadownINja]

Andrew[MG] said:

Sounds like a good and viable idea to me. I was going to buy one of their watches recently but my girly wrists would be dwarfed by their size

Thanks. I have girlie wrists, too, and found the Berliner/Frankfurt were a nice size. Actually, the 40mm aviator style watches should be ok, too. What am I saying? Just wait. I'll launch a Girlie watch just for you.

[RichBurley]

V8mate said:

The biggest problem which I see with your idea, OP, is that we currently live in brand-driven times. People want to wear a 'name' - whether it's their pants and socks or their watch, they want the brand to be recognisable to all who see it. And whilst women like 'lovely things', I'd say that men are worse for wanting the brand name visible.

Finding people who are happy to enjoy your product's form alone, may be a tough gig.

I think a bigger problem is the capital required to fund this idea.

Almost certainly, a chinese manufacturer would expect a bulk order in the thousands to make the proposition worthwhile. Customers will want the watches far quicker than the time it takes to place an order to china for a bulk supply and then receive them. Is the OP a broker or a retailer? If he is retailing, then he needs to have decent stock levels of all types of watches. That isn't going to be cheap...

[ShadownINja]

Duly noted!

[mas99]

Are you not describing werners business?

[ShadownINja]

mas99 said:

Are you not describing werners business?

Yes, I am, but will be offering different designs. There are design elements that I like that Werners/Aeromatic don't produce.

Like I said, it isn't new or original.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 5th May 13:17

[maser_spyder]

ShadownINja said:

It's not exactly rocket science or new. Here's the thing. As many of you know, I am quite a fan of Aeromatic watches (the ones Werners sell), particularly the automatic ones. I was doing some research and found out that they are in fact Chinese watches... maybe the straps are put on the cases in Germany so they can call them German watches or maybe they get buxom Bavarian wenches to jiggle the watches in their heaving bosoms, I can't remember.

It got me thinking. I like cheap automatic watches that have a quality feel, so why not source a Chinese watch manufacturer and sell re-branded sub-£100 automatic watches myself... models that I would be proud to wear on my wrist... ones like those sold on Werners' website?

WRT Chinese watches, I currently have experienced
-one slightly strange watch (Aeromatic's Tri-phase Regulator)
-one normal watch (Aeromatic's Berliner)
-one quartz (Astroavia S8 - looked nice enough but very light and therefore felt cheap)
-one cheapy cheapo (lk colouring, it went wrong within days) and
-another cheapy cheapo "China Army" which is still ticking on and seems to keep good time although it looks a bit too bling for my liking and the design elements are poor.

All in all, my experience of Chinese watches seems pretty positive in terms of reliability and feel. Something I feel is necessary as I have to believe in the product to sell it.

The trick is (1) choosing the right designs (2) finding a reliable, trustworthy source (3) marketing (4) branding

(1) Well, that's down to me. I like to think I have good taste when I can be bothered. I have a very good eye for design, anyway. This is part of my former career.
(2) This is the tricky part. I need (a) samples to test (b) a company who doesn't insist I send them £10k before they send me products.
(3) This is easy as it's my former career.
(4) Again relevant to my former career so fairly straightforward.
(5) There is no (5). Pay attention.

So, is this a stupid idea? What am I over-looking?

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 5th May 00:47

You need to talk to me! PM me.

See my other posts, already helping lots of other PHers source goods from China, as I have offices and my own staff over there who can find, negotiate and deal with factories. Dealing with us works out cheaper than dealing with a trading company (as we have Chinese staff, we deal with the factories directly rather than through trading companies).

Almost all Chinese factories don't have their own international sales departments, they rely on the trading companies to find customers for them. By bypassing these and going to factory direct (which you can't do unless you're in the country and speak Chinese!), you can get better service, and save money.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[maser_spyder]

Forgot to add, I have a friend who started doing wallets (nice ones) out of India. He's making a killing, doing really well, so there's really nothing to stop you.

Also forgot to add, if you use us, we can arrange smaller initial orders (again, having staff in the country helps), and smaller, regular orders rather than one large order every month/quarter etc.

A trading company wouldn't make enough money from this to warrant dealing with you, hence asking for a large MOQ. We're not so fussy.

We can arrange shipping by air (expensive but quick), or alternatively shipping by sea with our regular orders. Unless you're buying a large-ish quantity, shipping will be almost free, or very low cost. The most expensive bit is normally paying for part load port, docs, agents fees. If you ship with goods already arriving in to the country with our other clients stock, you can pay a 'share' of these fees to save yet more cash.


If you thought it couldn't get any better.... We also run a warehouse where we can pick/pack and dispatch your items directly to your customers, so you never need to see the stock, or pick up a box. Again, with economies of scale, it would almost definitely work out cheaper to outsource your warehousing and dispatch, and would also leave you plenty of spare time to actually grow the business rather than spend your days packing boxes and going to the post office!

[ShadownINja]

• scratches chin* You've done this before.

Will PM you, thanks.

[maser_spyder]

ShadownINja said:

*scratches chin* You've done this before.

Will PM you, thanks.

Done it, doing it, and will be doing it more!

YHM - Good news....

[okgo]

ShadownINja said:

*scratches chin* You've done this before.

Will PM you, thanks.

Let us know when there are any jobs, Ta.

[ShadownINja]

okgo said:

ShadownINja said:

*scratches chin* You've done this before.

Will PM you, thanks.

Let us know when there are any jobs, Ta.

Well, I might need a hand in the future, but it's a bit early to know! Maybe I'll become the biggest employer in SW London in the next decade.