Date:04/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/11/04/stories/2004110401330700.htm

Back Carl F. Bucherer launches watch range

Our Bureau

Mr David Vallata, Area Sales Director, Carl F Bucherer, with a model during the launch of the designer watch range from Switzerland, in Kolkata on Wednesday. — Parth Sanyal

Kolkata , Nov. 3

CARL F. Bucherer, a major retailer of watches in Switzerland, has launched a range of select watches in the Indian market.

The watches, which are priced in the range of 2,000-12,000 Swiss francs (approximately Rs 75,000-Rs 4.50 lakh), are currently being retailed through three outlets in Kolkata, Delhi and Chandigarh.

Speaking to newspersons at a news conference held here on Wednesday, Mr David Vallata, Area Sales Director of Carl F. Bucherer, said there are plans to augment the points of sale in India to 15 by 2008.

The company hopes to sell 200 units of Carl F. Bucherer watches at the retail level in 2005.

Sales would be driven by advertisements and events, Mr Vallata said, adding that there are no plans to engage the services of any celebrity brand ambassador to push sales.

According to him, Carl F. Bucherer is bullish about the potential of the Indian market, since people are increasingly making fashion statements in terms of the clothes and watches they wear.

He cited the instance of Greater China comprising China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which is currently a major market for Carl F. Bucherer watches. The company has around 40 points of sale in Greater China.

Carl F. Bucherer has on offer seven families of watches. Each family, in turn, has 20 versions.

As such, the company has on offer over 140 watch variants from the entry-level to the high-end variants, according to Mr Vallata.