New interview with FHB

[neal.jy]

Unfortunately I haven't yet reached the post count to be able to post links on the forums.. but a quick Google search for "glion François-Henry Bennahmias" should return the link to the latest interview with FHB.

On the plus side, looks like they're looking to further improve the ergonomics; on the not-so-plus side, looks like they're not planning to increase production anytime soon - "[...] The biggest mistake the luxury watch industry made over the past 10 years is that they manufactured too many watches.

If we launch a watch and it’s absolutely stunning, I’m sure we can sell a thousand of them. But if we only make 300, we are creating desirability. Luxury is about keeping the tension between offer and demand[...]" -FHB.

[GreenLantern]

The biggest mistake everyone is making now is not manufacturing enough.

I agree there should be scarcity and desirability, but not *this* much.

A $35k Green 5711 should not be listing for $400k.

[gretch6364]

In my personal, uneducated (as it relates to the economics of collectibles and luxury items) supply is not fully the problem and if I was in FHBs shoes, I would be doing the same thing. Gotta play the long game.

There is something bigger going on in the watch world outside of people wanting to wear and own nice watches. The market has become speculative and people are buying watches and not consuming them in any way. I know we are blessed with an international group of members here, which is awesome and may help with this analogy since it isn't as personal to them.

Not a direct comparison, but similar in certain ways, is the the ammunition shortage in the US. Manufacturers are making more ammo then ever, but because of the optics of a shortage, people just keep buying all they can get, even when they don't use or need it. Once the ball started rolling down the hill, no matter how much they make, it is still hard to get. Because of that, people buy it anytime they can for when they might want to consume it (hunting and target practice).

I live in Colorado, which has some of the best big game hunting in the entire world. Friend finally drew his moose tag this season and bought a new rifle for the hunt in a larger caliber then his elk rifle. It was almost impossible for him to find enough ammo to sight in his scope and break in the barrel. He had to order online after hours of looking and the prices are INSANE.

There is no logical way that enough people are needing 300 Win Mag to create a shortage. People are just buying because they fear they can't get it when they need it.

Luxury watches seem similar in that people are just buying as many as they can when they are available to them because it is an investment to them and they can flip them. if everyone just calmed the heck down and only bought the watches that they were going to actually wear, there would be plenty to go around. The commoditization of watches and them being turned into "investments" and profit vehicles is ruining it for those that just want 4 or 5 nice watches to freaking wear. It is frustrating and I hate it.

[macrowatch]

Didn’t you’d hear? Moose caliber decided to go up market. Couldn’t let lack of differentiation against elk caliber hold back its prestige. While demand was way up, also decided constricting supply of the caliber was the best bet to cement the inflated prices.

Also, since it’s illegal for Greenlantern to protect himself against Buffalo that might lift his watches, Moose is the only game left in town.

All that aside, I think FHB has it dead on taking a page from Hermes CEO. They are in the business of creating emotion and desire.

[gretch6364]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

Didn’t you’d hear? Moose caliber decided to go up market. Couldn’t let lack of differentiation against elk caliber hold back its prestige. While demand was way up, also decided constricting supply of the caliber was the best bet to cement the inflated prices.

Also, since it’s illegal for Greenlantern to protect himself against Buffalo that might lift his watches, Moose is the only game left in town.

All that aside, I think FHB has it dead on taking a page from Hermes CEO. They are in the business of creating emotion and desire.

LOL. It is actually a bigger deal then one would think to pull a CO moose tag. I think he had a 1.7% chance after almost a decade of applying. Plus, if he gets one, he is done for the rest of his life. While the 300 Win Mag obviously shoots the same bullets as his 300 Win Short Mag, the short mag is only really a 500 yard gun. His new rifle, which the moose tag was a good excuse to spend $5K on, is a 1,000 yard gun. He just never got the accuracy needed out the WSM for one reason or another.

Luckily I also drew a killer Utah archery elk tag. I will let you know in a couple weeks how it goes. Moose is first week of October. Gonna be some amazing time with my best friend since kindergarten. Obviously, I understand big game hunting isn't for everyone or possible in most of the world, but when you have been blessed with 8.3 million acres of public land in Colorado alone, you have some different hobbies then then others that don't have the same access.

My lunch break yesterday:

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

Didn’t you’d hear? Moose caliber decided to go up market. Couldn’t let lack of differentiation against elk caliber hold back its prestige. While demand was way up, also decided constricting supply of the caliber was the best bet to cement the inflated prices.

Also, since it’s illegal for Greenlantern to protect himself against Buffalo that might lift his watches, Moose is the only game left in town.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by gretch6364

Luxury watches seem similar in that people are just buying as many as they can when they are available to them because it is an investment to them and they can flip them. if everyone just calmed the heck down and only bought the watches that they were going to actually wear, there would be plenty to go around. The commoditization of watches and them being turned into "investments" and profit vehicles is ruining it for those that just want 4 or 5 nice watches to freaking wear. It is frustrating and I hate it.