How a Scrappy British Watch Brand is Schooling Rolex (And Everyone Else)
The most disruptive force in luxury watches isn't Swiss. It's British, internet-only, and run by a CEO who gives out his personal email address.
Meet Christopher Ward—the watch brand that went from $17 million to £50 million in three years by doing everything the "luxury" playbook says you shouldn't do. No fancy boutiques. No celebrity ambassadors. No 34x markups that make your accountant weep.
Instead, they let their customers literally design their watches through an online forum with 16,600+ members who roast and praise the brand with equal passion.
While Rolex creates artificial scarcity, Christopher Ward creates radical transparency. While others chase heritage, they chase honest conversations. And their strategy is working, as I discuss in the article for which this episdoe is based, How To Succeed In Watches Without Being Rolex: Christopher Ward Edition.
80% growth last year and a bespoke business that's grown 10x, creating custom watches for everyone from Google's watch club to Netflix.
In this episode, discover:
- Why giving customers your CEO's email is brilliant business strategy
- How one influential review quadrupled their sales overnight
- The "British Art of Bespoke" that's generating $5M annually
- Why their 3x markup rule is crushing 34x luxury competitors
- How treating watch newbies like future CEOs built unstoppable loyalty
From forum-powered product development to turning customers into co-creators, Christopher Ward proves you don't need centuries of heritage to build something timeless.
Warning: After listening, you might question everything you thought you knew about luxury marketing.
Essential listening for entrepreneurs, brand builders, and anyone who loves David-beats-Goliath stories.
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