Watchfinder Explained
| Watchfinder |
| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Timepieces |
| Founder: | Stuart Hennell
Lloyd Amsdon |
| Foundation: | United Kingdom, 2002 |
| Location City: | Kings Hill |
| Location Country: | UK |
| Services: | Resale |
| Revenue: | £68 million, GBP (2016)[1] |
| Parent: | Richemont |
| Num Employees: | 200+ |
Watchfinder & Co. is an online retailer of second-hand watches based in Kings Hill, United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest seller of second-hand watches.[2]
History
By 2015, watches sold through the site totalled £155 million,[3] and annual turnover was £68 million in financial year 2015-16. Online traffic amounts to around 6.7m unique visitors per year, putting it among the highest rates for any horological website.[4]
In addition, the brand is notable for several innovations in the industry:
- It was the first UK website dedicated to the online sale of second-hand watches when it started in 2002.
- It was the first retailer to offer a "buy-back guarantee", in which the company refunds the cost of a watch if returned in good condition after two years.[5]
- It services and repairs at least 600 watches per month in-house.[6]
- It publishes an online magazine, The Watch Magazine. Published quarterly, it has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.[7]
Watchfinder has been recognised for business success by several industry awards[8] [9] and is an alumnus of the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.[10]
The company was purchased by Richemont in 2018.[11]
Notes and References
- Web site: Pre-owned watch specialist Watchfinder has been listed among the 100 fastest growing companies in the UK.. Watch Pro. 5 November 2016.
- Web site: Watchfinder to open bricks-and-mortar store. dead. https://archive.today/20140821200211/http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-10430-watchfinder-to-open-bricks-and-mortar-store/. 21 August 2014. Professional Jeweller. 16 November 2011.
- Web site: Perfect timing. City A.M.. 24 August 2015.
- Web site: Buttery. James. Watchfinder scoops Ecommerce Business award. WatchPro. 6 November 2014.
- News: Watchfinder buoyed by free-floating franc. Financial Times. subscription.
- Web site: Doherty. Kate. Watchfinder unveils Omega and Longines Service Centre. Retail Jeweller. 20 June 2012.
- Web site: Buttery. James. New watches enter the Watchfinder mix. WatchPro. 17 March 2014.
- Web site: Buttery. James. Watchfinder named Retail Hero 2014. WatchPro. 26 November 2014.
- Web site: Jeanes. Will. Watchfinder & Co in Maidstone named Watch Retailer of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards at Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London. KentOnline. 12 August 2014.
- Web site: Watchfinder. Fast Track. The Sunday Times.
- Web site: Richemont to buy Watchfinder as pre-owned watch market heats up. https://web.archive.org/web/20180602140323/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-watchfinder-m-a-richemont/richemont-to-buy-watchfinder-as-pre-owned-watch-market-heats-up-idUKKCN1IX5HQ . dead . June 2, 2018 . Reuters. 7 June 2018.
