Exhibition

It's Business as Usual

Time is the measure of business! And time never stands still! And at BASELWORLD, business generation never stops even though time stands still…even if the world is supposed to be in the throes of an economic slowdown.

Every Spring, the city of Basel in Switzerland, which is unique to the world of horology, witnesses the unfolding of a magnificent and mystical voyage. The one-and-only BASELWORLD International Watch and Jewellery Show is a high-profile, premium flagship event and ultimately has such a positive stimulating effect and impact on the reputation of the global entire timekeeping industry.

The 37th edition of BASELWORLD can be summed up in the words — passion, commitment, innovation and conviction. And it is this conviction that has resulted in the Show being the only one in the world attended by the entire watch and jewellery industry. And people come from far and wide; they come year after year; and bring new faces every year to the Mecca of time for their annual sojourn or pilgrimage! And these aspects inspire Sunil Karer (Managing Editor, Watch Market Review), Karishma Karer (Associate Director and Features Editor) and Anieta Vaghaiwalla (Features Writer) to keep returning to the Baselworld Show year after year with renewed passion and enthusiasm. It was an ideal time and opportunity to renew ties with old friends and make new ones against the backdrop of the Show that set new records…  

BASELWORLD 2009 boosts the global watch and jewellery industry
After eight successful days starting March 26 to April 2, 2009, BASELWORLD 2009 closed its doors, once again reaffirming its position as the leading international watch and jewellery trade show. On a site covering approximately 160,000 m2, 1,952 exhibitors from 45 countries showcased their latest products and innovations. Exhibitors and visitors alike spoke enthusiastically about their experience at the show and the business they did. Thanks to this sense of positivity, both exhibitors and visitors forecast new prospects for the industry as a whole.

Watch and jewellery manufacturers and representatives from related industries have been showcasing their exclusive new products and premium collections at BASELWORLD over the past eight days. With its unrivalled vibrancy, BASELWORLD proved once more its immense importance to all exhibitors as the absolute highlight of the watch and jewellery industry’s calendar.

World’s leading showcase
The innovations and trends presented confirmed BASELWORLD’s status as the world’s leading showcase within the watch and jewellery sector. No other show offered the diversity and synergies that enable BASELWORLD to provide an incomparable overview of what is happening in the luxury goods sector.

Driving force for the luxury goods industry
Suppliers of unique one-off watch and jewellery products rubbed shoulders with representatives from leading luxury goods companies, and the multicultural mix in the national pavilions - where exhibitors from all over the world present their non-branded products – these are what made BASELWORLD such a special event. The world’s key diamond and precious stone dealers were also out in force once again at this year’s BASELWORLD. It all goes to prove just how important the world show is as a stimulus to the luxury goods industry.

Great economic significance of BASELWORLD
The presence of Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin served to underline the great importance of the World Watch and Jewellery Show to the Swiss watch industry which, despite imminent economic difficulties, saw its exports increase to 17 billion Swiss francs in 2008 – thus making it the country’s third most important sector of industry. 95% of Swiss watch manufacturers are represented at BASELWORLD. The importance of BASELWORLD is also immense for the local and regionnal economy - with trades and businesses (the hotel and restaurant sector, stand construction companies, catering, travel, logistics etc.) benefiting each year to an extraordinary extent from this highlight in the trade show calendar.

Opening Day

BASELWORLD, the World Watch and Jewellery Show, was opened this year by Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin. Exhibitors displayed their innovative products to the most important buyers from all over the world over the eight-day event. In the current difficult economic climate, an international trade show such as BASELWORLD acted as a driving force for the entire sector.

Jacques J. Duchêne, President of the Exhibitors’ Committee, said, “This year is the 25th year of The Panel, which is a success story and an integral part of BASELWORLD’s its pursuit of excellence. The Panel is the show’s internal arbitration committee that investigates complaints related to offences committed against intellectual property rights registered during BASELWORLD.”

“The figure of Swiss watch exports still remains positive for 2008, positioned at 17 billion, thus an increase of 6.7% as compared to 2007. This figure is misleading; while it correctly represents our exports during the first half of 2008, it is no longer the case at all for the second half of 2008, particularly the last two months of the year. Furthermore, it refers to export figures and in no way to the sales figures to the public. Watch manufacturing, jewellery and its related sectors are, and will be to varying degrees, particularly vulnerable. Their main problem is on the one hand due to a lack of orders and on the other hand to a lack of assets, combined with a lack of visibility in some cases.”

“For more than 50 years in watch manufacturing, I have experienced several crises and we have always come out the other side. However, I think that companies which: - Have a good financial base; - Control their production while continuing to invest in research and development; - Demonstrate creativity; - Control their costs and their quality in a stringent manner; - Show extreme attention to the distribution of their product in order to prevent the impact of the grey market from spreading; and can - Ensure an irreproachable after-sales service on a global scale have a very serious chance of emerging from this crisis.”

“To summarise, I thus remain optimistic since, whatever happens, business will pick up again one day. At that time, companies of all sizes need to look into the manner in which they approach the future in relation to their own development. Our way of thinking should be differently orientated in relation to our current situation. Our attitudes and behaviour should change. We don’t know where the crisis will lead us, and yet I am convinced that times will change and that we will see a return to more traditional values.”

René Kamm, CEO, MCH Group, said, “This year, BASELWORLD is again showing its best side and we have invested the same amount
of money into the appearance of the exhibition as we have done in previous years! We are moving ahead with our new “Exhibition Centre” project, details of which I presented to you last year.  Since then, the project has overcome all political hurdles with flying
colours: 61.4% voted in favour of the development plan and financial contribution during the referendum held in the canton of
Basel-Stadt; whereas 61.1% voted in favour of financial assistance during the referendum held in the canton of Basel-Land. The most important conclusion is that by implementing various measures, we can keep to our cost projections whilst maintaining the architectural concept.”

“The two most important measures: The building volume has been altered slightly by reducing the height of the hall to eight metres on both upper floors and by reducing the size of the actual construction site; and the completion date has been put back from January 2012 to the opening of BASELWORLD 2013; in consultation with the Exhibitors’ Committee of the show.”

“Let me just quickly say a few things about the development of our company, which expanded on January 1st due to the integration of Rufener Events Ltd. - an events agency with international experience. At the same time, we changed our name and corporate design in January in order to better reflect the development over recent years from a location-bound exhibition company into an international live marketing group:  “MCH Messe Schweiz” became “MCH Group”. With our unique integrated network, today we are able to offer all services which are relevant to national and international exhibitions and events.”

Sylvie Ritter, Show Director, BASELWORLD, said, “BASELWORLD, ladies and gentlemen, is such an established institution. If any proof of this were needed, then it is surely the 2009 event! Because while the current economic crisis is at the heart of every conversation and despite the fact that it has an effect on everyone’s life, BASELWORLD has continued to develop its position as a global market leader thanks to the loyalty of its exhibitors.”

“No fewer than 40 companies have invested in the construction of a new stand in order to showcase their brands and products to even greater effect. There have only been very few cancellations from the jewellery sector, which has been heavily affected by the crisis, mainly due to bankruptcy. This year’s BASELWORLD is fully booked with regards to the gems and pearls sector, of which you – ladies and gentlemen – have yourselves spoken of as a “catastrophe”. I remind myself of what a buyer recently said: “It doesn’t matter whether the economic situation is good or bad, taking part in the trade show is voluntary. But not being in Basel is simply unthinkable! Put simply: not being at BASELWORLD means missing out on the opportunities which present themselves. If business is being done anywhere, then it is here in Basel!”

Satisfied exhibitors
This year, BASELWORLD once again reaffirmed itself as the leading global business platform for the watch and jewellery industry. And with results to match. For François Thiébaud, President of the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee, BASELWORLD 2009 was a great success. In his own words: “We were able to showcase our new products to buyers from all over the world and we’re extremely satisfied with how the show went. It was extremely well organised and it worked its magic for us once again”. Rolf Schnyder, President of Ulysse Nardin, was also very pleased: “The results for 2009 have been far better than we had expected. Once again, BASELWORLD has been the best place for us to meet specialist dealers and showcase our latest collections.”

A strong media and trade presence
For Luc Perramond, CEO of Hermès, BASELWORLD was without a doubt much more successful than many had been anticipating in the run-up to the show: “The mood was fantastic. There was a strong media and trade presence which has given our new range excellent coverage.” Jean-Christophe Babin, President of TAG Heuer, stresses this point as follows: “Over the course of one week, we have the attention of the world’s press in Basel – and these media representatives were there yet again in 2009. Therefore, BASELWORLD has once again offered us a fantastic platform where the entire watch industry can get together.”

BASELWORLD as a barometer for the rest of the year
For Rodolphe Schulthess, Sales Manager of Breguet, being able to stage a successful trade show is also very gratifying: “BASELWORLD is immensely important to Breguet.” Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Vice President of Chopard confirms this: “BASELWORLD is the highlight of the year and it’s also the barometer for the rest of the year. We do a large proportion of our business in Basel and get together with our clients and the press from all over the world.” This was once again the case for Chopard: “Even if there was a noticeable air of caution amongst a few of our clients.”

Expectations clearly surpassed
The jewellery sector was also very satisfied as the show drew to a close. “BASELWORLD has been a success. All major jewellers came to our stand, almost without exception”, says Christoph Wellendorff, Managing Director of Wellendorff. Lisa Foo, Marketing Manager of Pasquale Bruni, backs this up: “BASELWORLD is extremely important to us because it’s the one and only trade show we go to. Our expectations, which were initially a little conservative, were clearly surpassed.” Expectations were also exceeded in the gemstone and diamond sector. Markus P. Wild, Managing Director of Paul Wild, said that there was a large amount of visitor interest. According to

Chaim Pluczenik, CEO of The Pluczenik Diamond Company: “It just illustrates that even in these difficult times, BASELWORLD attracts all of the decision-makers for the entire industry.”

Strengthening its position as a global leader
BASELWORLD strengthened its position as a global leader with a total of 93,900 visitors coming to the show from around the world. Buyers also drew an equally positive conclusion from BASELWORLD 2009: “There is no other comparable event in the jewellery industry’s calendar which has the potential and scope of BASELWORLD”, according to Scott Martin, buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. “For all of us, BASELWORLD is the launch pad for the rest of the year.” For Michael Tay, Executive Director of The Hour Glass in Singapore, one thing is certain: “This year, BASELWORLD was once again the epicenter of the watch industry. As usual, I was able to gain a fantastic overview of current issues and trends in the industry.”

Buyers focus on BASELWORLD
Arif Ben Khadra, owner of Levant in Dubai, simply describes BASELWORLD as the most important watch and jewellery show there is: “Its importance has been borne out by the sheer number of exhibitors, purchasers and media representatives who once again have come to Basel this year. Anyone who is anyone in the industry has a stand in Basel.” Rajesh Gandhi, owner of Choron Diamond in Russia, especially appreciates the “unique and pleasant atmosphere which the organisers have managed to bring to the show once again this year. With its huge number of exhibitors from 45 countries, this watch and jewellery show exceeded my highest expectations.” For Mehul Choksi, Managing Director of the Gitanjali Group in India: “BASELWORLD is the world’s biggest and most important trade show. In good times as in bad, my colleagues and I can take or leave other trade shows, but that’s not the case with BASELWORLD.”

BASELWORLD is a must
The show’s good atmosphere and the satisfaction of the buyers also comes across in the survey conducted on behalf of BASELWORLD. Like last year, of those questioned, three quarters rated BASELWORLD 2009 as either good or excellent. As many as 78% of visitors in 2009 stated: “BASELWORLD is a must”. What has been on offer at the show, in all of the exhibition halls, has been judged to be of an extremely positive quality.

Increased internationality and strong customer loyalty
68.1% of those who visited BASELWORLD were from overseas (compared with 63.6% in 2008). 71% of those visitors questioned confirmed that they also intend to visit BASELWORLD next year; thus emphasising the strong ties the show has. When asked, those questioned said that the main goal of their visit to the watch and jewellery show was to gain an overview of the market. This was followed by networking, customer care, meeting new clients and information gathering about market innovations. Orders were slightly down on the previous year due to the global economic crisis.

For organisational reasons, BASELWORLD will no longer be able to complete these transformations as planned by 2012, and the final project is due to be completed in 2013. As a result, the organisers have moved the dates for BASELWORLD 2010, initially scheduled for 4 to 11 March, to 18 to 25 March 2010 and 24 to 31 March, 2011, to meet the demands of exhibitors.

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