Grand Seiko has opened a monobrand boutique in Honolulu, Hawaii with its long-standing partner Ben Bridge.
It joins a network of branded boutiques run directly by Grand Seiko in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, and with its partner Reeds in Atlanta.
Brice Le Troadec, president of Grand Seiko Corporation of America (GSA) and global strategy officer for Grand Seiko at Seiko Watch Corporation, says boutiques deliver significant uplifts to sales.
“Sales in New York have grown tremendously since we opened our flagship on Madison,” he tells WatchPro.
Grand Seiko operates a hybrid distribution model with a mixture of its directly operated boutiques in California, New York and Florida; monobrand stores with partners and multibrand accounts in smaller markets.
Retail partners have been ultra-cautious with taking on too much stock this year, but Mr Le Troadec says that sell-out has been strong.
The latest boutique with Ben Bridge in Honolulu adopts the clean, minimalist design of Grand Seiko’s own flagship stores, which links them to a Japanese aesthetic and the commitment to craftsmanship.
This is most clearly seen in Japanese woodwork known as kumiko adorn, which is used in the Hawaii store.
“Today marks an important milestone for Grand Seiko as we proudly open our first boutique on the beautiful island of Oahu in partnership with Ben Bridge,” Mr Le Troadec says.
“This collaboration signifies our commitment to expanding our presence in America and bringing the essence of Japanese craftsmanship and precision to this part of the United States. We are excited to embark on this journey with Ben Bridge, a partner who shares our passion for excellence, and we look forward to welcoming watch enthusiasts to experience the artistry and innovation that define Grand Seiko.”
Lisa Bridge, president and CEO of Ben Bridge adds: “As part of the Honolulu community for 35 years, we are proud to open the doors to our first Grand Seiko boutique, enhancing the experience we are able to offer to our Hawaii ohana and visitors alike. We deeply value our generational partnership and continue to be inspired by Grand Seiko’s precision in craftsmanship. We look forward to sharing it in this special environment.”
