People are always looking for something different and unique. Some people love the idea of a watch that expresses their individuality and has some style of its own. That’s one of the reasons why microbrands have been on the rise in the past 10 years to meet these demands. Creating your own watch brand can be a challenging task, but the more information you have the easier the process should be. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how you can create your own watch brand.
Step 1: Finding the Right Name and Logo Design
A brand name and logo are the first step in creating a brand. They will become the foundation of your company’s identity. In order to find the right name, you need to brainstorm a list of potential names, then narrow down your list to three or four, and choose the best one out of them. You should also try to find out if there are any similar names for your company that may cause confusion with consumers.
When it comes to logo design, you should make sure that it is unique and stands out from other logos in its industry. The logo should also have a clear message and meaning behind it. For example, if you are going to sell minimalist watches with the black on black color scheme, your company could be called The Black Company. This can help to differentiate your company from other companies with a similar name. The font style should be legible and simple enough to read. This can also be used to convey your message and ensure the logo is easily reproduced on different backgrounds. Avoid using overly complicated fonts or images that can’t be read quickly or make it difficult for consumers to remember what the company does or what it stands for. Keep it simple: In general, keep your logo design as simple as possible by using one or two colors, clean lines and an easy-to-comprehend shape.
Step 2: Research the Competition
The second step that you need to do is research the competition. You need to know what people are buying and what they like about those watches. Once you know this, you can start coming up with a plan. You will want to find out what the competition is offering, and then create something better or different. You might decide to make your own brand of watches and offer them at a lower price point than the competition. Or you might decide that the design of your watch needs improvement and come up with a completely new design. Creativity is what makes a business unique. Success in the watch business requires unique personal style and creativity.
Step 3: Create Your Watch Designs
Now it is time to create your watch designs! This includes choosing a case shape, dial color, strap material, case material, and the type of movement for each model that you want to make. Think about the style of watch you want to sell, as well as the type of consumers you want to target. A lot of watch companies sell watches aimed at preppy, athletic, or work-appropriate types. Think about what these would be for your company and choose colors accordingly. For example, if your company specializes in selling watches for people who are into the outdoors, then you can choose colors that are within the green to brown spectrum because these are colors that would be associated with the outdoors. If your target market is office workers, then your watch design should be primarily white and black, with maybe some hints of green or brown. Make sure that your watch design ties into the color scheme of your brand. It is important to remember that your designs should be unique. If you are selling a watch that is similar to another well-known brand, then your product won’t stand out as much.
Once you decide what designs and styles you should be producing, the next step to decide is whether or not you want your watches to be mechanical or quartz. Mechanical watches are more expensive and require maintenance, but they have a more traditional look and feel. Quartz watches are cheaper and easier to maintain but they lack the traditional look and feel of a mechanical watch. If you want something traditional, then consider using an automatic movement that is made by Miyota or Seiko, such as Miyota’s 821A/9015 or Seiko’s NH35/36. These movements, with proven reliability, are commonly found in microbrands and will last a long time. If accuracy and cost are a big concern to you, you should consider using Swiss quartz movements such as Ronda 762, 765, 715, etc. Although the Ronda quartz movement isn’t the prettiest movement, it is reliable, durable, and affordable with proven quality that can create a decent watch brand.
Step 4: Choose Where You’ll Manufacture Your Watches
Now that you have decided on your watch designs, it’s time to choose where they will be manufactured. This is an important decision because it will have a major impact on the cost of the watches and how quickly they’ll be delivered. If you decide that they should be produced domestically, say in the United States, you can expect to pay a lot more than if they are produced overseas. If you decide that they should be manufactured overseas, say in low-cost countries, then you’ll need to identify the watch manufacturer and coordinate with them. Many microbrands commonly manufacture their watches in China rather than say North America or Switzerland. Manufacturing cost is significantly lower there, and labor cost is comparatively much lower outside of the United States or Switzerland.
Next, you will need to decide how many pieces of each model you want to make. If you plan on mass-producing 300-500 units per model, then it would be better to manufacture in China because labor and material cost is cheaper there. However, if your production quantity is below 300 units per model, typically the manufacturer is less willing to make them due to all the setup hassle and costs associated with it. Unless there is a real great incentive for the manufacturer, typically, the minimum order quantity (MOQ) required would be 300-500 units per model.
Step 5: Make Working Prototypes
Once an agreement is made with a watch manufacturer on the production quantity, it will be necessary to have the manufacturer make production prototypes for you to test the feasibility of the design. If the design works functionally and aesthetically, it means you are on the right path. Production prototypes should be made as close to the final product as possible and should not have too many changes from the design once they have been approved. If a new setup is needed for new changes, a cost may be incurred.
Step 6: Decide How to Market Your Watches Online
Choosing how to sell your watches online is a decision that you will need to make for yourself. It all depends on what your goals are and what you want out of them. After the prototypes have been developed, it is usually best to have them reviewed by influential bloggers, popular YouTubers, or facebook focus groups. These individuals are in the best position to review your watches and advertise them online for you. These influencers often have large followings and can be worth the investment in them, as your brand might find it gaining traction from them quickly. These individuals become your strategic marketing tools that can be used to create buzz and awareness. There are pros and cons of product reviews by bloggers and facebook focus groups.
Pros:
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Great opportunities for exposure, recognition, and feedback.
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It’s a simple, quick way to validate your product idea.
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It can help you target specific audiences/market segments more easily.
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The cost is low enough (probably your time cost only) that it is usually worth the investment.
Cons:
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It can be difficult to please everyone that may have different demands, especially if you are not currently active in the community.
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It may not provide the best feedback on your design idea. You know the best what you’re making in terms of cost and future brand development, and they don’t and don’t care, as much as you do.
It is apparent that the product review process is becoming a necessary part of running a successful brand online nowadays. This process allows for changes and adjustments if necessary before mass production begins.
While it is not mandatory to use crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo in order to succeed, some brands do go a bit further to use them as a way to gauge the demand for their brand and watch designs and gain funding for the production. To do this, they have to invest time and money in the marketing campaign, making sure they have access to the right people in order to reach out and engage with their target audience.
Step 7: Mass-produce the design and grow
Once the watches are reviewed and demand is high enough, it is time to mass-produce them and sell them to consumers so that the brand can grow. This is straightforward.
Step 8: Finally, create a website for your watch brand
The website is the last step in the watch brand creation process while the manufacturer is busy producing your watches. A website should be designed as a reflection of what a company stands for. It is the first impression that people get of your brand, and therefore it is an invaluable marketing tool. The website should include easy-to-navigate features for consumers to learn more about your company and its products, and to buy your products with ease.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is actually not very difficult to create a watch brand of your own with the help of the right watch manufacturer who not only understands the craft of watchmaking but also understands what makes a successful watch brand. They should be able to support your business and help you grow even further. With the right marketing tools such as social platforms and YouTube, you will be able to advertise your brand on a global scale and increase your brand’s visibility and credibility in a matter of weeks or months. If you are passionate about owning your own watch brand, it is important to research which companies have the resources and know-how that you will need to help make your dream a reality. They are not only able to understand the intricacies involved in watchmaking, but they also understand what makes a successful watch brand and how to cater to their customer’s needs. The future is bright for those who are willing, passionate, and brave enough to pursue their dream, and start living it!