MECHANICAL WATCH SPECIALTY SHOP STAFF INTERVIEW MR SAEKI, MANAGER, WING AEON MALL HAKUSAN
Mr Saeki, manager of the WING AEON MALL Hakusan shop, which is currently holding the ZEROO Watch Fair, spoke about ZEROO.
(ZEROO) WING is one of the top-class mechanical watch specialty shops in Japan with several shops in Hokuriku.
(Saeki) It is the mission of a watch specialty shop to disseminate information on new watches and brands, but the trigger was when a watch connoisseur customer told me about the ZEROO tourbillon (note: a complicated watch mechanism that corrects errors in gravity by rotating the heart of the watch). The first time I saw a ZEROO tourbillon was when a watch connoisseur told me about it.
THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST FOR WING TO HANDLE IT BY ALL MEANS. WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT TOURBILLONS THAT COST AT LEAST SEVERAL MILLION YEN WERE PRICED AT A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND YEN, I WAS VERY INTERESTED, BOTH PERSONALLY AND AS A BUSINESS.
(ZEROO) WAS THAT SO? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU WERE INTERESTED IN THE WATCH WHEN YOU SAW IT IN PERSON.
(SAEKI) YES. IT IS A UNIQUE WATCH IN TERMS OF DESIGN, AND SWISS-MADE TOURBILLONS ARE PRICED IN THE MILLIONS OF YEN TO MORE THAN 10 MILLION YEN IN THE MARKET, AND ZEROO TOURBILLONS ARE PRICED IN A DIFFERENT ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.
(ZEROO) What is the reaction of customers who have actually purchased the watch?
(Saeki) Customers are still very satisfied with the price and design and the fact that the watch is equipped with a tourbillon.
(ZEROO) WHO ARE THE MOST FREQUENT BUYERS OF ZEROO TOURBILLONS?
(SAEKI) MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS ALREADY OWN SEVERAL WELL-KNOWN, HIGH-PRICED MECHANICAL WATCH BRANDS AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TOURBILLON MECHANISM. EVEN IF THEY DO NOT KNOW THE ZEROO BRAND, THEY ARE "CONNOISSEURS" OF MECHANICAL WATCHES AND UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF A ZEROO TOURBILLON.
IN THIS SENSE, ZEROO IS "THE BRAND OF CHOICE FOR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE PARTICULAR ABOUT THEIR WATCHES". IN FACT, WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE ZEROO BRAND OR THE TOURBILLON MECHANISM BUY A ZEROO. MANY OF THEM LIKE THE DESIGN OR WANT A UNIQUE WATCH THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WEAR WITH OTHERS.
(ZEROO) THANK YOU. IN THE PAST, CUSTOMERS TENDED TO GO FOR WELL-KNOWN BRANDS, BUT NOWADAYS, MORE AND MORE CUSTOMERS WANT A WATCH THAT IS NOT SEEN BY OTHERS AS AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR INDIVIDUALITY.
(Saeki) That's right. I feel that watches are becoming more and more about status, fashion style and the customer's own self-expression of his or her own watch preferences, rather than about the function of looking at the time.
(ZEROO) Which watches are the most popular models?
(Saeki) The tonneau-shaped T4 is by far the most popular. Next in popularity is the automatic T3.
(ZEROO) You yourself wear a ZEROO T4 Tourbillon (ZT004BBK).
(Saeki) I like using it very much. Not only because of the design, but also because it is light and comfortable to wear. I am often complimented on it by customers, which makes me happy. I also have a sense of superiority as a Tourbillon wearer myself.
(ZEROO) BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR HOBBIES WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOU SEEM TO EMPATHISE WITH THEM AS IF YOU WERE FRIENDS WITH THEM. DO YOUR MANY HOBBIES HELP YOU IN YOUR WORK?
(Saeki) That's right. When we have something in common with our customers, such as watches, cars or shoes, we enjoy talking with them, and often the next thing you know, they are buying a watch. The customer may feel that they have come to chat with a watch-loving friend rather than to buy a watch (smiles).
(ZEROO) IT'S QUINTESSENTIAL. IT'S FANTASTIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.
〒924-8777
Lot 1066, 1st floor, 1st city block in Yokoe-cho, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan Land readjustment project construction area
Wing AEON MALL Hakusan
TEL 076-259-6610
Opening hours : 10:00-21:00