America Here We Come – Christopher Ward

We at Beckertime Blog enjoy all watches, that is what brings us a community together. You, our regular readers will know that this time last year I introduced a little known English brand. Which it would seem is growing and now has decided to expand into the United States of America.

Admittedly this happened a few weeks ago, nevertheless it is an exciting time for the brand as well as the watchnerds that reside in the USA.

English luxury watch brand Christopher Ward announced the launch of their first luxury showroom in the USA today (8th December 2014) – the independent brand’s first showroom outside the United Kingdom.

The new showroom, located in Nashua, New Hampshire, will focus on providing a private, concierge-style luxury shopping experience that guides customers to their perfect choice from the Christopher Ward portfolio and will also provide after-sales support.

Mike France, co-founder of the Christopher Ward brand, explains the strategy behind the new opening: “The USA is our largest market outside the United Kingdom and the new showroom enables us to further enhance the quality of the customer experience for such a vital customer segment. In particular, it enables us to provide a more personalized experience for our customers and also helps us to develop a stronger relationship with them. The showroom’s manager, Kip McEwen, has a background not only as a watch industry professional but also as a discerning consumer of our brand, adding to his credibility and to the exceptional depth of advice he provides.”

“As innovators of the world’s first pure-play online luxury watch brand we provide exceptional guarantees and service to ensure customer satisfaction. Our business remains primarily web-focused but our new US showroom enables us to give added service via a personalized concierge experience for those North American customers who wish to meet the Christopher Ward brand up close and personal through a private session. I’m sure that Kip and his team will deliver a truly outstanding luxury experience.”

The showroom interior adopts a welcoming, intimate décor that reflects the brand’s unpretentious style much akin to the office in the UK. It also provides a comfortable location for the ‘appointment-only’ showroom experience.

Canadian-born Kip McEwen is a long-standing devotee and advocate of the brand as well as being owner of over 120 Christopher Ward models. Kip has also been administrator of the independent Christopher Ward forum for over nine years and also has an extensive career background as a service manager for a major watch retailer in the US.

Recently semi-retired, the opportunity to manage the new showroom was simply too good for him to resist, he says: “I’m delighted to be so closely involved in this exciting expansion of the Christopher Ward brand in the US right here in my adopted home state. “I look forward to ensuring that the showroom builds on the extraordinary quality of the customer experience found at the flagship showroom at the brand’s UK headquarters. I’ve experience that service as a paying customer many times and I’m determined that the Nashua showroom will maintain the brand’s global reputation for truly outstanding service.”

A key focus of the showroom will be the new C9 Harrison 5-Day Automatic, the first model to house Christopher Ward’s first in-house movement, Calibre SH21. A lovely and clean timepiece that belies its low retail asking price. Visitors will also be able to play the brand’s recently launched online challenge – challengerSH21.com – where they can attempt to build a virtual SH21 movement against the clock.

The Christopher Ward showroom in Nashua offers proximity to the key hubs of Boston (45 mins), the greater New York area (4 hours) and also accessibility for Canadian customers, with Montreal only 4 hours drive. The ‘appointment only’ showroom will operate Monday through Saturday at 402 Amherst Street Suite 301, Nashua NH 03063 (Tel: 603-402-1153).

This may herald the very first in Christopher Ward’s expansion and potential hubs may grow around the rest of the World.