NEWS: Time Gallery closed after all

The reason for it was low activity at watch market and disability to maintain specific business, claim watchmakers from Novosibirsk. Besides, the shop's location in a distant place might also be the reason for closing. The director of Time Gallery didn't give any comments on the situation, and he is on holiday at the moment. Consul head office in Moscow didn't make any official comments either.

Consul expected Time Gallery to become a shop of a completely new format for Russian watch market. Brands from Switzerland (Mido, Certina, Jacques Lemans, Tissot), Japan (Casio, Seiko, Q & Q, Citizen, Orient), Europe (Festina, Elysee), Russia (Chaika, Record, Vostok) and Korea (Romanson) of different price categories (from 3 up to 1000 USD) are available on 500 square meters of the shop. The shop was targeted at middle class, which automatically excluded competition with Consul. Besides, the new format implied a full specter of service: selling, guarantee and post-guarantee servicing.

Market participants remember that the project was announced as an experiment. Having no doubt about innovation of the project, experts had different opinions on its success. Market specialists are sure that watch hypermarket is a quite competitive project.

However professional watchmakers don't think it's a good idea, because watch market is a very specific kind of business. Sales technology, invented by consul company, changed 100-year sales experience of expensive watches. Swiss watches have always been most reputable watches and it is the worst mistake to mix them with other manufacturers, says Tatyana Bruyhanova, the manager of Jeneva watch shops.