Watchfinder
 Logo | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Timepieces |
| Founded | United Kingdom, 2002 |
| Headquarters | Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom |
| Services | Resale |
| Revenue | £38.7 million, GBP (2015)[1] |
Number of employees | 87[2] |
| Website |
www |
Watchfinder & Co. is an online retailer of second-hand watches based in Maidstone, United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest second-hand seller of watches.[3] By 2015, watches sold through the site totalled £155 million,[2] and annual turnover was £38.7 million[1] Online traffic amounts to around 4.9m unique visitors per year, putting it among the highest rates for any horological website.[4]
The Internet has allowed for a growing market of luxury watch sellers,[5] due to the investment holding value.[6] Watchfinder is described as a leader in this industry.[7] In addition, the brand is notable for several innovations in the industry:
- It was the first UK website dedicated to the online sale of second-hand watches when it started in 2002.[2]
- It was the first retailer to offer a "buy-back guarantee", in which the company refunds the cost of a watch if returned in good condition after two years.[8]
- It services and repairs at least 600 watches per month in-house.[9]
- It publishes an online magazine, The Watch Magazine. Published quarterly, it has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.[10]
Watchfinder has been recognised for business success by several industry awards[11][12][4] and is a alumni of the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.[13]
References
- 1 2 Onita, Laura (27 February 2016). "How I Made It: Lloyd Amsdon, co-founder of Watchfinder & Co". The Sunday Times.
- 1 2 3 "Perfect timing". City A.M. 24 August 2015.
- ↑ "Watchfinder to open bricks-and-mortar store". Professional Jeweller. 16 November 2011. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014.
- 1 2 Buttery, James (6 November 2014). "Watchfinder scoops Ecommerce Business award". WatchPro.
- ↑ Adams, Ariel (30 April 2014). "The Booming Market For Selling Your Luxury Timepiece Online: How Recommerce Is Dominating The Pre-Owned Watch World". Forbes.
- ↑ Burmon, Andrew (2 October 2013). "Why a Used Rolex Daytona Should Be Your Next Watch". Men's Journal.
- ↑ de Burton, Simon (7 September 2012). "Watch rental: Hired 'hands' may turn out to be a concept that has legs". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Watchfinder buoyed by free-floating franc". Financial Times. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ Doherty, Kate (20 June 2012). "Watchfinder unveils Omega and Longines Service Centre". Retail Jeweller.
- ↑ Buttery, James (17 March 2014). "New watches enter the Watchfinder mix". WatchPro.
- ↑ Buttery, James (26 November 2014). "Watchfinder named Retail Hero 2014". WatchPro.
- ↑ Jeanes, Will (12 August 2014). "Watchfinder & Co in Maidstone named Watch Retailer of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards at Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London". KentOnline.
- ↑ "Watchfinder". Fast Track. The Sunday Times.