CORUM – Winning Back Latin America
“All the good and beautiful things achieved by Men were built by their dreams..”
Bernard Moitessier, French navigator, La Longue Route
After having taken over the Latin American & Caribbean market in February 2009, Montres CORUM Sàrl now announces the new organization of an area with tremendous untapped growth potential. In order to give the market all the attention it deserves, Antonio Calce, Corum CEO, appointed Laurent Peccavé as Regional Manager for the Caribbean & Latin America in October 2009.
Corum continues its know-how and skills integration and its distribution network management strategy in order to reinforce its presence in its key markets. A strategy that is being implemented with a regional manager working directly in the market with local agents. In order to meet the need for strong market growth, Corum has decided to handle directly the Latin American market. Managed by Corum HQ located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the Latin American market is under the responsibility of Laurent Peccavé, appointed Corum Regional Brand Manager.
Founded in 1955, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Corum displayed a determination to position itself in the forefront of the Swiss watch industry. Ever since, the brand’s primary objective has been to create long-term value. As an independent brand, Corum has focused on integrating the trades by promoting verticalization of its expertise, and has used this principle to guide its investments. The brand has endowed itself with the resources to do this by becoming the prime contractor for its movements and by handling the key stages of their creation and production.
Since 2005, Corum has been headed by brand CEO Antonio Calce. A firmly product-oriented, entrepreneurial and unifying figure, Antonio Calce is pursuing the long-term implementation of the product strategy initiated in 2005 and based on four key collections that have become the four pillars of the brand’s development. By highlighting its historical legitimacy and propelling the product to centre-stage, CORUM is enjoying strong sales growth.
In 2010, CORUM is celebrating three major anniversaries with the 55th anniversary of the brand’s creation, the half-century of the Admiral’s Cup collection and the 30th anniversary of the Golden Bridge. The time for Corum to celebrate its watchmaking legitimacy and pioneering spirit. A time to UNLOCK & CONQUER. At Baselworld, Corum will launch a 2010 collection displaying jubilee models that will pay tribute to creativity, and sophisticated technical and horological content.
If we focus on the following five countries (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela), and according to the FHS statistics, they accounted for 3% of worldwide watch exports in 2009, equivalent to 300 million Swiss francs. Incidentally, those five countries grew by 7.5% between 2007 and 2008.
For Corum, they constitute a promising area which will be a focus of attention for the brand and the countries we must be in to achieve an orchestrated winning back.
With ten sales outlets in the Mexican market, Corum is relying on its 20year brand presence and strong brand awareness to swiftly develop and assert its business. A first goal that will be achieved as a duo with one of the best agents in this area.
In Brazil, Corum must regain new sales outlets and will thus deploy its reconquest strategy by winning over the major players in this sector. With strong demand in the market, Corum must find the retailers that will become its reliable spokespersons.
Regarding Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela and other top Latin American markets, Corum will work either with a local distributor or with the major retailers.
From Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon Minute Repeater to Admiral’s Cup Tides, from Ti-Bridge to Golden Bridge Tourbillon, Corum is now perceived as a high-end watchmaking company with strong, complicated and technical models which have returned to the select haute horlogerie circle.
Antonio Calce, CORUM CEO said:
“In 2005, we established a strategy to conquer whole new horizons, while remaining faithful to the pioneering and independent spirit on which the brand has built its success. A strong repositioning process has been initiated, leading to successful product development, a brand dna strengthening and a significant improvement of our image and brand awareness on a worldwide level. Thanks to this work we have now started on a new market management policy, we are now at the head of 6 subsidiaries, with the U.S. take-over last October and that of the South American market in February 2009. Like the legendary Cape Horn, topping all the challenges, the Latin American market is a market for Corum to regain. Our brand flagship vessel has and will take on board all the technology products and the best navigators who will win this challenge successfully.”
Laurent Peccavé – A Short Biography
As a successful regional manager with over 15 years’ experience in retailing and wholesaling of jewelry, watches, accessories and luxury watches and jewelry in the Caribbean and Latin America, Laurent Peccavé was appointed Corum Regional Manager for the Caribbean & Latin America in October 2009. After spending 8 years in the Richemont Group, working for several brands from brand management to sales management, Laurent Peccavé gained a comprehensive view of this market by working as an independent agent for Oris in South America for 4 years. 3 years before joining Corum, Laurent strengthened his experience at Chopard as Sales Manager of the Caribbean and Area Manager for Central Asia.
Today, having been entrusted with the position of Regional Manager for Latin America & the Caribbean, Laurent is expected to expand significantly the brand image of CORUM and its sales in Latin America, achieving the success the brand deserves.
CORUM
Positioned as an exclusive brand, CORUM offers high-quality watch collections featuring an innovative and distinctive design, and equipped with sophisticated mechanical movements. Its 150 current references, spread between four key pillars – Admiral’s Cup, Romvlvs, CORUM Bridge and Artisans – enjoy a legitimacy rooted in the brand history. The full set of collections comprises models ranging from 5,000 to 1 million US$ in retail price and giving pride of place to precious metals and horological complications. Founded in 1955 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, CORUM has since 2005 undergone a complete renaissance that has enabled it to achieve a perfect match between the product and the demands for quality and creativity that are the very foundations of its credibility. Its firmly upmarket move is a logical result of the brand’s efforts to recapture its historical standing while significantly reinforcing its horological substance. CORUM’s substantial investments have led to the integration of watchmaking craft trades, the development of production tools, the enhancement of human resources and the promotion of staff training. The result is a brand once again entirely in tune with its genetic heritage.
Source: www.CORUM.ch