@that911fan
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Blancpain’s marketing decisions
I was thinking about this today and wondering what fellow Blancpain watch lovers think about this. It is often said that Blancpain is such an under appreciated watch brand. For sure, the level of craftsmanship and beauty of their watches are evident, but why is it that it seems their marketing department is not getting the point across? I mean, look at Omega (also under the Swatch Group) - they market their Seamaster very well under the James Bond films, and have several brand ambassadors that help further sell their products and get them their recognition out in the general public, but why is it that Blancpain uses a couple of Michelin star chefs to represent their brand? I’ve never even heard of those chefs and while their Ocean Commitment initiative is nice and all, I’m sure it doesn’t compare to the marketing and reach of the Bond films and Daniel Craig that benefits Seamaster sales. If anything, Bond, who drives an Aston Martin would be much better paired to wearing a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms versus a more modest Seamaster, no? A Seamaster is not exclusive or considered high end like an Aston (Fifty Fathoms) is.
To me, Blancpain has missed the mark here, and really should spend some more time figuring out how to better market their product line in order to stay relevant I think. I really want them to succeed because I love their watches. If you look at their social media accounts like IG, X, or YouTube, they also mainly focus on their dive watch line, and yet they have other lines that are so nice. Why not focus on their other offerings as well? Finally, I have to say this cause I am biased but they really need to bring back the Leman line, so if Blancpain sees this post, please take note. You discontinued a beautiful watch line. I still hear people asking if they can buy a Leman at the Blancpain boutique last time I was there in NYC. 😁
Blancpain’s marketing decisions
I was thinking about this today and wondering what fellow Blancpain watch lovers think about this. It is often said that Blancpain is such an under appreciated watch brand. For sure, the level of craftsmanship and beauty of their watches are evident, but ...
I’m ok with Ambassadors
But they should be cooler ambassadors than chefs. Lol. Chefs, by the way, should be using a Flyback chrono to time their cooking, and not a dive watch. They are not getting it right!
Understood
But I still believe that those fake ambassadors who are paid to wear these watches do add value in getting that brand recognition out there. It will help their sales of the product. Just us wearing these watches will not help their reach. Look at how Roge...
Thanks and also prefer the 3 registers
Compared to the two register with grand date that they came up with afterwards.
The Leman line is superb. Why they killed it
I don’t know. They should bring it back I agree. I would buy another if they did. My BP Leman split second chrono is one of my all time favorite watches and one I will never part with. I also own and love the Leman Tourbillon. The size of these watches is...
Agreed! 👍
They need to hire better marketers or steal them from their Omega division.
Simply beautiful.
And yes, you may be right, but hopefully someone can talk some sense into him then.
imho... your Flyback is the Daytona killer
same useful WR, higher grade movement, better lume, 'affordable', acquirable, and looks absolutely amazing!
Thank you!
I agree because I used to own a steel Daytona and sold it after getting bored of it (to fund a Nautilus). Honestly, of all these, I still love the look of the Flyback the most. I didn’t like that the Daytona didn’t have a date function. I feel they could ...
So…..excellent post but…
I actually (this very week in fact) wondered about Blancpain as well. They are in a strange place. They inhabit a tool watch domain but they are highly stylized. It’s almost a contradiction of form and function. From the perspective of price and performan...
I think George Russell or another
F1 driver could be a good choice. Regarding higher end, it’s funny because I was posting a photo of my BP in the “High End” forum in the Watchuseek site, and had no issues, but did notice that folks who posted pics of their Omega or Rolex got comments say...
Actually after visiting the BP site…
Yes…the finish is better although the specs aren’t as good as the Omega PO’s…it’s an odd niche…I prefer Omega PO …or in fact Rolex to BP in the diver category…but I see why the finish elevates the brand.
Yes, they are technically
Probably better in terms of specs than the BP, but similar to like an Aston Martin, are not as mass produced as say a Porsche and also finished to a higher luxury level. I can envision BP as a more exclusive brand. It’s up to Blancpain’s marketing dept to...
Agree!
It’s just sad that I’m not even a marketer, but can see the shortcomings of their actions so far. I really hope they can correct the course, because they do make great stuff. Maybe they should start organizing some focus groups to get some better ideas…or...
Whenever a company (any company) has 'ambassadors'...
...I know I'm paying too much : )
And because they don’t make them anymore
I’d love to buy another Leman model, but they don’t make em anymore!
I'm old fashioned...
I actually think people should buy watches based on the watch, not the marketing. But I know I am in the VAST minority. But it does beg the question; if the marketing is what is selling the watches, not the watches itself, is the issue the marketing or th...
Interesting question
I believe that marketing does have a bearing on how the watch sells. As nice as your pictured BP looks, would you have bought it if it had Fossil written on the dial instead of Blancpain? Part of what compels you to buy it is the image and luxury it portr...
Had it said Fossil? Well, yes, and here is why I can confidently say that...
If Fossil made this watch, they would be a VERY different brand than the brand they are today. In this parallel universe, they would be like the Blancpain are so I would see them in the same light as I do Blancpain. If you are asking if I would if Fossil ...
It’s true that Fossil could not produce
The BP watch in house due to the lack of skill or facility but I was more so trying to illustrate that if say they were to have somehow gotten that watch into their line, that their lack of product image would make it harder to sell the watch to all but t...
Your point is moot, though. Which is what I am trying to say...
BP has, essentially, no marketing (which is the point of this thread). Your question was, essentially, would you buy that watch if the brand had no "equity" (eg Fossil). My answer is, yes. BP already essentially has no equity (ie marketing) and I bought t...
I think they do have marketing
Just bad marketing. They market their watches. Just look at the IG, YouTube or X accounts. It’s just that they use chefs instead of more well known celebs to market their product as well as saying they have an initiative to preserve the Ocean while pushin...
I agree. I think MOST buyers buy based on marketing, hence my original comment.
It's a shame that which celebrity was paid to wear a watch is more important than the watch itself. It speaks volumes of our superficial culture.
Yes, in a way it is a shame
But it is what it is as at the end of the day, it’s a business, and I am more of the mindset that I don’t care if they use superficial marketing to sell more watches. I just want the brand to thrive so that they can make more great watches. I know many ar...
Success for a brand is great... If their product is great.
You and I have a very different idea of what good looks like in the watch world.
That is the ideal I guess
But often not the reality I think. Regardless, it’s good to hear others’ perspectives on the topic as I can always stand to learn a few things.
I guess Swatch group having many brands
Does well on cost savings, but struggles with internal cannibalisation. IMHO brands like BP, and GO could do much better if spun off to a new owner who would focus on a single brand only. Ok, may be not a single but not more than 2-3. May be management bu...
That’s a good point.
There probably is some struggle with internal cannibalisation and priorities that come before other brands within the group. I think to some extent too, that the reason we are seeing what we are now (a strong focus on dive watches instead of their other l...
Dr. Aperna owns FF’s
I once asked him if he thought there was a major difference between BP and Omega (he said there was) and based on Swatch I was perplexed but this discussion has reframed that perspective for me. I don’t think I will ever be a BP guy as previously stated i...
🥹
What I should have said instead of it is too fancy is…I am not fancy enough for it🤣
LOL. Maybe they can hire me…
I get what you’re saying. It’s definitely confusing now the direction they are going. Maybe they can hire me for their re-issue of the Leman! 😆 Blancpain Leman Flyback Chrono
+1
Double edged sword…you give up the dedicated focus but you get the technology sharing…
Totally agree - Leman 2.0!
They had a great run with a lot of variants within a clearly identifiable family with excellent finish Do it again! (In 38mm again, SVP)
Agree!
When I was in the NYC boutique 3 months ago to bring my Flyback in for service, another gentleman walked in and asked the salesman if they had any gold Aqua Lungs, as he still liked that model and wanted to get another. I spoke up and said, “yes, I love t...
I agree, the Leman is by far the best Blancpain line.
They need better watches before they spend more on marketing. By this I mean that we need to see smaller models across the entire catalogue, more refined dress watches and a reintroduction of the Leman line.
That would be nice!
They really do need to spend some time on some lines other than the Fifty Fathoms and Bathyscaphe. It seems like that and their Ocean Commitment program is basically all they are pushing nowadays. Not everyone likes to wear large Dive watches. They should...
Marc Hayek's ocean passion is great...
....but BP would be even better with broader offerings.
Leman + Act 2?
Just watched Teddy B's long interview with Marc Hayek - www.youtube.com - convinced me that he's liked watches longer than Hayeks have been in the business He hinted at things to come - things in the works for 7 years, which got me wondering if th...
Well, I really hope we do have a few new
Surprises coming, including a revival of the Leman line. I saw that episode too, but didn’t get a warm feeling that he’d be bringing back any previous models.