In today’s business climate, many brick-and-mortar retail stores are shuttering or being forced to transition to an online-only model. According to figures released by Coresight Research, more than 8,400 retail stores closed their doors for good in 2020. Despite consumers increasingly relying on online stores, a trend fueled by COVID-19, some unique brands have proven that the brick-and-mortar retail experience has staying power.
Wrist Aficionado, a pre-owned luxury watch specialist and seller, is one of the few modern businesses whose customers prefer a hybrid approach.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wrist AficionadoWrist Aficionado, a pre-owned luxury watch specialist and seller, is one of the few modern businesses whose customers prefer a hybrid approach, and the demand for a traditional, tangible shopping experience prompted the brand to open retail stores in New York and Miami despite its beginnings as an online-only company in 2016. Positioning their stores in decidedly luxe areas is part of the brand’s winning strategy, as the New York store is located off Fifth Avenue adjacent to Central Park, while the Miami location calls the five-star, world-rated Setai Hotel home.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wrist AficionadoThe vision behind Wrist Aficionado was to help watch enthusiasts source rare and unique timepieces without the price tags associated with their brand-new counterparts. Founded as an online marketplace for watch fans to buy and sell rare luxury pieces, the company’s concept took off quickly, with fans of exclusive brands like Rolex, Patek Phillippe, Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, and other fine jewelry makers flocking to Wrist Aficionado for its unique combination of accessibility, expertise, and a carefully curated collection.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wrist AficionadoWrist Aficionado soon began receiving feedback from clients that they wanted a place to physically see and try on the watches with the help of the experienced specialists in-store. Since then, Wrist Aficionado has opened up two showroom locations, in New York and Miami, where clients can do just that. The balance of both online and brick-and-mortar options best facilitates the needs of the 21st-century client for this innovative brand, which plans to open one to two additional retail stores every year. For watch enthusiasts who prefer an online experience, or who are located out of the radius of New York or Miami, wristaficionado.com is still the go-to destination to make purchases directly from the website with international shipping available.
