Have you all noticed the chatter about LVMH being investors in Hodinkee? I first noticed it on Perezscope's IG account:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHXIOGALm4j/

You can see what LVMH invests in and their position as investors here: https://www.lvmhluxuryventures.com/project/hodinkee-2/
I have no idea the level or details of the investment so for now I'm just passing along some interesting drama for your Monday viewing.

 

[laughs in money]

 

He developed a concept, convinced people it was good, increased its perceived importance to the target audience, and then found a buyer for part of it. Good for him.

Perhaps Clymer is today's digital equivalent of Ron Popeil.

But he still has to live down that silly travel alarm clock.

 

Hold the phone!

Did you say Ron Popeil?

As in Popeil’s Pocket Fisherman?

If I had a nickel for every time I saw [or heard] one of those Pocket Fisherman advertisements in the 1970s, I could have retired 20 years ago.

 

How good a Hublot watches going to be now.

Stop reading Hodinkee when I found out I’m not their target audience


The typical HODINKEE reader holds a master’s degree or higher, browses from his professional office, earns more than $200,000 per year, owns seven+ watches, and purchases, on average, three watches per year with an average value of $7,000 or higher per watch.

 

When weren’t they good???

 

Can’t forget this gem


Anyone who was an insomniac in the last century has an intimate relationship with Ron Popeil.
Ben Clymer this is your future!

 

He beat you to it. He sold his company, RONCO, in 2005 for $55 million, but the new company went bankrupt so no idea if he collected all that money.

Ron Popeil is still alive at 85. Plenty of time to use a Pocket Fisherman, and count nickels.

 

I liked the part where the guy purchases 3 watches each year but only owns 7 watches...

 

Must be a flipper.

 

Because he sells them via the Hodinkee shop

 

This is not terribly surprising news. Clymer has been fairly open about his plan to convert Hodinkee from a content company to retailer where editorial content merely plays a supporting role. He's fairly transparent in this recent interview from the A Media Operator podcast:

https://www.amediaoperator.com/p/podcast-ben-clymer-on-building-media

Nonetheless, I suspect Hodinkee is skirting close to the ethical line if they do not disclose the LVMH investment when reviewing LVMH affiliated products. Will be interesting to see how Hodinkee plays this after other recent missteps. Will the "Hodinkee community" care or not?

 

To be honest, I'm not too fussed with this. Hodinkee is good for mainstream articles, but that's why forums like OF are here to get down to the nitty and gritty.

 

If you look at all these bloggers and sites as extensions of the marketing departments of watch brands, you will never be surprised or disappointed by what you read, or what they do...

Referring to any of this as "journalism" would be a mistake. It's all tainted...so sort out the good taint from the bad taint, and move on.

Personally, I don't read this stuff unless someone posts an article with something specific, so I am not their typical reader.

 

That's an interesting way to describe it. Most would view it as a profound rip off.

 

1) increased interest for who? You surely mean their target audience of the well-to-do but gullible.

2) Yes they certainly are the benchmark in how to create stories.

 

This wasn’t even a collaboration they found some 100 odd movements and copied a old JLC that sells for $200 and tried to fluff it up to $6000

They are a dealer that has a website to promote sales. And at 35% commission like yourself to sell a watch they are not doing the humble collector any favours.

 

The word Hodinkee should be banned. After the first warning, anyone posting the word Hodinkee should be banned.

 

This is my take as well. I’m not sure how they got away with not disclosing esp as a US company. As it stands I think they are in violation of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and most definitely YouTube terms of service. Not to mention as I understand it a pretty big FTC violation.

 

But Ariel says he is not biased!!!!