https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/introducing-the-hodinkee-collectors-summit Lost me at the invitation only after you submit your passion then $3500 to attend
Saw a picture of JJ Redick, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin in attendance. Needless to say, I think I'm too small-time to have made the cut...
When they first announced it, I commented on the pricing - something like a total of, what, $350,000 revenue for the event? on their facebook page and they deleted my comment.
$3500 to hear a few "big guys" talk about watches With that kind of entry price I am clearly not the target demographic and fortunately I can think of just a few better things to do with that kind of money.... Perhaps the nouveau collectionneurs weaned from an early age on Hodinkee see it as ( paid entry to ) the beginnings of an horological Bilderberg Club?
Hodinkee appears to be a successful business. Generating revenue (and PR) is unquestionably key to remaining so. Certainly not for everyone (including me, BTW), but this event appears to have hit the mark in both respects.
Couple of things about this bugged me - went through the whole application, explaining your 'passion' etc... Then waited over a month with no news, so assumed I'm rejected. They came back to say I was 'accepted' a couple of weeks ago... By which time I'd made other plans, and spent the money on watches . I assume they didn't get as much take up as they expected from big hitters, or had cancellations, and were doing the rounds again for interest. If that's not the case, waiting that amount of time to confirm is not great business practice or customer service. I get that they are a revenue producing business now, but the key to their sustainabilty is attracting more 'small hitters' in constantly, and making them feel that they are being tailored to/cared for. I dont see that right now. This comment that they posted also irked me : "As you know, we chose to incur all the costs of this 100-person event in New York so that the content would not be influenced in any way by any watch brand" ... We????
The idea's a good one, but this particular instance of it seemed geared towards the super-wealthy new-watch buying crowd who have $3500 to spend on a two-day event, not including travel. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm personally waiting for one focused more on vintage and/or tool watches. My ideal watch has a highly legible dial and a sporting intention, probably a chronograph with an external bezel, and perhaps with a pedigree - rather than precious metals and tourbillons etc.
Highly legible dial - check Sporting intention - check Probably a chronograph - check External bezel - check Pedigree - check Look no further my good fellow.
Give me a Speedy Summit and I'll be sound as pound. And yes, that's basically what everyday in this forum is
