The watch city Fuchsstadt
Oliver W. - Saul or Paul?
Rudolf Moshammer, Thomas Anders and „Alarm für Cobra 11". The Manager of Riedenschild GmbH Oliver W., known to many under his former name B., loves sparkling names to market his watches. Just a few years ago the brand Riedenschild was unknown. It was registered in Germany in 2004. Oliver W. became famous with the online trade of watches from China. And yet today, his watches can be found in many online shops with various „brands“ like Riedenschild, Thunderbirds and Cellino.
In a press release on openpr dated April 4th, 2008 the company Riedenschild states: „Up to one year ago, Oliver W. (Editor´s note: Name abbreviated) had his timepieces assembled in China, but since this year, every piece is hand-made in Fuchsstadt. He procures the components from renowned manufacturers, the clockworks for example from Switzerland, the precious leather bands from local Tauberbischofsheim.“ The admittance to having sold watches from China in the past is well welcomed. We hold back every comment about the statement of now producing all watches by hand in the little known Fuchsstadt, just as to the origin specifications of the parts. It is hardly surprising that the company residence is now since recent times Munich – to match the world brand.
All the more astounding is the new strategy published now in the press release: „W. (editor´s note: Name abbreviated) only supplies the specialist trade, because the "precious watches are not meant for everybody".“ But in the same press release the surprised reader then also reads the following statement: „Riedenschild GmbH uses various sales channels. Special products were developed for all sales channels in order to strengthen success.“ And more: „Indirect sales: Sales over specialist trade. Acquisition takes places over our parent company (Eichmüller-Munich) and over our sales employees…Direct sales: Sales over our online shops“. From our point of view this means nothing other than Oliver W. supplies everybody with everything and continues to trade on the internet. This means specialist traders and customers need to take utmost care!
And Oliver W. already continues on to new projects. With „WATCH4U – The watch catalogue“ he is currently trying to published his own little advertisement magazine in order to place his watches and have his watches appear more high quality in the company of other brands. Publishing agency is the Blowup-Factory – according to their own statement a young „Event & Marketing company“ from Fuchsstadt. The owner is also Oliver W. and the publisher of the advertisement magazine is Europeanwatchgroup. "Renowned brands“ like Riedenschild, Thunderbirds, LACO, Saro-Gem, Bombadier, Germano, Poljot, Thomas Ninchritz and Kudoko have joined together in this group.
In a press release dated January 21st, 2008 on openpr, readers again learn more astounding information: “This worldwide unique mutual appearance (editor´s note Europeanwatchgroup at the Inhorgenta 2008) includes the best and highest quality watches that are produced today in Europe and open fully new sales chances for the specialist trade.“ Pompous words, as one has seemingly forgotten or neglected all of the truly renowned brands. Possibly Oliver W. and his business partners were inspired by their online past and the descriptions of their watches made in China. Or were simple blindness and intentional consumer manipulation the cause? Another passage fits into this aspect: „With brand name watches between 300 and 30.000 € (rec. sales price incl. VAT), different styles and collections, the brands of the EWG (Editor´s note Europeanwatchgroup) enable the specialist trade to sell nearly every customer the matching watch.“ In terms of price at least, he seems to have reached the range of the renowned and famous brands. Whether the customer then truly receives a matching watch is a completely different issue.
It remains to hope that one or the other specialist trader and customer have insight after reading this report. We will now leave the question of whether Oliver W. is now Saul or Paul up to the reader.