Hodinkee has named James Stacey its new editor-in-chief.
Stacey, who joined the watch-enthusiast website as a contributor in 2017, might be tasked with returning Hodinkee’s editorial supply to its former agenda-setting standing whereas modernising its method in an area that has develop into extra crowded and social media-centric because the firm’s peak within the late 2010s. He’ll work carefully with founder Benjamin Clymer, who rejoined the corporate as president following its acquisition by British retailer Watches of Switzerland Group in October.
“[Stacey] understands the core of the model in a manner only a few folks do,” mentioned Clymer. “He will get what made Hodinkee particular once we had been doing issues that actually modified the sport.”
Launched in 2008, Hodinkee was a pioneer in protection of watches on-line. The corporate cultivated a neighborhood of collectors and devotees at a time when the market was taking off, attracting high-profile investments from LVMH Luxurious Ventures and celebrities together with NFL quarterback Tom Brady and singer John Mayer. However extra just lately, Hodinkee has struggled. After a poorly timed try to construct a retail enterprise with its acquisition of used-Rolex vendor Crown & Caliber in 2021 — simply earlier than the beginning of a market droop that noticed watch costs plummet and gross sales gradual, notably within the secondary market — Hodinkee has cycled by way of management, layoffs and confronted critique on-line by former followers.
“Hodinkee was distracted,” mentioned Clymer. “The attention wasn’t on the prize by way of assembly folks the place they had been.”
Now the location has “a certain quantity of stability” below Watches of Switzerland, in line with Stacey. Stacey will refocus on what he says Hodinkee does greatest: new-release information, expert-led product evaluations, unique pictures, gaining access to tastemakers and merchandise like its “Speaking Watches” video sequence and its bi-annual journal. On the identical time, he has his sights set on beefing up Hodinkee’s social-media technique — together with on TikTok, the place many younger collectors collect — and sees alternative in pursuing new initiatives, like streaming.
“We wish to proceed to guide the cost in exploring the watch world, whereas discovering methods to not at all times be preaching to the choir, and discovering new folks and bringing them in,” mentioned Stacey.
Be taught extra:
Watches of Switzerland Acquires Hodinkee
The deal goals strengthen the British firm’s on-line presence within the US, leveraging Hodinkee’s sturdy editorial content material regardless of the latter’s struggles within the used watch market.
