Corum And DKSH Celebrate Strong Luxury Partnership In Japanese Market

Following up on a partnership joined in the summer of 2008, Swiss watch brand Corum and marketing expansion services group DKSH held a grand celebration at the posh Aquavit Restaurant in Tokyo, which brought together more than 150 retailers and industry journalists.  The purpose of the event was to foster awareness of Corum's significant global growth, and strongly emphasize the importance of the Japanese market as Corum strives forward into 2009 and beyond.

Antonio Calce, CEO of Corum, gave a presentation on Corum's story, emphasizing that the success the brand is enjoying today is largely the result of focusing on product-based strategy in concert with a disciplined repositioning centered around the bold definition of Corum brand DNA. 

Regarding the relationship with DKSH, Calce said: "For Corum, this partnership is a reward from a peer, proving to us that the path we have traveled, the changes in the company structure and the brand repositioning have performed well, giving us back our watchmaking authority...over the years, DKSH has also helped manufacturers to assertively access and expand their position in the Japanese market, by transmitting the strong confidence it has earned from the market.  The force of such a group commands respect and it is the men behind this success that appeals to me."

DKSH is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland and has 455 business locations in 35 countries.  One of Switzerland's "Top 20" Swiss companies in terms of sales and employees.  DKSH specializes in all types of sourcing, marketing, sales, distribution and after-sales functions.  Although its scope is global, DKSH is particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region, where it has cultivated business contacts for more than 140 years.  As is the situation with Corum, DKSH is a privately owned company still controlled by members of the founding family. 

After the presentation by Antonio Calce, Dr. Marcel Braun, Executive Vice President of DKSH Luxury and Lifestyle addressed the audience, adding these comments: "We are delighted to represent Corum in Japan, a luxury watch brand with great potential which complements our portfolio of prestigious brands in Japan very well.  We have been impressed with Antonio Calce's passion and drive, his clear vision for the brand, and Corum's competent leadership team that he has assembled.  We look forward to a successful partnership with a brand that we admire and are convinced of our joint success in Japan."