Bringing Back Time and Class with Monsieur Watch Co- Kickstarter Interview
Monsieur Watch Co. – The Marvin Collection
Introduce us to your business, how you got the idea, and how you sourced any materials.
Monsieur Watch Company is a Canadian company that started with one simple
goal; create a quality, timeless product that is uniquely original. Our story begins
quite simply actually – I was looking for a gold watch with a black dial and a
simple design that didn’t break the bank but still looked and made me feel like a
million dollars, and guess what? No luck. In a world of ordinary, I was looking for
something extraordinary – that’s why we created Monsieur.
How did you go about manufacturing your product, as that is a major obstacle for many entrepreneurs?
I have been searching around for a quality manufacturer for a while, ordering dissatisfying samples for my design when I finally received a contact from a good friend who has been in the industry for a while. Quality is our top priority and our manufacturer consistently delivers that.
How do you handle the logistics and inventory management of a crowd funding campaign, not knowing how much product you will end up needing?
This has been a tricky process but we came up with a strategy that has provided us with organization as well as deadline management.
Tell us about the backend of your business and if there is any online tools or apps you use to stay organized?
A lot of our organization within our company has all come internally from software we have created which has helped to deal with our budgeting, ordering and timelines. We used online tools such as Hootsuite and Yeost to manage our social media and SEO.
How have you been able to get the word out about your product? Any direct or online marketing tips?
We have received strong attention from bloggers who have written features on our collection such as Master Horology and Watches You Can Afford. We have also teamed up with Kickbooster.me as well as Backerclub who provide great incentives for backers to join and share our campaign. We have found Facebook and Instagram Ads to be effective in gaining brand recognition.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice I have ever received is don’t ever be afraid to fail. You will never learn if you don’t take a chance.
What tips do you have for crowd funders and entrepreneurs, from making a crowd funding video to making a website and selling product?
First impressions are what lasts with fans and backers. You cannot go into anything with the intention of a making a quick buck. You need to put time and lots of hard work in anything you do. With my campaign, we started our marketing 6 months prior to our launch. Social media is key and quality of what you post is extremely important. With the video and the website, we spent 4 months working on it in order to get it just right, don’t be afraid to spend to invest in a high quality video and website as these are the foundations of your campaign.
Lastly, what should consumers know about your product that is different from what is already on the market?
There are tons of minimal watches out there on the market but for ours, it not only looks great but delivers a high end quality without the high end price tag. This is focused around the sapphire crystal glass all the way down to the custom stainless steel case. We wanted to provide a watch that anyone can afford and not focus on making a profit on Kickstarter but to showcase our quality product which can be backed up by the price tag. Incorporated into our business model is our Do Good for Good initiative, in which a portion of the proceeds of every watch sold is donated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to
improve the quality of life of refugees around the world.
Thanks so much for talking with us!
-The Create Team
Follow their Kickstarter live now here: kck.st/29KAMzM
