Well, it would seem that the time has come for the industry and event organizers to put on their "Big Boy Pants" and start dealing with reality. But change is painful, and loss - even the loss of a perceived norm or way of doing things can be just as painful. After being jilted by two of their most doting of suitors, the SIHH put out the statement you see below. So let's unpack this note from the big hearted people at that warm and fuzzy organization, the SIHH, in light of what is traditionally referred to as the five stages of Grief and Loss-
Well, let's unpack this one, shall we?
It's important to note that the five stages are not always experienced in the same order, but for those of you playing along at home, the stages are:
1. Denial and isolation
2. Anger
The SIHH takes note the departures of Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille from 2020 onwards, in line with the strategic repositioning of their distribution channels.
Translation? Why did those (insert expletive here) go and make these two separate announcements without letting us "package" the news?
3. Bargaining
Building on the success of its recent editions, the salon will in 2019, 2020 and beyond, continue to pursue its mission, closely aligned to the needs of exhibiting Maisons (currently numbering 35 brands) by building on and extending new services, new experiences, and expert content tailored to all audiences in the Haute Horlogerie community, who regard the Salon as a must attend event.
I'm calling bullshit on this one. The organizers of the SIHH are about as inclusive a group as a 1970s era country club in the suburban US.
I think that they should hand out "Members Only" jackets as giveaways, but I don't think that they'd get the irony.
The organizers of the SIHH, and in particular the US agency that "vets" the journalists who hope to attend are a rather snotty, myopic bunch and while I did finally get a somewhat begrudging invitation a few years back, I had absolutely no desire at that point to attend. And strange to relate, I have had no desire to attend since. Let's just say I'm from Missouri, you need to show me that your show is worth 3 days vacation from work, round trip airfare and accommodation in a very expensive city. I have seen nothing in the coverage of the SIHH that has made me change my view.
4. Depression
Will be an ongoing experience.
5. Acceptance
Will clearly be a work in progress. But keep in mind that these are the first two brands to up stakes, it is not beyond the scope of possibility that there will be more.
SIHH 2020
Geneva, 27 September 2018 -
The SIHH takes note the departures of Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille
from 2020 onwards, in line with the strategic repositioning of their
distribution channels.
The
Exhibitors’ Committee, with the support of the Foundation of Haute
Horlogerie’s Board, confirms its firm intention to pursue
the SIHH’s core purpose, which now extends beyond a trade salon with a
distribution focus, to encompass a true culture and experience-led
communications platform for all professionals and end customers of Haute
Horlogerie.
Building
on the success of its recent editions, the salon will in 2019, 2020 and
beyond, continue to pursue its mission, closely
aligned to the needs of exhibiting Maisons (currently numbering 35
brands) by building on and extending new services, new experiences, and
expert content tailored to all audiences in the Haute Horlogerie
community, who regard the Salon as a must attend event.
Historic Maisons 2019
A.Lange
& Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, BOVET, Cartier,
Girard-Perregaux, Greubel Forsey, Hermès, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre,
Montblanc, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Richard Mille, Roger
Dubuis, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin.
Carré des Horlogers 2019
Armin Strom, Christophe Claret, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, DeWitt, élégante by F.P.Journe, Grönefeld, H. Moser & Cie,
Hautlence, HYT, Kari Voutilainen, Laurent Ferrier, MB&F, Ressence, Romain Gauthier, RJ, Speake-Marin, Urwerk.
Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie
Palexpo - Geneva – Switzerland - January 14-17, 2019Well, let's unpack this one, shall we?
It's important to note that the five stages are not always experienced in the same order, but for those of you playing along at home, the stages are:
1. Denial and isolation
The
Exhibitors’ Committee, with the support of the Foundation of Haute
Horlogerie’s Board, confirms its firm intention to pursue
the SIHH’s core purpose, which now extends beyond a trade salon with a
distribution focus, to encompass a true culture and experience-led
communications platform for all professionals and end customers of Haute
Horlogerie.
Yeah, not so much. The SIHH is a private party, let's not delude ourselves to the contrary. Having said that, they are clearly hoping that the attendance will justify this boast, but until they have a more democratic (i.e. fair and balanced approach to press accreditation) it remains to be seen whether AP and RM will have any type of regret in leaving.
AP and RM are big, shiny brands that love the spotlight. My hunch is that it was time to renew their contract, they weren't thrilled with the terms, and they decided to punt.
2. Anger
The SIHH takes note the departures of Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille from 2020 onwards, in line with the strategic repositioning of their distribution channels.
Translation? Why did those (insert expletive here) go and make these two separate announcements without letting us "package" the news?
3. Bargaining
Building on the success of its recent editions, the salon will in 2019, 2020 and beyond, continue to pursue its mission, closely aligned to the needs of exhibiting Maisons (currently numbering 35 brands) by building on and extending new services, new experiences, and expert content tailored to all audiences in the Haute Horlogerie community, who regard the Salon as a must attend event.
I'm calling bullshit on this one. The organizers of the SIHH are about as inclusive a group as a 1970s era country club in the suburban US.
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| Courtesy of Wikipedia |
The organizers of the SIHH, and in particular the US agency that "vets" the journalists who hope to attend are a rather snotty, myopic bunch and while I did finally get a somewhat begrudging invitation a few years back, I had absolutely no desire at that point to attend. And strange to relate, I have had no desire to attend since. Let's just say I'm from Missouri, you need to show me that your show is worth 3 days vacation from work, round trip airfare and accommodation in a very expensive city. I have seen nothing in the coverage of the SIHH that has made me change my view.
4. Depression
Will be an ongoing experience.
5. Acceptance
Will clearly be a work in progress. But keep in mind that these are the first two brands to up stakes, it is not beyond the scope of possibility that there will be more.
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