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Why Kids and Adults Love Parchie’s Timepieces Analog Watches Are Making a Comeback — For Kids!
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“really limited” today. “So I thought, let’s come up with something new,” she says. Learning to tell time on an analog clock is a tough task to teach kids at times. However, giving them an
In a smart technology-based world, you might assume that the most successful, innovative technology products would be able to play video games and YouTube videos. People in the watch industry have assumed the same thing. How do you get kids to wear analog watches without the bells and whistles? A fair amount is at stake for the industry if this question goes unanswered. In Switzerland, the export of watches
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attractive watch can encourage them to learn. That’s why the design really mattered to Barrett, and she used her five years of experience at watch portal Hodinkee, as well as a design agency, to create a simple, timeless look. Simplicity, after all, defines most great watches. “When you look at the big brands, the most successful are the ones with the simplest designs,” Barrett says. “I wanted to implant longevity into Parchie to make it timeless.”
valued at less than 500 Swiss francs (or $538) has declined by 7.5 million units a year between 2015 and 2019 — a third of the
Most kids’ watches aren’t timeless for one main reason: They incorporate other brands or appear toy-like. Oliver Müller, a consultant of the Swiss luxury watch industry consultancy LuxeConsult, told The New York Times in an email, “There are many gimmicky kids’ watches, and most of the time, these are just accessories of a toy brand. Parchie takes the angle of being an instrument for the child to teach them to measure their day. That’s the right approach, but compared with Flik Flak, the learning element is very thin.”
total, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. However, one entrepreneur has accepted the
That’s because Flik Flak denotes the amount of minutes (for the small hand) next to the hours. However, because Parchie Pal watches are analog, timelessly vibrant, and waterproof, kids can bring their Parchie Pals anywhere and grow up with them. Other experts think that Parchie watches are exactly what kids need. William Rohr, the former managing director of the TimeZone online watch forum and founder of Massena LAB, a high-end watch startup, says, “Parchie watches are everything a child needs in a wristwatch — a solid tool that is comfortable to wear and easy to understand.” You might be wondering how Barrett funded this unique endeavor or how she convinced her investors. She didn’t; Barrett put in her own money and is not looking for investors. She sells her watches through her website and WhatsApp. However, she has been in talks recently with retailers, like Hodinkee, which has evolved from being just a watch blog and forum to also selling timepieces. The future of Parchie is bright, as Barrett has attracted plenty of customers all over the world. However, she remains realistic about the future of her business and brand recognition: “I would love Parchie to be a household name globally, but I’m well aware that takes time.” So far, the quality of Parchie watches has remained as timeless as they look, so we’re sure they’re certainly on their way!
mission to encourage the next generation of watch collectors. Enter Cara Barrett, founder and CEO of Parchie Pal watches, a brand of colorful analog watches designed for kids. Barrett told The New York Times, “Parchie was the name of my imaginary friend growing up. I want kids to bond over shared appreciation and parents to bond with their kids. That’s the genesis of Parchie.” But why should a stylish $50 watch encourage kids to love watches? She says that for many people obsessed with watches and collecting, their stories start with their first watch at a young age. However, most watches for kids are
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