The founder of the Russian watch workshop Konstantin Chaykin did not immediately enter private business. He began his career in the watch industry with the sales industry. Today he is a famous watchmaker, producing individual unique products, or the booth of the Russian Federation. How did the love for the exact mechanism develop into a successful enterprise, bringing 55 million rubles of revenue per year?
The business model is based on the skills and talent for watchmaking of the founder himself. However, from this the success of the enterprise does not fall, but, on the contrary, has a certain additional charm.
On the wave of success
In fine watchmaking, every piece is worth its weight in gold. For example, in 2017, Chaikin’s workshop presented a model of watches under the Joker brand. For several days of the exhibition in Basel, all 99 pieces from the party were sold on the fly. The price for one product started from $ 7,550 and rose to $ 45,000 when the watch was sold through an auction a little later.
For such a deafening result, considerable experience is needed. Founder Konstantin Chaykin has 15 years of experience in the industry. The rumor about a unique master, producing a single product, quickly spread far beyond the borders of the country.
Surprisingly, he is our only compatriot who became one of the participants in the Academy of Independent Watchmakers in Switzerland. Moreover, in 2016-2019 he was the head of this organization.
The beginning of a professional path
The young watchmaker began with a passion for radio technology and a talent for artistic creativity. After the army and the electrical school, Konstantin entered the professional environment as a locksmith in a door manufacturing company. Then he gained experience in direct sales, which subsequently greatly helped in promoting his own brand.
Another important quality of the future manager is the desire to optimize any, including business processes. Even in the field of sales, he tried not to go to individual apartments, but to collaborate immediately with entire organizations.
Since 1999, he worked as a deputy director in a company manufacturing luxury furniture on order. Six months later, some time helping his father as a car mechanic.
It came to hours when the future companion and friend of our hero Rusla Nikiforov bought the first batch of cheap Chinese mechanisms in Moscow and sold them profitably in St. Petersburg. Chaikin liked the idea of the clock, and friends began to work together. The first year of speculation on the watch brought $ 1,000.
As millionaires recall: “At that time it was unreal money!”
They started a wholesale supply of watches in 2001 as part of the Watch Maximum company; for retail, they created a network of Time Machine stores.
From sale to production
The first self-made watches were wall mounted. The starting lot with a 100 percent mark-up was sold in 2002.
Next was an experiment with a watch that Tchaikin collected for his father. The assembly process captivated the young man, so it was decided to design his own version of the layout of the movement and the design of the clockwork.
In 2004, the first watches of the master in the category of especially complex mechanisms saw the light. There were no such precedents in Russia. So the entrepreneur found his niche: Chaikin’s workshop carries out repairs, restoration of parts and production of unique pieces at the level of a masterpiece.
Cabotier Chip - Unique Projects
The development of their business went through the implementation of many projects: for the Polytechnic Museum, Patriarch Alexy II, private customers, entire enterprises. One of the memorable mechanisms was the watch, which showed the date of Easter. Over the mechanism, the creator had to smash his head. For incredibly complex and original ways of realization, Chaikin joined the Swiss Academy of Independent Watchmakers in 2008.
The path to success with Konstantin was not easy. However, at present, the demand for watchmaking products is higher than supply. Because of this, it turns out to keep the volume and constantly grow in terms of quality and revenue volumes.
The last unique development of Chaikin's workshop is the Joker Selfie model. Due to the unique mechanism, the dial of the watch is made in the form of a cartoon of the creator (while in the horizontal the watch seems to “fall asleep”, the eyes on the face image are closed and time indications are not visible). Additionally, the mechanism shows the days of the week.
The success of Chaikin’s workshop became noticeable after the story with the Joker. For Russia, this is perhaps the only case in the watch industry. As experts emphasize, the modern consumer needs not only and not so much functionality, but emotions. Konstantin Chaykin's products fully satisfy this requirement.
