Back to Business: Is Your Watch Strap Display Ready for Autumn?

Summer is nearly over, the schools are now back and, for many retailers, September brings a welcome chance to take stock.

Before Christmas orders, festive displays and the busiest shopping weeks start taking over, now is a good time to give your watch strap display a little attention.

If you have one of our LBS mapped watch strap stands, you've already made life a lot easier for yourself. Simply take a look at the stand, spot the gaps in the trays and make a note of the product references you need to replenish.

And with our brand-new website, topping up your stand is even easier. Head straight to the Quick Order section, enter the references from the gaps in your trays and add the straps you need to your order. No searching through individual products – just a quick and simple way to get your display looking full again.

Don't have a mapped stand? Talk to us. We can help you create a mapped watch strap display that makes keeping on top of your stock much simpler.

And if you already have an LBS mapped stand but it hasn't been reviewed for a while, now is a great time to speak to us about updating the mapping. Your best sellers may have changed, new styles may have been introduced, or your customers may be asking for different sizes and colours.

Whether you have a mapped stand or manage your own display, it's still worth giving the whole range a quick once-over. Are your best-selling sizes fully stocked? Have gaps appeared over the summer? Are there tired-looking areas that could do with a refresh?

A little housekeeping now can make life much easier when the busy season arrives.

Here are a few things worth checking.

 

Start with Your Best-Selling Watch Strap Sizes

First things first: make sure you've got the everyday sizes covered.

Take a look at what's actually on your display rather than relying on what you think is there. It's surprisingly easy for popular sizes to sell through gradually, leaving gaps that aren't immediately obvious.

Check your core lug widths, including popular 18mm, 20mm and 22mm watch straps, while remembering the smaller and less common sizes your customers may ask for.

It's also worth looking at the balance within each size. Having plenty of 20mm straps isn't much help if they're all the same colour or style.

A well-stocked selection gives customers a better chance of finding a strap they like there and then.

 

Fill the Gaps in Your Everyday Colours

Black and brown watch straps remain important staples for most retailers, so make sure you've got a good choice in both.

However, that doesn't mean the display needs to stop there.

Look at the colours you've sold well throughout the year and identify any obvious gaps. Navy, tan, grey and other versatile shades can give customers more choice without taking the range too far away from everyday wear.

It's also a good time to think about the change of season. As we move into autumn, richer colours, classic leather finishes and darker shades can start to feel particularly appealing.

Simply rearranging the display to bring these options forward can give it a fresh look without completely changing your stock.

 

Does Your Watch Strap Display Need a Refresh?

While you're checking your stock, take a step back and look at the display itself. Does it still look smart and inviting, or has it seen better days?

A new watch strap is all about giving a watch a fresh look, so your display needs to reflect that. If the stand looks tired or dated, customers may not have the same confidence in the selection it holds.

And, perhaps most importantly, is it obvious that you sell watch straps?

If your strap display has gradually been tucked away in a corner because you're not particularly proud of how it looks, it could be time to consider replacing it. A smarter, well-stocked display can be positioned more prominently, making it much easier for customers to see that watch straps are part of what you offer.

Think about the details too. Are there empty spaces? Are the straps sitting neatly? Is the display easy to browse? Does it show off the variety of colours, sizes and styles you stock?

Sometimes a good tidy, restock and rearrange is all that's needed. However, if the stand itself is letting your range down, talk to LBS about a new watch strap display.

After all, your display should make customers want to give their watch a new look – not be something you feel you need to hide away.

 

Don't Forget the Less Obvious Straps

Your everyday sellers might form the backbone of the display, but specialist straps can be just as valuable. Check whether you have options for customers who need something a little different. Depending on your customer base, that might include extra-long or short watch straps, military style straps, expanding bracelets or other specialist fittings.

These products may not sell in the same quantities as your core black leather straps, but when a customer needs one, having the right option available can make all the difference.

They're also a good reminder that a strong watch strap range isn't simply about having lots of straps. It's about having the right variety.

 

Take a Look Behind the Counter Too

While you're checking the display, don't forget the repair bench and the drawers behind the counter.

Watch strap fitting often goes hand in hand with other everyday jobs, so check your supplies of spring bars, buckles, batteries and watch tools too.

Running out of a small but essential item in the middle of a busy day can be frustrating. Topping up those workshop essentials now means one less thing to think about later in the year.

 

Make Watch Straps Part of the Conversation

A watch strap is also an easy additional sale that can sometimes be overlooked.

If a customer comes in for a watch battery, repair or service, take a quick look at their strap. Is the leather worn? Would a different colour give an older watch a completely new look?

You don't need a hard sell. Simply showing someone a few suitable alternatives can be enough.

For customers who have worn the same watch for years, a new strap can make it feel surprisingly different – and it's often a relatively inexpensive way to give a favourite watch a fresh look.

 

Time for an Autumn Stock Check?

September offers a useful window to get these jobs ticked off before attention turns to Christmas stock, festive displays and the busy season ahead.

Whether your watch strap display simply needs topping up, could benefit from updated mapping or is ready to be replaced altogether, now is a good time to get it sorted.

And while you're ordering, don't forget those easy-to-overlook essentials behind the counter. LBS supplies everything from spring bars and buckles to watch batteries, tools and accessories, so you can get plenty of those pre-Christmas stock checks sorted in one order.

Check the gaps, refresh your display and get ready for the busy months ahead with LBS.