Hodinkee’s Return to Roots: Can They Thrive Without Watch Sales?

Really enjoy the comradery that has grown between you guys.

Looking at the video one day late. Hi guys! That Jack Mason watch looks awesome

You can get a watch time magazine a lot cheaper and just as good

Interesting conversation. I think HODINKEE alienated their core audience when they shifted to mostly extremely high end watches with a clear intent to become a brand ambassador rather than provide any watch journalism. It felt like a pure cash grab. The only way they may be able to save it is for Ben to be much more upfront about the mistakes made, a genuine heart felt mea culpa. Then follow this up with great content, interviews with popular people in the watch space and not just luxury brand CEOs.

Regarding the LEs: just because they don't sell out fast doesn't mean it's not profitable. Regarding the insurance, Chubb is the actual insurer, it's just Hodinkee branded. So it's probably almost no cost to them, and who knows what their cut is. But broadly I could see branded services making money. I have no idea how scalable that is.

Not with journalism graduates that pose as “watch experts” and write articles about lifestyle issues that don’t resonate with watch collectors (e.g., wife swapping).