Rumor? Rolex ending partnerships with hundreds of ADs, focusing on boutiques

[relix63]

Originally Posted by Poodlopogus

I was actually referring to the specific location within Madison: a standalone store on the outskirts of a mall that has seen better days (but even in its heyday was dumpy). The two prior franchisees in Madison had locations more likely to have stayed “Rolex-approved” and I can think of other areas that the crown may have been kinder to. Hilldale, The Square, perhaps others and I wonder if that was part of the issue.

Hopefully you heard wrong, about both of the ill fated stores (no interactions with Green Bay; can’t speak to that one). Also of note, until relatively recently, both Brookfield and Green Bay had Patek, too. Quite impressive for Wisconsin to have two ADs but their showrooms are dwindling faster than Rolex!

I think a store in Hilldale would fit the Rolex model better, but they didn't ask me. It sucks that Gruno's did the renovations and then got dropped. They treated me well as did Schwanke in Whitefish Bay. Neither played any games and sold me watches with no purchase history.

Madison doesn't seem like a luxury watch place which I assume has something to do with it.

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by relix63

I think a store in Hilldale would fit the Rolex model better, but they didn't ask me. It sucks that Gruno's did the renovations and then got dropped. They treated me well as did Schwanke in Whitefish Bay. Neither played any games and sold me watches with no purchase history.

Madison doesn't seem like a luxury watch place which I assume has something to do with it.

The problem is that there's are only one area of Madison where an affluent residential neighborhood and high(ish)-end retail actually meet (Shorewood/Hilldale) and and only one where there's a sufficient concentration of expensive office space and attractive commercial space (The Squaure). In fact I heard that Goodman's would have stayed a dealer but couldn't justify the cost of the build-out, probably given the size. Other than that, the nice areas (Maple Bluff, Fitchburg, parts of Middleton) are surrounded by pretty dumpy commercial areas, or nothing at all. And the reverse is true for any even semi-nice retail clusters.

West Towne is in a perfectly decent part of the city, though the mall itself (and the big box stores surrounding it) don't do a high-end jeweler any favors in terms of atmosphere. This despite the fact that there's always been a cluster of jewelry retailers right around there.

To your point, it sucks that they went to all that expense only to lose the line. I looked and it seems that Madison is also their only location that doubles as a Rolex-authorized service center. Further, when I've stopped in the staff's never been any thing other than exceptionally pleasant so I'd really love for this to be an unconfirmed rumor.