Fratellowatches Interviews Benno Leeser 8211 Boss Of Gassan Diamonds

Gassan Diamonds was founded in 1945 by Samuel Gassan and converted into the most crucial watch and gemstone dealer from the Netherlands. With roughly 450 employees, Gassan Diamonds has the capacity to process the 300.000 ?C 350.000 site visitors every year for their mind quarters within the Netherlands, located inside a former steam-driven gemstone factory in the heart of Amsterdam. With shops through-out Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport terminal, London City Airport terminal, Singapore??s Changi Airport terminal and offices in Amsterdam, New You are able to, Beijing, Jakarta and Bangkok, Gassan Diamonds is really a global player in diamonds and watches.
Amsterdam Hq of Gassan Diamonds

Around the 22nd of April, we (Robert-Jan and Ger) questioned Benno Leeser (Boss Gassan Diamonds) in the office in Amsterdam. Benno Leeser began employed by his grandfather Samuel Gassan in 1973 and satisfied several roles within the organization till 1983, when Benno Leeser was marketed to Boss of Gassan Diamonds when his grandfather died. Having a sharp concentrate on procurement and retail business, Benno Leeser ongoing the development of Gassan Diamonds with success as well as in 1990, Gassan Diamonds moved in to the former steam-driven gemstone factory where they’re still situated. This is actually the location where his grandfather Samuel Gassan began working before The Second World War began.
Benno Leeser in the office in Amsterdam

Fratellowatches (FW): How have you feel much more 1990 Gassan Diamonds moved in to the building where everything began for the grandfather?

Benno Leeser (BL): Obviously, it was a unique moment during my existence but additionally essential once we are experiencing a lot of site visitors (350.000 this past year) each year for the led tours within the gemstone factory and museum. We want much space, also outdoors your building, to possess enough parking space for that tour busses and site visitors which come by vehicle. Ease of access is important to us.



FW: In 2001, an worker stole diamonds that symbolized huge amount of money in value. Fortunately, 85% of it’s been came back to Gassan. What did this use you like a manager so that as an individual?

BL: You need to be strong and may??capital t go sit inside a corner and cry. You need to continue on with the daily business. Possibly less known, however the SARS epidemic in 2003 was more frightening for all of us.

FW: Due to the uncertainty of the position?

BL: Yes, using the thievery from the diamonds in 2001, we a minimum of understood what our budget was and just how to recuperate. The SARS epidemic had more impact, as many our site visitors come from Asia and that we would never know where and when the epidemic would finish.

FW: Next, in 2008 begins the economic crisis. You once stated within an interview throughout that point, that you simply rather sell 10 items of 1000 euro than 1 product of 10.000 euro.

BL: Correct, the economic crisis wasn??t easy but we made it well. Fortunately, the Asian market was still being strong and there exists a large amount of clients from Asia. The example I’ve on rather selling 10 items of 1000 euro than 1 product of 10.000 euro has everything related to focusing on more clients than only one high-finish customer. All clients are essential to us obviously, no matter how much money they save money vital that you us is they go back to us later on too.

FW: Searching at today, what??s happening?

BL: Well, the marketplace keeps growing again and particularly the Asian marketplace is. Presently, 50% in our clients at our mind quarters in Amsterdam come from Asia and 15% in our clients at Schiphol Airport terminal are too. We are completing the re-style of our Gassan Dam Square boutique in the Dam in Amsterdam City (formerly referred to as Amsterdam Gemstone Center).



FW: Onto watches. You possess an impressive listing of brands you represent at Gassan Diamonds (Ateliers p Monaco, Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Cartier, IWC, Omega, Richard Mille, Rolex watch and so forth), which brands or watches are the personal faves? (Benno Leeser is putting on a Rolex watch Day-Date throughout the job interview)

BL: I don??t determine if it matters much things i personally think or favor, as each one of these brands create beautiful watches, however i find myself putting on Rolex watch more often than not. For example, my personal favorite holiday watch is really a Daytona.

FW: Have you got and/or keep personal connection with these brands?

BL: We’ve great contact with the brands we represent within our shops, but yes, the connection with brands like Rolex watch is excellent with a number of them personal too. Our formal contacts are roughly four occasions annually to go over novelties, evaluate sales figures and certain watch models. We visit BaselWorld in Basel and SIHH in Geneva obviously, to go over and evaluate novelties with this brands. You have to brands in the Piece of fabric Group for instance.

FW: ??and particularly Rolex watch? Because they appear to become the Fort Knox from the the watchmaking industry industry.

BL: For clients they most likely are, but we ?C and that i personally do too ?C have a very good relationship together since our car dealership began in 1986.
White gold or platinum Daytona that Gassan Diamonds requested Rolex watch to produce for that national Nederlander team.
FW: You may already know, vintage Rolex watch watches are extremely popular nowadays. Your Gassan Square boutique is extremely suggested by a few of the vintage enthusiasts for service and small repairs while you appear to possess some vintage Rolex watch specialists working there.

BL: Yes, I understand. My boy-in-law loves vintage Rolex watch too.

FW: What are the intends to advance like a specialist in vintage Rolex watch and which makes it formally a part of your company?

BL: No, when i believe that this involves a significant quantity of attention from your specialists. Vintage Rolex watch enthusiasts are extremely interested in particulars which requires considerable time from your specialists and logistics. You want to provide the greatest type of service there’s, also it simply would ended up costing an excessive amount of assets when we would also concentrate on vintage Rolex watch.

FW: Becoming an official dealer of Atelier p Monaco, how can you experience the approaching curiosity about independent the watchmaking industry? Can there be room for additional independent watchmakers?

BL: Much like Atelier p Monaco, the independent watchmakers create great watches and you want to applaud them for his or her entrepreneurship. However, I don??t see more independent watchmakers entering the Gassan Diamonds shops in the near future. It’s a niche and finances a couple of niche items.

FW: What’s your undertake social networking like Twitter, Facebook along with other towns like forums?

BL: I don??t make use of a Rim. I’ve got a simple mobile phone to have the ability to call people. However, since i have are evident the requirement of on-line presence around the channels you pointed out, we’ve someone considering that.

FW: What exactly are your anticipation of social networking in line with the input they gave you?

BL: I clearly view it like a funnel to produce awareness about Gassan Diamonds, less an immediate sales funnel (yet). I’m believing that ultimately, you need to buy that watch inside a boutique in which you get personal attention and where one can contain the watch with you to feel and check out it.

FW: Ongoing online, this introduced lots of transparency on the market and lots of gray market sellers. How can you experience that? Will they affect profits amounts?

BL: Again, In my opinion within our own boutiques for that reasons I pointed out earlier. We’re not afraid for a loss of profits because of the gray market since many people still wish to avoid any risks and purchase a wrist watch in an approved dealer like Gassan Diamonds.

FW: Appreciate your time and effort!

To learn more about Gassan Diamonds, check out http://world wide web.gassandiamonds.nl/