The Time Zone
"Product knowledge is the key to establishing trust with our clients."
- David Lindmeir
Established in 2003 by watch enthusiast David Lindmeir and three financial partners, The Time Zone is an elegant boutique catering to watch savvy residents of the Salt Lake City, Utah, area. The Time Zone’s eye-catching salon boasts maple flooring, high ceilings, rich warm colors, optimal lighting, and an enviable selection of timepieces. A unique partnership with the Lamplighter Gallery enables artwork to be displayed throughout the showroom, serving as a perfect complement to the 50-plus brands available at The Time Zone.
With so many prestigious watch brands lining their showcases, Lindmeir is hard pressed to acknowledge one as the most “successful.” He shares, “I hate to single out a brand, but we carry a number of small niche brands that are not found anywhere else in this market. We have a lot of people come in who may have read about a YES watch or a Ball Watch and are excited to find a local dealer who actually carries them.” The Time Zone’s vast selection includes Zenith, Corum, Ebel, Raymond Weil, Bell & Ross, Ulysse Nardin, Longines, Chase-Durer, Hamilton, Tissot and many more.
The Time Zone’s thirteen employees are well versed in the language of horology; in fact, they are expected to become an “expert” on the store’s brands through an internal certification process. Employees attend regular training meetings, and many have frequented the annual watch and jewelry tradeshows where they can see the newest trends and innovations and directly interact with the manufacturers. As an incentive, employees are awarded with bonuses and extra commissions when they have been certified as an expert on each brand.
“What keeps people coming back to our store is variety. Sometimes we worry that the magnitude of our selection can make it a daunting process for a customer to narrow his or her choice,” remarks Limdmeir, “but it’s the job of our salespeople to determine the customer’s needs and tastes and present a tailored selection to choose from. Therefore, the level of expertise that our employees attain is highly valuable.”
In terms of clientele and store traffic, The Time Zone is primarily a destination shop, so they do not tend to attract the customer who is just looking for “a watch to tell the time.” Lindmeir remarks, “Our customers are customarily watch lovers who come to us because of our selection and variety, as well as our expertise. I find that some guys are nearly as passionate about a Hamilton or Seiko watch as another is about a highly complicated Ulysse Nardin timepiece. We therefore try to provide something for every taste, not discriminating between a man or woman who wants to spend $200 and the one who wants to spend $20,000.” The Time Zone’s level of care is first rate, which has earned them an exceptional reputation over the past five years.
Beyond their heartfelt commitment to customers and horology, The Time Zone actively supports a number of philanthropic organizations and events across the Salt Lake City Utah region. Among the most prominent are the Clarke Planetarium Charity Gala & Auction, the Red Butte Gardens fundraiser, the YWCA, and the Fisher House. The Fisher House is a charitable organization that provides local housing for families of military personnel who are being treated at VA hospitals and centers. The Time Zone also maintains a strong commitment to the arts, both by showcasing the work of local artists on the walls of the salon and through their sponsorship of the Joy Foundation. The Joy Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to bringing joy through the arts to the young and old alike, and The Time Zone has sponsored local chalk artists to use their sidewalk as a canvas.
Taking the road less traveled, The Time Zone is hosting their “grand opening” celebration during the Fall season of 2007. They opted for this schedule so that they could get to know their clientele before celebrating, a plan that is sure to enhance the festivities. Lindmeir expects that this inaugural event will be followed in years to come with a combination Trunk Show and Customer Appreciation party, as they certainly maintain a great appreciation for those who have enabled their first five years of success.
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