Jon
Founder and Managing Director
“My vision is to sell watches and watch-straps to like-minded people who share my enthusiasm for high-quality products at honest and considered prices.
It began as a hobby and an eBay account in the name of WatchGecko and has now grown into a thriving independent e-commerce store. Together we are an ever-growing and dynamic company that believes in a progressive approach when designing, selling and marketing our pieces. We learn from every step taken and always work to our best capabilities, taking inspiration from the past and present to craft amazing products.
The company has grown considerably from its early stages but has always had a diligent and pragmatic team working together in harmony, sharing my vision and work philosophies. Now with full control over design and materials, specifications, marketing and even dispatch we can perfect every little detail and remain confident with our work.”
Andy
Operations Manager
“Few things are more rewarding than doing what you love, helping a business grow, and seeing product and service improvements have real-time effect. We are masters of our own destiny and the whole team works really hard every day to be the best at what we do.”
The WatchGecko Timeline
A hobby becomes a business
Jon Quinn, the company's founder, was buying and selling watches on eBay as a hobby in his spare time. This was in addition to working as a software engineer on military communications systems.
www.watchgecko.com
During 2010 the hobby turned into a full-time job when Jon decides to
concentrate on turning it into a serious business, and the domain
watchgecko.com was registered on the 15th January 2010.
eBay
At this point, eBay accounts for the largest proportion of sales, and the majority of products sold are sourced through wholesalers in the United Kingdom. As a sole trader, Jon runs the business from his home.
Products
Traditional distribution in the UK is not ready for the growth of eCommerce and the access to new markets that this provides. In order for the business to succeed we begin to source products directly from the manufacturer.
Company founded
Following the success of the WatchGecko ebay shop, which began in 2010, a parent company (Geckota) is founded to own the WatchGecko brand and allow the company to also work on other projects.
Manufacturing
We have shifted away from sourcing products through distribution and now have most of the products manufactured to our own specifications. We can now be far more consistent with our offering and can deliver higher-quality products at a more reasonable pricing point.
Office space
The company moves into a dedicated office space, and the first employees are two students from the University of Gloucestershire who work part-time. Andy also joins the business this year full time.
First watches released
The company now employs 5 people and has a turnover of more than £500,000. After months of development, our first watches are released, and we hire more staff to assist with order processing. European sales begin to rise as a result of the rapid development of internet marketplaces.
New logo & website launched
The WatchGecko website had previously been built using a basic open source platform, but to succeed it required a fresh new appearance. As a result, a new design and logo were developed, and the new WatchGecko website was launched using the Magento eCommerce platform.
Focus on product design
The business expands its office space and hires more employees with a focus on creative tasks, plus product design and development.
Online markets grow
Due to quick development via online markets, the business continues to flourish. The watches range continues to devlop and expand. We add more team members and currently have a total of 10 employees.
We have added more office space, totaling roughly 2000 square feet for order processing and creative activities.
New head office
This year the company will recruit an extra 9 employees and complete the purchase of a 5000 square foot head office facility in Tewkesbury. This offers us much more flexibility for future expansion and allows us to handle all operations under one roof.
Website investment
We continue to invest in our websites, and sales are increasing. For the first time, the Geckota website becomes transactional and migrates to the Magento platform. The group's revenue has already passed £2 million.
Content creation
This year, we're putting stronger focus on content creation, and the WatchGecko website is becoming into a destination for watch aficionados as well as an online store.
ZULUDIVER and carbon neutral
The company decides to move away from internet marketplaces in favour of direct sales through our own websites. The ZULUDIVER website has been relaunched, and we have pledged to be carbon neutral.
FORZO watches
The FORZO motorsport watches brand is created, and we begin to form partnerships with numerous high-profile brand ambassadors.
Pandemic
COVID strikes, making things difficult for us. Fortunately, online businesses are encouraged to continue to operate. International delivery becomes uncertain however, and our international sales suffer. Despite these obstacles, the company continues to grow.
Protecting the rainforest
We begin working with One Tribe, and every purchase made on any of our websites contributes to the protection of the rainforest. We now have 19 employees and five transactional websites.
Brexit
The United Kingdom finally withdraws from the European Union. This adds to COVID's challenges and we prepare for a potential decline in international sales.
NTH + WatchGecko
We are thrilled to announce our first partnership with watchmaker NTH. WatchGecko and NTH have teamed together to bring you not one, but two unique DevilRays in what we hope will be the start of many similar endeavours.
Looking to the future
Thanks to the continued efforts of our dedicated team this year has started with strong sales. We are working on several new product launches and have a renewed focus on digital marketing.
Second NTH + WatchGecko collaboration
We're happy to report that because of how well our initial partnership with NTH went, we decided to do it again.
New website
After 8 years running on Magento this year we migrate to the Shopify platform with a redesigned the WatchGecko website.
Christopher Ward + WatchGecko
After a year of planning, creating, and testing, we are thrilled to finally reveal our collaboration with Christopher Ward. This limited-edition watch, which will only be sold through WatchGecko, will only be produced in 50 pieces.
A new year begins
A new year brings new opportunities and changes of staff. We continue to work on new products and with over 100K readers every month, the magazine and content side of the business continues to expand.
A destination for enthusiasts
Thanks to continued investment, WatchGecko is now an internationally renowned destination for watch enthusiasts. In addition to our retail business, an ever growing proportion of site traffic is from our watch news and reviews.
Moving into a new year
With exciting collaborations and developments in the pipeline, we continue to grow, both in products and staff. We are excited to bring new products and news to the site.
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Creative Team Leader
“The challenge is keeping our photography as exciting as our watches and straps, I love doing what I love, with an amazing team. The creative team works hard every day to realise our goal of taking an in-store buying experience and bringing this to an international online market.”
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Order Processing Team Leader
“I’m hard working and organised and have great colleagues around me so it’s a pleasure to work with such a supportive team. My guiding principle is to be efficient and constantly strive for improvement which I do every day. We all work hard but have fun at the same time.”
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Marketing & E-Commerce Lead
"I absolutely love working at WatchGecko. Fuelled by my passion for e-commerce and digital marketing, I take pride in shaping our brand, products, and collaborations with carefully crafted strategies and campaigns that tell a compelling and engaging story."
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Editorial Manager
“I’ve been a passionate writer and storyteller since I first picked up a pencil, and I’m excited to have discovered a deep fascination with timepieces in my twenties. As the Editor of WatchGecko Magazine, I relish the dynamic nature of my role, particularly the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse array of innovative watch brands from around the globe.”
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Video Production
"My fascination for both filmmaking and mechanical watches has led me to an exciting role on the WatchGecko Creative Team, where I get to capture the essence of cutting-edge horology on camera. My aspiration is to create content that inspires and engages both enthusiasts and novices alike, as well as shining a light on the watch Microbrand scene!"
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Marketing Assistant
"I'm interested in both fashion and digital marketing, and every day here allows me to learn new skills and progress my knowledge in these areas."
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Accounts Administrator
“I enjoy my role and handle all aspects of the accounting and financial business here at WatchGecko. I also work with the order processing team which is really fun as well.”
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Purchasing
"I have recently joined the team but have more than 10 years of experience working in materials procurement for fast-moving manufacturing industries."
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Order Processing
"I have recently joined the team and I am enjoying the multiple aspects of order processing. Its lovely to have joined such a wonderful group of people who clearly have a passion for everythng that they do."
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Order Processing
“You and your orders mean so much to all of us here. We all give the same care and attention to each of the hundreds of orders that we send out each week.“
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Financial Director
“I love helping organisations reach their full potential and it’s a real pleaseure to be part of the team here as WatchGecko has such spectacular opportunities.”
Behind the sceens Office Tour
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