This very morning we arrived at the fairground to discover that everything just looked more or less like we have left it yesterday! The truck transporting the glass panes and the display cases had gone astray and smashed all the glasses in the process! Raju Agarwal, the manager in charge of our booth supplier Meroform, was desperately calling local glass merchants to get new panes and shelfs cut and supplied. They are promised by tomorrow morning 8.00 am! That is two hours before the show opens its doors and our booth is right at the entrance of the show.
Having become a master in India belief in fate, we decided to call it a day and call on some watch stores in town to see what they look like. A list we got from Mihrod got us going and John sped into town full throttle.
My oh My, these stores come in every shape and color. The ones dedicated to a single brand being the most refined ones. Timex India is a much liked brand here. Their stores all look more or less the same. The idea of the his-and-her watch originated in India. It was launched by the Swiss RADO. And till this day, offering a his-and-her set to the groom and bride is what all Indians aspire too.
The next store was the most brilliant one. Western Watch Company. Getting your belt sized whilst you select your new sunglasses and get the battery of your quartz watch changed in one go that is what many stores here excel in. And yes, 99.9% of the market are quartz movements. They symbolise modern western technology. Even the higher end brands come mostly with quartz movements over here. So we did right to develop a quartz collection just for India.
Number three we visited had a nice change of theme. Instead of belts they are into glasses.
Indians like clocks very much. In nearly every home you find at least one or two of them. Mostly very ornate ones. And of course all of them with a quartz movement.
Tonight is the first cocktail reception of the fair taking place. We have to groom ourselves as it is a formal affair. And yes, there is a pecuiliar Indian twist to the reception. We shall end up at 8.30 pm at the fair where all the stands are still empty! Except Titan's that is. They are headquartered here in Bangalore and have their own travelling booth stored here.
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