Luxury from Baselworld 2017

The largest, and arguably most important, trade show for luxury watches and jewelry came to a close today. Held in Basel, Switzerland, dedicated watch lovers flock to BaselWorld to see horological innovations from large, established brand names to smaller, less known creators. What trends emerged during this year's 8 day extravaganza?

It was a milestone year for many different timepieces. Omega went all out to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their Speedmaster series, creating a limited edition Speedmaster Moonwatch as well as showing off their Trilogy set. Patek Philippe honored the 20th anniversary of The Aquanaut line by creating the Ref. 5168G, a redesigned version of the classic with striking blue detail and white gold case which will retail around $39,000.

Smartwatches were out on full display, with well-established mechanical watch manufactures such as TAG Heuer or Mont Blanc integrating smartwatches into their product line. Samsung gave a nod to tradition with their Gear S3, which is a smart pocket watch.

Baselworld continued to create a more balanced picture than in the past. Luxury watch brands are re-adjusting their focus towards middle-class luxury products - while the price range seems to know no upper limit, many established brands are starting to offer lower priced but high-quality models to more mainstream buyers. The innovative German watchmaker Nomos Glashutte (one of our personal favorites!) introduced the Campus line aimed at students with an entry level manual watch for $1,500.

Whether you are a traditionalist, all about new technology, or on a budget, this year's Baselworld had something for you! 

Select your timepiece well!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Baselworld, Hodinkee, WatchTime

Creating a Successful VR Campaign

Virtual Reality (VR) is popping up everywhere we turn. Coachella is using VR for the second time in their festival welcome box, Patron is giving an inside look at the process of creating their tequila and TOMS is showing customers exactly where their second pair of shoes are going. So how do you start creating an unforgettable VR campaign true to your brand? Learn from others mistakes! AdAge’s “4 Newbie VR Mistakes to Avoid” lays out 4 common mistakes made while creating a VR experience.

1. Don't “Make viewers nauseous” - No one wants a sick guest! Giving the viewer a level horizon their eye can focus on will ensure guests remember your experience for the right reasons. 
2. Don't “Pace to the wrong beat” - This is not the time to apply the "less is more" mindset. Give the viewer enough time to explore the immersive scene you have created before shifting to another.
3. Don't “Chase a gimmick” - The VR experience you create should build an emotional bond with the viewer. Following VR trends like a scavenger hunt might not align with the story you are trying to tell.
4. Don't “Forget about the story” - VR opens the door to endless opportunities. Use creativity to craft a strong and true story.

These four mistakes are the starting point in creating a successful VR campaign. Go through the journey as your customer, thinking of each touch point to ensure the entire experience is memorable and impactful. This will help you craft the optimal experience for your customers while remaining true to your brand. 

Happy Experimenting!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Ad Age

Empowering Diversity in New York City

The 10th Annual Procurement Fair, hosted by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), is designed to unlock opportunities and secure government contracts for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (M/WBE), something very near and dear to our hearts. (We are M/WBE-certified in NYC & NYS) So you can imagine how honored we were to produce NYC's largest annual Procurement Fair!

Over 800 attendees listened to keynote speeches by SBS Commissioner Gregg Bishop and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, and learned first hand what the New York City government is doing to help M/WBEs succeed. Utilizing BNY Mellon headquarters, opportunity rooms and the large Exhibit Hall presented important networking opportunities for M/WBEs to meet 70+ city agencies, state agencies, public authorities, prime contractors, private sector corporations and community based organizations.   

We were so honored to support such an important M/WBE effort in New York City with SBS. Check out photos from the 10th Annual Procurement Fair.

Go Diversity!
-DTE Team

Celebrating Asia Week

New York City will get a little more beautiful tomorrow with the start of Asia Week, a ten-day celebration of Asian art. The week will be filled with nonstop events to recognize the importance of Asian culture in the world.

Every March, Asian art is on full display thanks to the collaborations between Asian art specialists, major auction houses, world-renowned museums and Asian cultural institutions. With over 50 gallery exhibitions, walking tours are being created for the public to ensure they see all they can during this nine-day art extravaganza. Whether you are interested in Contemporary art or fine Japanese prints, there is an exhibit for you. If collecting art is more your style, Sotheby's will feature Asian auctions from as far back as the Neolithic Period, featuring such relics as fine classical paintings from Bad Ashanren or the figures below from the Qing Dynasty.

Asia Week is March 9th - 18th, so lace up your walking shoes or dust off your auction paddle and enjoy as much Asian art as you can.

Happy Gallery Hopping!
-DTE Team
 

Photo Credit: Asia Week, Sotheby's

Creating a March Madness Weekend Experience

March Madness is fast approaching and bringing with it events and activations to promote the Final Four Championship. How do you craft an experience that aligns your client’s objectives and their members' desires? That is the question we had to answer when we were asked by a private jet company to come up with an unforgettable weekend in Phoenix for the Final Four Championship 2017.

What basketball fan wouldn't love the chance to talk shop with Grant Hill or Bob Knight? Integrating well-respected basketball talent into this three-day weekend creates an experience a client will never forget. Day one, guests get their first braggable moment during a VIP Semi-Finals Watch Party Saturday at the private jet hangar, engaging in pre game and half time analysis with top basketball talent, like Grant Hill or Bob Knight. Current players have to be excluded because of NCAA regulations.

On day two Sunday, guests unwind and play 18 holes on a world-renowned course under the desert sun with more respected basketball talent for this action-packed weekend. Charles Barkley, a NBA and NCAA Hall of Famer, can offer insightful analysis of the college games while being no stranger to a 5 iron. Championship Game Day Monday brings live, in-depth analysis from respected coach and broadcast talent while watching the game in premium seats and/or suites at the University of Phoenix Stadium. We can't think of a better backdrop for a selfie with a basketball legend than the Final Four Championship game. 

Rewarding loyal members and courting prospects by creating an exclusive and customized experience with A-List talent and local activities is key to delivering a game-changing weekend.

Brush up on your Bracketology!
-DTE Team

Photo Credit: Final Four, Eventinterface