The founder of the Belgian watchmaker Ice-Watch was chosen as the 2017 French language manager of the year. For its 10th anniversary, Ice-Watch has also been awarded an exclusive contract to produce watches in the effigy of Tintin.
With more than 20 million watches sold in the past ten years, Ice-Watch has become a genuine success story. The head of the Walloon SME did not conceal his joy at receiving the title of Manager of the Year.
In an interview with the magazine Trends-Tendances, the businessman explains, "It is important for me to be recognised both by the general public and by my peers […] This prize is essential for me because, in the space of ten years, I have progressed from entrepreneur to manager…"
Rewarding a dynamic boss every year, the Jury for this prestigious award includes journalists from Trends-Tendances and experts from economic and financial environments. Meeting this year for the 33rd edition of the event, the Jury wanted to highlight the businessman's unique career. The ceremony was held at Brussels Expo in the presence of figures from the political and economic world.
A prestigious partnership
To celebrate the brand's 10th anniversary, at the end of 2017, Jean-Pierre Lutgen announced the signature of a partnership with Moulinsart, the company that manages commercial operations for Hergé's works.
Aiming to attract a large audience, the creation of 24 models of watches called Tintin will allow Ice-Watch to conquer new markets. The watches from this 100% Belgian partnership will be decorated with several famous characters from Hergé's works.
All fans of Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock, Professor Cuthbert Calculus and Thomson and Thompson will be able to treat themselves to the effigy of their favourite character. Furthermore, the founder of Ice-Watch has declared in the media that he himself is a fan of the tufted reporter and organised "a 'Tintin in Congo' evening when he was a student". His watches should be available for sale from April 2018.
The Ice-Watch success story
Ten years ago, Jean-Pierre Lutgen set himself the crazy challenge of marketing a new brand of plastic watches on a highly competitive market. The Belgian watchmaking brand gradually became an international reference.
His fun and colourful watches are currently exported in more than 50 countries via 6,000 sales outlets. Ice-Watch has been successful in forming partnerships with showbiz figures, such as David Guetta and Fergie, the singer of the Black Eyed Peas.
The company currently employs 45 people in Bastogne and about 20 additional people in Hong Kong. In 2016, the company achieved a turnover of €42 million with a net benefit of €4.4 million.
In order to accelerate the brand's growth, Ice-Watch's founder has hinted several times that he is planning to conquer the United States. Jean-Pierre Lutgen is looking for an operational partner in order to "seduce" the American market which is more difficult to access. The arrival of the Tintin range is an additional asset for achieving this goal.