larry h. barkley sr. – breaks down the fine art of luxury
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photo by steed media service |
President, Timex Group
Larry H. Barkley Sr. understands the value of time. As the president of Timex Group, Barkley makes sure that his company offers consumers the finest watches on the market. Barkely recently sat down with rolling out to discuss the future of Timex Group, the secrets to his success, and the increasing number of African Americans purchasing luxury items. –amir shaw
Give us some insight on Timex Group.
With Timex Group, we have three licenses for our luxury brands. One is Versace, [and the others are] Salvatore Ferragamo and Valentino. We produce the watches for these brands in Switzerland and we sell them to boutiques in the U.S. and around the world.
The Timex Group is a renowned name, but what do you do to further the brand?
We bring our products out and sponsor events to propel the brand awareness. We also advertise in major magazines to show our new products. During the first quarter of each year, we unveil our new lines at the BASELWORLD watch show in Switzerland.
How has the industry changed in the last 10 years?
The major change is that when you looked at luxury before, it didn’t cater to the black community. Recently, they’ve discovered that black people buy a lot of luxury products. We’re really trying to step out and make sure that blacks have access to our luxury products.
What’s the most important thing that you have learned while in the business?
When I first got into the luxury business, I turned down an interview from Saks Fifth Avenue because I didn’t know luxury. But I found out that all retail is the same. Don’t be afraid to walk in the door and look at any opportunity.
Born: Salisbury, Md.
School: University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Important Books: The White Elephant by Sid Fleischam and Confidence by Rosabeth Moss Kanter
