Chris Gayle enters watch business
Published:Saturday | October 12, 2019 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Gleaner Writer
Windies cricketer Chris Gayle will take his talents into the signature watch industry. The 40-year-old Jamaican has partnered with Hagley West Watches, as well as co-founders and cricket lovers Tim Hayden and Jayden Levitt.
Hayden, company CEO, said that the partnership with the cricketing legend will be instrumental in tapping into the global market with his “no-nonsense approach”.
“Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, with over 2.5 billion fans,” he said. “Having the biggest name in that sport on our team will expose us to a global market. Not only will Chris bring his image and notoriety to Hagley West, but also his unique style and boundless enthusiasm. We are looking forward to developing the ‘333’ watch range and engaging with a worldwide audience.”
6,000 per cent increase in sales
Hagley West hopes to use the sport to fuel its growth as it is forecasting more than 6,000 per cent increase in sales in just one year. Plans are in place for future expansion into the Asian market through various cricketing superstars.
The company’s beginnings stemmed from Levitt, a former cricketer himself, and Hayden, a lifelong entrepreneur developing a friendship after a cricket match in Menorca, Spain. The conversation that began from that meeting manifested into a plan to start their own brand aiming at eliminating the expense barrier consumers were experiencing in the current watch market.
Marketing Director Levitt envisioned what the brand should be as recalled by Hayden from their initial conversation.
“Jayden said to me that style shouldn’t have to cost the Earth, and I agreed with him,” Hayden said.
Hagley West’s aggressive growth plans will be financed through crowdfunding efforts on the CrowdCube platform, which Levitt says will allow anyone to invest and own shares in the company.
“We decided to open the investment up to this public platform so anyone can join this extraordinary HW (Hagley West )journey,” he said.
The company also has plans to give back to the community by supporting charities and foundations that promote and develop grass-roots cricket to underprivileged communities, beginning with the Chris Gayle Foundation.