It was an anticipated watchmaking event and it was a success. The first edition of TimeFest took place on June 15 and 16 at the Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute in Bordeaux. The feeling from all participants, whether visitors or exhibitors, was unanimous: success was there. It was well deserved by the organizers who spared no effort to set up this show whose vocation was, through exchanges between brands and enthusiasts or the curious, to contribute to the development of interest in watchmaking.

Semper & Adhuc was among the local actors who participated in TimeFest:

In fact, if the recipe worked, it is because it brought together several ingredients that seem to me to be essential for the success of such an event. I see at least 5:

• The show is a one-off event, but local retailers must be able to permanently ensure this link between brands and enthusiasts or simply customers. Bordeaux stands out for the quality work carried out by players such as Horel (more oriented towards niche brands / micro-brands) or Mornier (institutional brands) who demonstrate great dynamism. Without the presence of active retailers, the organization of such a show would not be possible. The Horel team was also part of the organization of Timefest and the Mornier team supported brands distributed in its stores during the show. A good operation because everyone has to gain from the spread of interest in watchmaking.

Another local player, Mona Watches:

• the presence of a real local community of enthusiasts. Enthusiasts may not represent the majority of customers but they play an important role as prescribers. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the liveliness and involvement of this community, some of whose members contributed voluntarily to supporting the show. It also helped attract a large number of visitors (between one and two thousand), thus ensuring permanent traffic in the show aisles.
• the existence and development of local brands. It is not well known but the South-West is becoming a credible watchmaking location. The region is thus participating in the emergence of a real watchmaking ecosystem in France. Brands such as March-Lab are well-known but I could also mention players such as Mona Watches, Vasco Watch, Balmont, Semper & Adhuc which have their origins in the South-West. I will not forget Pascal Coyon who is based in the Landes. Finally, a brand like Radial took its first steps during TimeFest.

TimeFest also offered entertainment and conferences:

• A quality panel in line with visitors' expectations. The panel was mainly (but not exclusively) composed of micro-brands or brands with reasonable prices. Visitors were thus able to meet nearly fifty players who address them. It is always more pleasant and it reinforces the interest and quality of the exchanges. I was able to appreciate the composition of this panel which also included bracelet manufacturers as well as a watchmaking school (which is located at the Lycée Professionnel Marcel-Dassault in Mérignac) which must have inspired vocations.
• The choice of venue was perfect. The Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute is a prestigious, pleasant setting and the participants were able to exchange comfortably, without pressure.
• Finally, the work of the organizers (Aurélien and Jérémy from the Horel boutique, Edouard from the Podcast Des Montres & Vous and Mavrick from Mona Watches) was impeccable. The structuring decisions were the right ones, such as free access or the absence of time slot limitations. Everything was thought out to make the experience of the visit as pleasant as possible, and it was.

The most important objective remains the transmission of passion:

In any case, I greatly enjoyed this event. Beyond the pleasure I had in participating in the conference dedicated to independent watchmaking, I felt only good vibrations. The pleasure that the participants felt in exchanging was contagious. The fact that this event was also taking place in my hometown gave it a sentimental dimension in my eyes. In short, it was a perfect weekend and the question that everyone was asking on Sunday evening was when the second edition would take place.

Participating in a trade fair in Bordeaux offers several advantages:

More generally, the success of TimeFest, which follows that of the first We Love Watches show last fall in Paris, shows that in France, there is a strong expectation from the public for this type of event. There is a real need to go and meet brands, their representatives, their creators. Smaller brands offer precisely this embodiment and this possibility of creating a more personal connection. And then there is the economic reality. Due to the increase in prices, very well-known brands are no longer accessible to most French amateurs or enthusiasts. France was a pioneer about fifteen years ago in terms of a show oriented towards the end customer thanks to the Belles Montres show. Times have changed, today we need other formats, other platforms and TimeFest is the demonstration that when things are well thought out, a new form of watchmaking meetings can be successful and prosper.