With its worldwide distribution network, the Group is in an excellent position to provide its customers with an array of products, even when tourist flows and consequently purchase locations suddenly change, as was often the case in the year under review. The number of patent applications increased again in the year under review, not only in the area of electronic smart and mobile device products, but also primarily for watches and watch movements. Not only new products from the 20 brands, but also all current brand models which benefit from ongoing demand, will contribute to a good year in 2016. Particularly the new METAS certified antimagnetic Omega Co-Axial Globemaster collection, as well as various Swatch watches such as the Swatch Bellamy, launched in China, with its contactless payment function, will generate very positive sales in China and other regions. Also, the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which start in August, will give the Omega brand, the official Games timekeeper, an additional boost. Tissot, through its long-standing partnership with the NBA, the North American professional basketball league, has become the official timekeeper for the NBA, the women’s basketball league WNBA and the NBA Development League, which will generate substantially increased sales for the brand, in both North American and worldwide markets.
Swatch Group, with its strong presence and pioneer role in countries such as China, Russia or India, will continue to generate dynamic growth in local currency in 2016. January 2016 confirms that particularly in mainland China, watch consumption rose strongly compared to the previous year, reason why, the Swatch Group expects growth of well over 5% in 2016 in local currency.
