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TRANSCRIPTION WITH SPEAKERS
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[00:00] SPEAKER_01: Welcome to Canada's Podcast.
[00:06] SPEAKER_01: Tom, it's welcome to Canada's Podcast. Good to see you again. You know, we met a collision in Toronto.
[00:12] SPEAKER_01: You know, I was kind of fascinated by your story. Obviously coming from France to here is building businesses here is interesting.
[00:20] SPEAKER_01: And we don't often meet someone from the watch business. So I think it's it's a very different type of business and, you know, therefore, somewhat different stories around it.
[00:35] SPEAKER_01: So before we get going, why don't we tell us a little bit about yourself, you know, a little bit more about what you do and how you got here today kind of thing.
[00:46] SPEAKER_03: First thing first, thank you so much for having me. Very excited. I love to love to share the love and, you know, and chat.
[00:57] SPEAKER_03: So yeah, no, so, and obviously as you can recognize, as you mentioned, I've been in Canada for almost 18 years now, originally from a pair's friends.
[01:09] SPEAKER_03: And when so when I came when I came in Canada, actually my wife's Canadian. So that's the reason why I came here.
[01:17] SPEAKER_03: And so I came as a as an immigrant, I guess 18 years ago and doing, you know, getting getting job to pay the rent and then slowly through my through the time I, I, I improve my my, my English, I guess.
[01:33] SPEAKER_03: And I also met a lot of people, something that I love that I'm passionate about is communicating, poking, spreading information and learning a lot.
[01:45] SPEAKER_03: And then I was very lucky to be true to different, different, the joint in my career was very lucky to have a chance to work for a watch brand, a Swiss watch brand. It's called Hamilton Watch is part of the SWAT Group.
[02:00] SPEAKER_03: I started the position in 2009 as a junior salesperson basically.
[02:10] SPEAKER_03: And, and I was, that gave me the opportunity to learn about the industry and mostly to discover amazing people in the industry.
[02:18] SPEAKER_03: Something that I love to say is as much as I really like having watches and you know, I, I have few of them myself.
[02:28] SPEAKER_03: What I really love is the community behind the aspect, you know, I love to chat with people with the retailers and consumers people behind the brand.
[02:37] SPEAKER_03: That's really something that really inspired me.
[02:39] SPEAKER_03: And then what happened is when COVID it's I, I decided to go back to school and true, the, so I did, I started a master in business and true, the journey, I decided to survey the industry and really go deeply in the details with stats, exporting, exporting, export imports, Switzerland,
[03:03] SPEAKER_03: and, um, stat Canada and also countries in the States, I spoke to a lot of people close to a thousand people from the industry, but also as an end consumer.
[03:14] SPEAKER_03: So retailer brands and also end consumer and I realized some of the challenges in our industry and obviously some positive element as well, because you know, I really believe that everybody industry, businesses and individual, we, we are always, you know, we can always, we can always, you know,
[03:33] SPEAKER_03: always learn new things and grow.
[03:38] SPEAKER_03: And so halfway through the MBA journey, I decided to leave the company that I actually really enjoy working with and I love the team everybody and all the leaders were amazing.
[03:50] SPEAKER_03: And I had the opportunity to be there for 12 years. So within 12 years, I had the chance to grow, I guess, a network and mostly a reputation for myself.
[03:59] SPEAKER_03: Again, you know, sharing the love and talking to a lot of people, we've been our company, but also with also brands and basically I decided to launch my business and, yeah, so that's when that's so my, my, my aging.
[04:15] SPEAKER_01: Tell us a bit about about you, business watch DNA.
[04:19] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you know, I mean, obviously the watch business like many other businesses is changing. So, you know, what, what, what is it?
[04:30] SPEAKER_01: You know, why is watch DNA there, if you like.
[04:34] SPEAKER_03: Yeah, so actually, where's the an a come it's a, it's basically the answer of the survey that I mentioned. So as I'm, so something that I wanted to quickly just to give you a little bit of the idea of 360 environment that I, that I'm trying to create.
[04:49] SPEAKER_03: The first thing that I did is that I launched when I launched my business almost three years ago in October, it would be three years. I decided to create an agency that help jewelers and help brands grow the online presence, but also do activation, something that I used to love.
[05:06] SPEAKER_03: In my previous position is to do activation.
[05:09] SPEAKER_03: Pop up shop activity working, doing a lot of partnership. That's something I really love and I'm really inspired.
[05:16] SPEAKER_03: And so what I wanted to do is I wanted to have an agency that help retailers independent retailers, because in our industry, there's a lot of small retailers that have one store, maybe two stores, but also bigger chain.
[05:30] SPEAKER_03: But I also wanted to help brands grow online, but also doing active activation and marketing activation and talking, reaching to actual end consumer.
[05:43] SPEAKER_03: And so basically what I realized is I wanted to launch a platform that's called watch DNA that is another e-commerce platform is it's a, it's a, it's a no commission base. We don't sell any product.
[05:56] SPEAKER_03: We basically here to educate people about industry and about all the brands. Something that also realizes that now that I'm outside the group that I used to work, which are again unbelievable that they have amazing brands.
[06:10] SPEAKER_03: Something that I didn't realize is that there is actually more than 2000 watch brands out there and there's a lot and there's also the big brands, but they're also micro brand.
[06:19] SPEAKER_03: And so something true, I guess my schooling that I really appreciate is to learn and discover new new brands and new knowledge.
[06:30] SPEAKER_03: And so I really wanted to create a platform kind of like an encyclopedia of the watch industry that basically every week, every month, like for example, we literally with my team two weeks ago, we just added 50 new brands.
[06:43] SPEAKER_03: So as of now, we have almost 170 brands and the idea is really and we don't charge anything to the brands is really the idea is to educate and consumers about it.
[06:53] SPEAKER_03: And then what we also do is we sing them with some social elements from there.
[07:01] SPEAKER_00: Stay ahead of the game with our expert tips and strategies that will help your business thrive in a digital era.
[07:08] SPEAKER_00: Canada's podcast dot com subscribe now.
[07:10] SPEAKER_01: Thomas, that's really interesting, but let's move on and discuss some challenges.
[07:17] SPEAKER_01: What's been the greatest challenge you've faced in the business today?
[07:23] SPEAKER_03: To be honest, one of the challenges that I have for me is on the pricing, I would say.
[07:32] SPEAKER_03: And because basically what I've done is that I, I, I, I, I, I love to help and I love to try to find solutions and before working in a corporate world, anytime somebody reach out to me for any services.
[07:48] SPEAKER_03: Sometimes I was doing it myself and I help and I'm more than happy to help, but a lot of time I was not able to and I was like, oh, you know what, I have the perfect person for that.
[07:56] SPEAKER_03: So let me find out and basically was just, you know, me being a nice person, I would call it and just, you know, trying to figure out together to help.
[08:04] SPEAKER_03: But what I realized is that being a entrepreneur, obviously the knowledge that I gained through my years and the expertise and the, and the network that I get.
[08:16] SPEAKER_03: In the end of the day, it's a lot of time. And so whatever time I use on doing something, even, you know, to help somebody, I'm personally not doing it.
[08:26] SPEAKER_03: But I'm also trying to work or to, you know, work with a client, for example, so that's been a lot of challenges is like, for example, I have a lot of people are reach out to me. It's like, hey Thomas, I'm looking for, I'm looking for this service.
[08:39] SPEAKER_03: So I'm looking for this person. Are you able to put me in contact or do you know anybody? And most of the time I say, yes, I do.
[08:46] SPEAKER_03: But now it's just the, you know, it's just how that's one of the element. And the second element as well is pricing.
[08:53] SPEAKER_03: And I was actually talking to, I tried to talk to the different entrepreneur and basically the idea was, okay, I don't want to be the most expensive, but I also want to be to offer service and the price that, you know, makes sense for my knowledge and the time that I work with too.
[09:12] SPEAKER_03: And so I realized that I cannot work with everybody, but at the same time I want to try to work as obviously as a young business, you know, almost three years. So it's not that young anymore.
[09:25] SPEAKER_03: But that's been a little bit of a challenge is being the nice Thomas person, but also being able to be like, yeah, but listen, I'm an expert on what I do and I'm going to give you the best service that you can get out there.
[09:38] SPEAKER_03: Especially in our niche that's really my idea. And to be honest, this is one reason, not the only, but there is one reason why I decided to go back to school.
[09:48] SPEAKER_03: I personally didn't want to get a university. And so I did, you know, I at the time when I was 19, I decided to go to the States to learn English and, you know, all that.
[09:59] SPEAKER_03: But I feel like through my personality and my experience and my network, that gave me a good opportunity to go and say hi to people and not coffee with people.
[10:10] SPEAKER_03: And I love and I feel this is priceless to have this relationship.
[10:15] SPEAKER_03: But I love the fact that because I want to do it to school back during COVID, now I'm able to be like, okay, Thomas is a nice guy, but he also knows what is talking about.
[10:26] SPEAKER_03: So I feel like that kind of give a little bit of stamp, which to be honest, before that, I never believe and I always sell just a piece of paper, you know, I was always making myself, oh, that's fine. That's fine. You don't have it.
[10:37] SPEAKER_03: But now that I do have it and now that I talk to people in the industry, like I get and I think we spoke about it before. But now one thing that I'm very, very proud is when a university reached out to me and say, hey, Thomas, should you experience professionally and school wise, are you able to chat on front of our students about entrepreneurship, about whatever.
[10:59] SPEAKER_03: And this is the best, the best moment for me because I was like, oh, wow, I'm somehow, it's not about recognition. There's somehow able to spread the world and spread the knowledge.
[11:12] SPEAKER_03: And so that's one reason. And I know I'm not answering for you. You question on kind of question.
[11:17] SPEAKER_01: That's good. I don't worry. I'm letting you move it along. But you know, it's funny because you kind of were talking about being asked things. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? You know, the best piece of mentorship, as we tend to call it now.
[11:35] SPEAKER_01: Okay, you received.
[11:38] SPEAKER_03: So I have few, I have few, the best piece as coming from an entrepreneur and also entrepreneur, the best piece was telling me, okay, so as an entrepreneur, you have, you have two options to succeed.
[11:53] SPEAKER_03: You have option one and it's you will make it. You business would be successful. You would make it.
[11:58] SPEAKER_03: And option two is option one will work.
[12:03] SPEAKER_03: There's not there's not a quitting option. You know, you have to go for it. And you try something. If it doesn't work, that's fine. Just do something out. But it will work because the, and one thing that I really appreciate in this conversation is, you know, obviously, a lot of other human being and as, you know, as an individual, we always try to find a way to get it.
[12:23] SPEAKER_03: Okay, if that doesn't work, then there's, okay, I have my school, I have my career, I have my, you know, I have my experience. And yes, and obviously, and I, to be honest, I love, I still have great contact and research you with my previous employer and the corporation. I really love everybody in the brands. I really love that.
[12:40] SPEAKER_03: But on the entrepreneurial level, that was something that was like, oh, wow, option two is that option one succeed. I was like, oh, that's very inspiring.
[12:49] SPEAKER_03: That's pretty good. Right. And then, and then, and then on the other part, this is something that is not something that somebody told me, but something that I learned by myself is through my schooling is basically one thing that I like to say.
[13:04] SPEAKER_03: And I actually have on my website is that every day, every time that you have to do something, do it right away. Otherwise, you might put it aside and you would like, okay, next tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.
[13:14] SPEAKER_03: And then you will never remember. And I remember, I, I put these rules to myself in the beginning of when I went back to school and won the first few paper that I had to do.
[13:24] SPEAKER_03: I kind of not delay that, but I was, you know, I was a little confused and you know, going back to school and all that. And, and I had a challenge of organizing myself.
[13:33] SPEAKER_03: And so once I organize myself and I put myself this, okay, you have to do it now. You know, yes, you have three weeks to do a paper of, I don't know, 10,000 words or whatever it is.
[13:45] SPEAKER_03: But no, let's do everything. Let's do it a little bit instead of just waiting for the last minute. And that's how I try to work. When I have a retailer or client or a brand that reach out to me, I'm like, okay, let's figure out things right away.
[13:58] SPEAKER_03: Let's not just say, okay, I would come back to you next week. You know, that's, that's what I'm trying to do. Try to be proactive all the time.
[14:04] SPEAKER_00: Canada's podcast is your gateway to success in the world of entrepreneurship. Start listening today. Canada's podcast.com subscribe now.
[14:14] SPEAKER_02: Let's have a little bit of fun. If you weren't doing what you're doing now, what would you be doing instead?
[14:26] SPEAKER_03: To be honest, I will be doing what I'm doing now. I, I, I, I, yeah, I, I don't know, you know, it's true. And I don't want to go through all the details on my personal life and all things like that.
[14:41] SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you know, it can be exciting and boring for some, but the idea is basically when, when, when what happened to me is that basically, you know, I would give you a little bit of the of the personal
[14:52] SPEAKER_03: detail, I guess, but not too much. I'm sorry for not too much.
[14:56] SPEAKER_03: But, but basically the idea is that we have really had, it was very helpful me and my wife to have a second child daughter.
[15:04] SPEAKER_03: And so we had to go all the medical and all that and whatever it is we and and and but when she happened, I basically told myself, well, anything can happen.
[15:15] SPEAKER_03: And then by that, I called the miracle. And so by that, then I was like, you know what, I can't go back to school. And then I was like, oh, you know what, I can't stop my business.
[15:24] SPEAKER_03: And then how you know what, I can't build my house. And so we basically everything that I just say we did that during college.
[15:31] SPEAKER_03: And so that was that was the idea is that it's very good. That's very good.
[15:35] SPEAKER_03: Thank you. Thank you. And so that that's kind of the so to be honest, I as much as there's complication and I've met that there's headaches and I've met that, you know, I have water issue in my house.
[15:47] SPEAKER_03: And I have I have I have three years old daughter and nine years old son and I am a superman. I have my own business and I'm, you know, there's challenges in everything.
[15:57] SPEAKER_03: I really want to see the positive and I want I really want to grow. And in the end of the day, I want to be the best example that I can be for my children. That's basically what it is.
[16:06] SPEAKER_03: And so as a human being, as a business person, as a, you know, as everything as a father.
[16:12] SPEAKER_02: And so everything that I do, I have them in mind.
[16:18] SPEAKER_02: So, you know, are you a morning or a night person?
[16:25] SPEAKER_03: So it's a funny question. So what happened is that last year was a little bit of how time with some complication with the house and everything.
[16:35] SPEAKER_03: Anyway, and so he was a half time. And then I read a view an amazing book that's called Miracle Morning.
[16:43] SPEAKER_03: And so true reading the book, Miracle Morning, I kind of went to the to the journey of waking up early, like waking up at five o'clock, working out before the family style and then starting to have my journal and starting to work out, starting to, you know, read a little bit.
[16:59] SPEAKER_03: And so and basically my kids woke up at six thirty. I already had, you know, some of my tasks done on persona.
[17:05] SPEAKER_03: And so I did that for like two to three months and realistically. And I also, you know, that's that's just what it is.
[17:11] SPEAKER_03: And now I can't say it, but you know, because I went a little bit, it was a little bit how mentally as well. So I went to see somebody, you know, to help me discuss and things like that.
[17:23] SPEAKER_03: And you know, and I'm saying that why I'm saying that now, and you know, I could have keep it for myself. But I'm saying that because I realized that everybody go to different journey and different issues.
[17:32] SPEAKER_03: And I feel that if you if you usually when you go to an issue, you think that the world is is is is is is is is calling on you in any case in any situation, you know, it's always how to help and I realized that I realized that first.
[17:49] SPEAKER_03: You know, there's problem happening to everybody and and it's really how you want to react to this problem is all you want to.
[17:57] SPEAKER_03: This problem to put you down or you want to actually try to confirm them. And so I feel like by by by by me having this this I would say moment behind me.
[18:08] SPEAKER_03: I can express and when I talk like for example, when I told to couple that I've issued a big a big kids and I told them that I was in situation.
[18:17] SPEAKER_03: And they're like, oh, you as well. And then slowly, you know, it's kind of like I like to say that you know, if one day you you really want a red car.
[18:25] SPEAKER_03: And now everywhere you see you see red cars everywhere. That's kind of the idea. So it's not so that's kind of the idea.
[18:34] SPEAKER_03: And again, I didn't see you question, but I want to.
[18:41] SPEAKER_01: Apart from kids, what's keeping you off night in terms of, you know, problems.
[18:48] SPEAKER_02: No.
[18:52] SPEAKER_03: Home situation, home renovation building your own house, the ring carving it and you know dealing with, you know,
[18:59] SPEAKER_01: what about on the business front was keeping off at night in the business.
[19:03] SPEAKER_03: Okay, okay. No, you know what the business front is not keeping up as a problem.
[19:08] SPEAKER_03: The business, the business front is keeping up because of the amount of work and the passion that I have.
[19:14] SPEAKER_03: And you know something that I owe that I really love to say because people ask me even yesterday, I met with somebody that you know I work in my previous in my previous position.
[19:24] SPEAKER_03: And we had coffee and it's okay. So Thomas tell me what you think. And you know, and I say, you know what I love is I love that every day I have a fireworks of thoughts in my brain.
[19:37] SPEAKER_03: Every day I have ideas that's maybe why I don't have here anymore is because every day I have so much ideas and every time that I talk to somebody, I have a no idea.
[19:47] SPEAKER_03: And I'm like, how can we partner together? How can we work together? How can we use it?
[19:52] SPEAKER_03: Each of this knowledge to grow into a development between both.
[19:56] SPEAKER_03: And that's something that that's something that I really love. I really love is this aspect of being able to you know a brand reach out to me and say,
[20:04] SPEAKER_03: okay, Thomas, we need this. And I'm like, perfect. Let's figure out something. Let's figure out a solution for you.
[20:09] SPEAKER_03: And let's make it good so you can do it again and again. And you know, so I love I really really enjoy this.
[20:20] SPEAKER_02: Thomas, it's been a really good meeting. Both both in person and online. Thank you.
[20:28] SPEAKER_01: We've got to come to a stop now. How can people get a hold of you if they've been listening to this and they say, I want to speak to this guy.
[20:36] SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So on LinkedIn, Thomas, Jay Sandrin, I love to put the J because it's my grandpa. So you know, it's a remembering.
[20:45] SPEAKER_03: But really, realistically, what I would like is so basically online, I have two platforms. I have one platform, which is my B2B, which called Northern Watch Services.
[20:57] SPEAKER_03: But on the easy way, I also have a B2C, which is a platform that we created to educate people about watches and once they indicated to put them in contact with retailers that carry those those products, because the idea is really to help support the local businesses.
[21:15] SPEAKER_03: And then this platform is called Watch DNA. So watch DNA like the DNA of a watch. And so that's the very easy website, I guess, to remember. And then through that any contact email link social media, they all under watch DNA.
[21:32] SPEAKER_01: Thanks Thomas. It's been a lot of fun meeting you and thank you.
[21:44] SPEAKER_01: I loved it. Thanks for looking to Canada's podcast. I'm Phil Bliss. And on Canada's podcast, you really get to meet the very interesting entrepreneurs that drive Canada's economy.
[22:00] SPEAKER_01: See you soon.
