:Modify Watches
{{Short description|American retailer of customizable modular watches}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2013}}
Modify Watches is an American retailer of customizable modular watches. Founded in 2010, Modify Watches sells its own designs in addition to sport licensed watches including MLB,{{Cite web | url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/S-F-firm-s-new-platform-taps-do-it-yourself-6081528.php |title = S.F. Firm's new platform taps do-it-yourself sports merchandising|date = 2015-02-17}} NBA, MLS and NHL. Modify Watches also produced fully customized designs for companies like Google,{{cite web|author= |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/01/the-new-android-watch-in-the-google-store-isnt-what-you-think/ |title=The New Android Watch In The Google Store Isn't What You Think |publisher=TechCrunch |date=2012-02-01 |accessdate=2013-11-02}} Facebook, LinkedIn, Wired, Nike, Pinarello, SRAM, Cartoon Network, SEGA, Bethesda Softworks and adult swim.
Modify Watches is based in San Francisco, California, United States.
History
Modify Watches was founded in 2010 in California by two UC Berkeley-Haas MBA alums under the name "The Swap Watch". After selling a few test products to gauge demand, The Swap Watch was re-branded and launched a new line of watches under the "Modify Watches" name. The two entrepreneurs were able to attract a small but loyal following of fans{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} through its customer-centric business model, handwriting thank-you notes to every customer that ordered watches. The company continued to use customer feedback as a resource to reiterate its product and re-adjust its business model.
In February 2014, Modify Watches successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign{{Cite web | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aaronschwartz/mod-to-order-design-your-own-custom-modify-watches |title = Mod-to-Order: Design your own custom Modify Watches!}} to enable consumers to create and purchase watches. The company turned its office into a manufacturing facility, hand-assembling every watch in-house. The company has been applauded for creating local jobs{{Cite web | url=http://www.sfmade.org/blog/modifywatches/ |title = » Modify Watches}} and hiring retired veterans.
By 2015, Modify Watches had grown into a successful e-commerce company, receiving praise for excellence in customer service.{{cite web |url=http://www.helpscout.net/blog/modify-watches-customer-support/ |title=How Modify Watches Wows Its Customers with Proactive Support |website=www.helpscout.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630064233/http://www.helpscout.net/blog/modify-watches-customer-support |archive-date=2015-06-30}} The company received further media attention when it was featured on Good Morning America{{Cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/exclusive-deals-steals-jewelry-travel-home-items-time/story?id=15158758&page=3 |title = Exclusive Deals: Just for 'GMA' Viewers!|website = ABC News}} and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.{{Cite web | url=http://www.ellenshop.com/MODIFY-WATCH-pid4465-cid4984.html | title=The Ellen DeGeneres Show Shop | access-date=2015-07-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711112545/http://www.ellenshop.com/MODIFY-WATCH-pid4465-cid4984.html | archive-date=2015-07-11 | url-status=dead }} The company went on to acquire major sport licensing deals with MLB, NBA, MLS and NHL.
Modify Watches is led by co-founder and CEO Aaron Schwartz, whose work has been featured in Forbes{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2012/01/26/3-keys-to-startup-success-hustle-follow-through-and-curiosity/ |title=3 Keys to Startup Success: Hustle, Follow-Through and Curiosity |work=Forbes |date=2012-01-26 |accessdate=2013-11-02}} and The New York Times,{{cite news|url=http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/turning-facebook-followers-into-online-focus-groups|title=Turning Facebook Followers Into Online Focus Groups|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=2013-11-02}} Time (magazine){{Cite web|url=https://time.com/3774591/11-twitter-mistakes-avoid/|title = 11 Twitter Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs}} and TechCrunch{{Cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/26/modify-watches-puts-custom-faces-on-your-wrist-crowdfunds-u-s-print-and-assembly-plant/ |title = Modify Watches Puts Custom Faces on Your Wrist, Crowdfunds U.S. Print and Assembly Plant}}
Awards
- On November 17, 2011, Modify Watches was named to the Empact100 list,{{cite web|url=http://empact100.com/companies/Modify_Watches |accessdate=February 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125035338/http://www.empact100.com/companies/Modify_Watches |archivedate=January 25, 2012 |title=Modify Watches | Empact100 List of Top Young Entrepreneurs - Please Vote for Me }} which “recognizes the top 100 companies run by young entrepreneurs age 30 or younger who impact our economy and inspire others to join the movement to revitalize our economy by starting a business of their own.”{{cite web|url=http://empact100.com/about.php |accessdate=February 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126091654/http://www.empact100.com/about.php |archivedate=January 26, 2012 |title=About | Empact100 List }}
References
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External links
- [http://www.modifywatches.com Official website]