Innovation — a watch firm’s journey to success 格雅表业: 以创新迎接挑战
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编者按：
Shenzhen boasts a top-tier business environment and a vibrant atmosphere for innovation and entrepreneurship, offering a fertile ground for various market players’ growth. Whether they are privately owned companies, State-owned enterprises or foreign-invested corporations, they can all discover promising opportunities for development here.
深圳拥有一流的营商环境和创新创业氛围，为各类市场主体发展壮大提供了“沃土”。不管是民营企业，还是央企国企或者外资企业，在深圳都能找到发展机遇。
This is the sixth of Shenzhen Daily's "From Shenzhen to the World" series. We'll visit Guangming-based Geya, one of the eight Shenzhen watch companies that have made the list of China's top 10 timepiece enterprises released by the China Horologe Association in March.
这是英文《深圳日报》的“从深圳走向世界”多媒体系列报道的第六期。本期报道将带读者走进位于光明区格雅表业，中国十大钟表企业之一。
Video and photos by Liu Xudong
IN the Chinese timepiece industry, there is a saying that “Shenzhen watch companies stand out among Chinese peers, while the best timepiece companies gather in Guangming District.”
在中国钟表行业， 有一句话广为人知， 中国钟表看深圳，深圳钟表看光明区。
In March, the China Horologe Association announced the country’s top 10 enterprises in the industry. Eight Shenzhen companies made the list (with four companies tied for 10th place).
Geya is one of them.
2023年三月，中国钟表协会公布了钟表行业十强企业评价结果。深圳共有8家钟表企业入选中国十强（其中4家并列第十名）。格雅表业就位列其中。
Sha Linkai, general manager of Geya, a timepiece company in Guangming District, speaks during an interview with Shenzhen Daily.
‘A commendable decision’
“设立时间谷是深圳市规划产业聚集非常高明的一点”
In 2017, Geya made its home at Time Valley in Guangming District. The location serves as a premier hub for China’s timepiece industry, bringing together over 10 prominent enterprises and fostering the growth of the entire industry supply chain.
2017年，格雅表业入驻光明区“时间谷”。这里是国内领先的钟表产业集聚基地，汇聚了10多家钟表龙头企业，带动上下游产业链集群发展。
Sha Linkai, general manager of Geya, believes that the establishment of Time Valley is a commendable decision for the local government.
格雅集团总经理沙琳凯认为：设立时间谷是深圳市规划产业聚集非常高明的一点。
“We have gathered industry leaders here and formed a complete chain, which is currently very successful,” Sha told Shenzhen Daily. “The entire industry is here, and the market share is here,” he said.
“我们深圳把产业龙头聚集在一起，形成了产业链的发展，目前来说做的非常成功。整个行业在这里，市场份额也在这里。”
A Geya staff works at the CNAS-certified lab.
After decades of development, Shenzhen’s timepiece industry has represented the highest level of watch manufacturing in China.
经过几十年的发展，深圳钟表业已形成较为完整的产业体系，代表着中国钟表制造最高水平。
According to data from the China Horologe Association, there are more than 1,500 watch and clock enterprises in Shenzhen, with an annual output value of 68 billion yuan (US$9.29 billion). Of the figure, the output value of traditional watches is 38 billion yuan, and the output value of intelligent wearable products is 22 billion yuan. Shenzhen watch brands account for over 70% of the country’s retail sales.
中国钟表协会数据显示，深圳现有钟表企业1500多家，年产值680亿元，其中传统手表的产值380亿元，智能穿戴产品产值220亿元。深圳钟表品牌零售额占全国70%以上。
A leading enterprise
钟表龙头企业
In 1993, Sha’s family started their own watch brand in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province.
During the growth of the enterprise, they noticed that the upstream and downstream industrial chains of watch parts in China are mostly concentrated in Shenzhen and nearby areas. In 2005, Geya moved to Shenzhen.
1993年，沙琳凯和家族中的大哥大姐在温州创立了属于自己的钟表品牌。在企业日渐发展壮大的过程中，他们察觉到，全国钟表零配件的上下游产业链，大多集聚于深圳以及附近一带。在2005年，格雅来到中国腕表的摇篮地——深圳。
A Geya staff works at the manufacturing workshop.
From the late 1990s to the beginning of this century, imported brands have entered the Chinese mainland market with great influence, and the entire Chinese watch industry was in a deep predicament. Geya management realized that it was very hard for the company to face rising challenges without innovation and a clear development positioning.
上世纪90年代末到本世纪初，进口品牌来势汹汹，整个中国钟表行业深陷窘态。格雅意识到，没有独特的品牌个性和清晰的发展定位，没有自主创新能力，注定要被市场淘汰。
Since then, Geya has positioned itself as a leisure and fashion brand. In recent years, Geya has further embarked on a path of innovative development, creating a unique Chinese style series of watches.
自此，格雅开始确立以“正装休闲表领域的开创者与领跑者”这一品牌定位，产品以轻奢、休闲、时尚为主。近年来，格雅进一步开启了创新发展之路，独创中国风系列腕表，“梅兰竹菊”等系列获得国家外观专利。
During its six years in Guangming, Geya has been dedicated to incorporating cutting-edge global design concepts while upholding the rich heritage of traditional watchmaking. By blending modern precision craftsmanship with classic techniques, the company merges oriental aesthetics and fashion innovation into the essence of its timepiece creations.
入驻光明六年来，格雅不断引进世界先进的设计理念，传承经典制表文化，结合现代精密工艺，将东方美学与时尚创意融入格雅的制表体系中。
Nowadays, Geya boasts nearly 3,000 sales outlets worldwide, and its products are exported to over 30 countries and regions.
如今，格雅在全球拥有接近3000家销售网点，产品远销丹麦、荷兰、法国、美国、瑞士、日本等三十多个国家和地区。
It has established R&D and design centers worldwide, including a R&D center in Biel, Switzerland, which is known for its watchmaking industry.
格雅在国内外特设研发与设计中心，成立了专门的设计研发团队。公司在瑞士制表业集聚地比尔市有一个研发中心。
The CNAS certificate granted by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment.
“The watch industry, being a fashion industry, necessitates substantial investment in R&D,” Sha said, adding that the company invests around 10% of its sales revenue in R&D.
“We have obtained nearly 90 patents,” Sha added.
沙总说：“手表是个时尚产业， 需要更多的研发投入，一般我们会把营业销售额的百分之十左右，会拿出来做研发投入。我们目前拥有将近九十个设计专利。”
Geya also has a CNAS-certified lab, which is a sign of excellence, meaning the company has earned accreditation from the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS).
格雅表业还拥有自己的CNAS实验室，意味着其专业水准得到中国合格评定国家认可委员会的认证。
However, the industry, which suffered a heavy blow during the COVID-19 pandemic, is facing unprecedented challenges and reshuffles.
“During the pandemic, people no longer went to shopping malls, so we switched to online sales channels,” he said.
三年新冠疫情对整个行业的影响还是有点偏大的。“疫情期间老百姓都不去商场了，我们就转战网上销售，”沙总说。
A livestream host sells Geya products.
Geya seized the opportunity to sell their products via livestreaming, and it has since established its own livestreaming team, achieving excellent results.
“We have recently launched a series of fashion products that embody traditional Chinese elements, which have become top-selling watches on Douyin [China’s top short-video platform],” Sha said.
格雅抓住直播风口，专门成立自己的网上直播团队并取得非常好的成就。沙总说：“我们最近推出国潮系列，在抖音直播间销售量达到全网第一。”
Government support
各级政府支持
Geya has gained government support at all levels during its development.
“The governments provide subsidies for our technology research and development. Relevant departments often encourage us to participate in overseas exhibitions and they provide us financial support for this,” Sha said.
在企业发展中，格雅得到了各级政府的大力支持。“我们的科技研发都有政府补贴。相关政府部门经常会鼓励我们企业到海外参展，并为此提供经费支持，” 他说到。
The first floor of Geya Building has also been chosen as a subvenue of the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF).
“This helps a lot in promoting the internationalization of our industry,” he said.
“市政府每年也会在我们这栋大厦一楼设立一个文博会的分会场。推动我们文化产业走出去。”
Editor/Li Jing
WeChat Editor/Claudia
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