Watches are back, and they’re becoming a gift of choice for incentive and recognition programs. In this video interview, Jeffrey Brenner, director of special markets for Seiko Watch of America, talks with Lisa Grimaldi, executive editor of Northstar Meetings Group, about what attendees and companies want from gifts today.
Pointing to Northstar's recent gifting study, Brenner explains that companies are giving fewer, better gifts. He says much of the watch comeback is driven by younger people embracing retro style and emphasizes other styles that are big with incentive winners: automatic watches, quartz watches (a technology Seiko introduced in 1969), unusual case shapes, bold colors and more playful dials.
Brenner also previews Seiko’s new partnership with Monte & Coe, a Toronto-based leather goods and accessories brand. Together they engrave attendees’ initials and company branding on watches right at the event. He also discusses trends he’s seeing in the Incentive Marketing Association, how AI is helping match people with gifts, and why a trusted brand name still matters when budgets are tight.
Watch now!
