NBR Video Interview
Band is opening a watchmaking boutique in Auckland's Victoria Park Market and has designed bespoke watches for customers ranging from tattoo artists through to TV presenter Hayley Holt.
The level of transparency and customisation put into each unit makes Paceracer one of the few truly boutique watchmakers in the world.
“I’m happy with how it's going and could have never really foreseen it actually evolving into what it is turning into." - Paceracer founder Brett
Full interview behind NBR Paywall (contact us for more)
Watch the full interview here
The idea behind the retail space, in which Band largely put together himself to save money, is to bring customers into the process and the six stages behind making a watch - the first being sketches, then technical development through to the finished product.
“Leaving my career was definitely the hardest thing. It hasn't been the hardest thing since I've done it.”
“When somebody inquires and says they would like a watch designed to look like one in the 1920s, based off somebody's grandfather who passed away who used to own a an art deco-styled car or a car that looked like that, there's a lot of heart that gets put into that product.”
Band, who owns 100% of the company, said he is starting to receive a few offers for stakes in the company but isn’t yet interested in taking on investors.
“I've had a couple of offers that have been really substantial from my point of view…”
Band said he couldn’t have made the leap without motivation and mental support from some business-minded people around him who saw there were some wins that he wasn’t aware of coming from a non-business background.
In particular, Band credits Alexis Lam, Burger Fuel’s ex-head of marketing, and the husband-and-wife team behind Auckland jewellery brand Naveya & Sloane, Alex Bunnett and Rachel Sloane, with mentoring and motivation.
Lam and Bunnett now work with Brett on Paceracer, with Lam joining Bunnett on the Paceracer board. Band is also on the hunt for a fourth member of the team to handle sales.
Thank you NBR & Andrew Bevin for the fantastic write-up.
It was nice to see you enjoy the aspect that our new space has been a labour of love & hands-on work to build.
Below is a photo of exactly why we’ve built it.
A very happy customer wearing his custom watch for the first time at the Paceracer Studio downtown at Victoria Park.
This is what it is all about for us.
This Provenance custom watch design was inspired by the Bauhaus movement and is a house favourite of Paceracer. It was completed during a tough time for all - in the middle of the Covid pandemic.
Visit us face to face at our Paceracer Studio downtown Victoria Park, Auckland CBD.
or directly contact us to
request a callback, or book a consultation