1. Please tell us your name! Hi, my name is Andi Schmidt
2. And where did you grow up/where are you from? I was born and raised in Munich, which is the capital city of Bavaria in Southern Germany.
What is it like in this place? We like to think of ourselves as the most northern city of Italy….the weather, the architecture, the feeling…..Every September (!) we are hosts to the famous Oktoberfest where you see all the cliches – lots of beer, brass bands and Lederhosen [Ed. Also popular with actual Italians!] and we were voted the most unfriendly city in Europe, which doesn’t really line up with the dolce vita idea.
3. Where do you live now? What is it like in this place?
I still live in Munich with my family - it’s a great place to live despite the sometimes aloofness of the natives! It’s a beautiful and very green city with lots of parks, open areas and outdoor pools. You can swim in the river Isar which flows right through the city centre. We are a stone’s throw from the Alps, and you can get around the city quickly and easily by bike...
4. Tell us about your professional background – education, jobs etc? I’m born and raised in the bike industry starting out with a commercial apprenticeship as Salesman at one of the last brands which still produces high-end bikes in Germany. I love great products, the people and the spirit in this industry.
5. How and when did you 1st get the ‘watch bug’? Pretty early - the first one was a Swatch, and I always loved the pure design in watches and like most of us I’m totally fascinated with the complexity, function and precision of mechanical watches.
6. What attracted you to working for HORAGE? I’ve known the owners Andi Felsl and Tzu for a long time, so I’ve followed the story of the brand since the start and have a deep appreciation of the journey. Of course, the products, engineering and innovation are easy to love but also the intangible things: the crew, the atmosphere and feel of the company were also super important for me.
7. Which is your favourite watch in the HORAGE range and why? So, of course there's a love piece, but the problem with watches is the same with bikes, it’s always the "n+1 dilemma" [Ed. In case you’re not familiar with this, it starts with the question “What is the ideal number of (bikes, cameras, watches etc. in your collection? Answer: N=1 (N being the current number)
8. Tell us about your local market? I would say in Germany you have a market that is dominated by “status” and I would love to bring great service and a personal touch into the equation, which is not a given in Germany (see also (2.)!
9. Do you work 100% for HORAGE or do you have other jobs/roles? If yes, what are they?
I do also have a ‘day’ job that still pays for my bills and bikes. Let’s see how things develop!
10. What are your interests/hobbies outside of watchmaking?
Cycling, hiking, family and good food.
Thanks Andy, keep practising the Munich smile ;-)