Watsons, Asia’s No.1 health and beauty brand, supercharges the growth by opening its remarkable 8,000th store in Asia on November 7. Located at SM Mall of Asia, the new store highlights Watsons’ unwavering commitment to enhancing O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.
“The reason why we selected the Philippines to mark this very important corporate milestone is that one, we have amazing partner from the Sy family, and the Philippines is one of the fastest growing countries in Southeast Asia. With a very vibrant country with over 110 million population, a lot of you have increasing needs in health, beauty and personal care and this is Watsons’ expertise so that’s why we are here for you,” Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group, said in her speech during the opening ceremony.
“Eight thousand is not just a number, every store we open has a lot of details, a lot of hard work so that we can really serve our customers. Eight thousand is a very big network across Asia, every store is a local community, every store we create jobs locally, we create customer loyalty and we build brand trust. So this is what 8,000 means and we are going to open more stores around the world, in Asia and also in the Philippines,” she continued.
Present at the milestone store opening: SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. President Elizabeth Sy (third from left) with (from left) AS Watson Group’s Robert Sun, Regional Managing Director, H&B Asia & International Commercial Director; Group CEO Dr. Malina Ngai; Chairman Dominic Lai; and Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons Philippines.
Currently, A.S Watsons Group has 17, 000 stores around the world and Watsons is its flagship brand — the No. 1 brand in Asia for over 13 consecutive years voted by the customers. The Philippines is Watsons’ largest market in Asia with over 1, 100 stores across the country.
“Here in the Philippines, we have over 10,000 colleagues working everyday with their passion; to put a smile in your faces and they are here to serve you. To be able to achieve 8, 000 stores in Asia, we have over 55,000 of our colleagues around Asia building a Watsons brand, serving the customers and I also want the take this opportunity to thank them because without their support, without our business partners, it’s not possible to achieve this milestone,” added Ngai.
Apart from Ngai, the opening ceremony was also attended by different beauty, health and wellness brand partners as well as other VIPs including Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons Philippines; Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee SM Prime Holdings Inc.; Dominic Lai, Chairman of AS Watson Group; Tessie Sy-Coson, Vice Chairperson SM Investments Corp.; Elizabeth Sy, President SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.; and Robert Sun, Regional Managing Director, H&B Asia & International Commercial Director of AS Watson Group.
Internationally-renowned hip-hop dance group UPeepz and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez also joined in the celebration.
Velasquez, who sang her hit songs “You Are My Song” and “On the Wings of Love,” congratulated the milestone and reminisced how she used to go to Watsons store in Hong Kong to buy gifts for her family back at home.
“I remember Watsons when I used to go to Hong Kong a lot to promote my album all over Asia. I would go there just to buy pasalubong because everything is so affordable. You can buy anything there from lotion, makeup, medicine, you can find anything and everything in Watsons. So congratulations, here’s to 8,000 more stores not only in Asia but all over the world,” Velasquez said.
The new store is meticulously designed to enhance the shopping experience with a spacious layout and a stylish, contemporary design that meets customers’ diverse needs. Designated zones include a Premium Beauty zone featuring latest trending exclusive brands, advanced skin analyser, and dermatologist-recommended products. Meanwhile, Sustainable Choices zone offers a refill station for selected Naturals by Watsons products, along with a wide array of Clean Beauty products to empower customers in living sustainably.
The store has also introduced more self-checkout counters and Click & Collect services, allowing customers to effortlessly order online and swiftly pick up their purchases in-store within 30 minutes. To create a seamless O+O customer experience, Watsons Philippines has introduced an innovative online Health Supplement Advisor that guides customers to find the right product and offers personalized health consultations with pharmacists via live chat.
Danilo Chiong, managing director of Watsons Philippines, said, “This 8,000th store is more than just a number, it’s a reflection of our commitment to constantly innovate and provide our customers with an unparalleled shopping experience.”
“At 900 square meters, it is one of our largest stores, offering more space, more choices and more convenience. Designed in collaboration with our talented global colleagues, the store reflects a truly international feel while still catering to the unique needs and taste of the Filipino market. We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional O+O shopping experience to help our customers Look Good, Do Good and Feel Great,” he added.
Beginning its journey in 1841, Watsons has indeed transformed from one small dispensary in Hong Kong to Asia’s leading health and beauty retailer. While Watsons has evolved with the times, its purpose remains unchanged: to put a smile on customers’ faces, today and tomorrow.
The brand promises to continue expanding its footprint and remain dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of its customers, ensuring that each visit is a delightful experience.
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