Watsons continues global expansion with 8,000th Asian store in Manila

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Health and beauty brand Watsons has opened its 8,000th store at SM Mall of Asia in Manila, marking a significant expansion of its omni-channel offline plus online (O+O) strategy. This strategy aims to merge offline and online customer experiences.

The new store is designed to enhance the shopping experience and features designated zones. One such zone includes 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, alongside an array of clean beauty products to empower customers who live sustainably.

Don't miss: Watsons upgrades stores to offer new and exciting experiences for customers in Asia

The store opening was officiated by Dr. Malina Ngai, group CEO of AS Watson Group, who described the event as a key part of the group's global expansion efforts. “Today, I’m excited to celebrate the opening of Watsons’ 8,000th store in Asia, marking a significant milestone in our global expansion. The Philippines has been selected for this momentous occasion because it’s one of the fastest-rising economies in Asia and a strategic market for AS Watson. This vibrant and highly potential market has a young demographic that increasingly focuses on health and beauty, aligning perfectly with Watsons’ expertise," said Ngai.

"8,000 represents a vast network that makes our products and services more accessible to customers everywhere. Combined with our O+O model, we are committed to serving the community anywhere, anytime. Each store creates local jobs, customer loyalty and strengthens brand trust. Special thanks to our dedicated team around Asia for making this possible," added Ngai.

The 8,000th store has introduced more self-checkout counters and click and collect services too, allowing customers to effortlessly order online and swiftly pick up their purchases in-store within 30 minutes.

In tandem, 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 personalised health consultations with pharmacists via live chat.

“Watsons operates over 1,100 stores in the Philippines, and we’re thrilled that the opening of Watsons’ 8,000th store in Asia is taking place here. This achievement showcases our commitment to providing the best health and beauty products and services, both offline and online. We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional O+O shopping experience to help our customers look good, do good and feel great," said Danilo Chiong, managing director of Watsons Philippines.

The opening of Watsons’ 8,000th store in Asia marks not just a significant milestone for the brand but also a promise of innovation. In a statement seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, the beauty retailer said it will continue to expand its footprint and remain dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of its customers, ensuring that each visit is a delightful experience.

This comes as AS Watson Group invested US$250 million to refurbish existing stores and open new stores across Asia.

Reported earlier in June this year, the rebrand comes after Watsons recognised that customers’ expectations for seamless and enjoyable shopping continued to rise. As a two-year store upgrade, the brand invested in opening and upgrading over 2,200 O+O (offline plus online) stores across 15 markets in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East in 2023.

To ride on the momentum, the company expects to have over 3,800 new and refitted O+O stores by the end of 2024. This rebrand covers the Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Thailand markets, aiming to enhance customers' in-store experiences.

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