Wilcon sees higher sales as it keeps prices steady

MANILA, Philippines — Home improvement and finishing construction supply retailer Wilcon Depot Inc. is enjoying higher sales as it keeps prices steady amid cost pressures due to rising fuel cost brought about by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Wilcon senior executive vice president and chief operating officer Rosemarie Bosch-Ong said the ongoing Middle East crisis has yet to have a notable impact on the company for now.

“In fact, we’re seeing an unexpected uptick in sales. There’s a lot of buying activity happening, maybe because they’re anticipating a price increase, because internally, we have not adjusted our prices yet. And we don’t know how long this will last,” Ong said in an interview on “Money Talks” on One News.

Ong, however, acknowledged that the company is also exposed to price increases, especially fuel for its logistics.

“But we’re managing internally and it’ s not being felt yet by the market because we’re still here to serve them, especially OFWs who would be reintegrated to the economy. We’re still here to serve them, help them improve and renovate their homes without experiencing too much pressure on the prices,” she said.

Wilcon has so far opened three new stores this year and will continue to open more stores in the coming months.

The company has eight new stores planned for the year.

Last year, Wilcon opened six new depots, while two smaller format Do It Wilcon stores were closed and one depot that burned down in 2024 was reopened.

This brought Wilcon’s total number of operating stores to 104 by end- 2025.

The company saw its earnings slip by 3.3 percent to P2.45 billion last year as a strong second half showing failed to offset a slower first semester performance.

Wilcon’s net sales improved by 3.7 percent year-on-year to P35.44 billion, attributed mainly to the net sales generated from new stores as comparable sales growth closed the year flattish.

Net income in the fourth quarter  surged by 41.3 percent to P580 million, with net sales rising by 7.3 percent year-on-year to P9.11 billion during the three-month period.