Stones store tests health & wellness market

CEBU, Philippines - The challenging economic environment has not stopped lifestyle store Premium Concept to introduce another retail arm that will take advantage of the “still” good prospects for health and wellness.

Premium Concepts, created a specialized store outlet called Gems & Design by Premium Concept, to address the growing demand for wellness stones that are made as accessories for both ladies and gentlemen.

Gems and Design proprietress Melanie Ng recently opened a 35 square-meters boutique in Ayala Center Cebu (ACC) to provide a “do-it-yourself” accessory outlet that offers wide array of precious stones, now considered as part of health and wellness products.

Precious stones like amber, jade, and rose quartz address certain illness and negative vibrations to a person. Although this is regarded as a “myth” to some, Ng said the market is clamoring for this.

“There are stones for positive vibes, better aura, prosperity, and healing for certain illness. These are the products that are in demand today, especially that people are facing uncertainties and difficulties,” Ng said.

She said the wellness market now is one of the crisis-proof products and services that despite financial hard-up the market are still demanding.

This new “do-it-yourself” accessory outlet is seen to set the trend for this kind of accessory stores in Cebu, although Ng said the opening of the Ayala boutique, which is a transfer from the old Premium Concepts kiosk on the ground floor of the mall, is also considered as “test” outlet.

 If this “do-it-yourself” accessory boutique be successful, there is a high possibility that the company will invest on expanding more stores in the future.

Unlike the displays of its mother company Premium Concepts which are hand-picked by Ng abroad to provide unique lifestyle products for Filipino market, the Designs & Gems specifically offers precious stones which designs will be conceptualized by the buyer.

Also, a consultation corner inside the boutique will be provided for to the customers, to educate the market on the significance of the stones, not only for accessory purposes, but also for well-being enhancement.

Since some of the stones are costly Ng said the store offers small quantities, priced by piece, to fit the “pocket” of the customer.

“We have to consider that consumers now are becoming much wiser, and price tag is the most important factor for deciding to buy or not,” she said.

In her 10 years of operating the Premium Concepts chain, Ng has developed first-hand suppliers of stones from different countries like Burma, India, Vietnam, China and Thailand , thus she can afford to offer affordable prices for her merchandise.

To date, there are now seven Premium Concepts stores in Metro Cebu. - Ehda M. Dagooc