CEBU, Philippines - To address the different shopping attitudes of Filipino consumers, Watsons Personal Care Stores (Phils) Inc., is going to invest P75 million a year to convert its stores to Generation-Six concept, promoting wellness while shopping.
In Cebu, Watsons re-opened its SM Cebu branch at the Northwing to start off its regional program to convert stand-alone stores to provide convenience, and more enjoyable ambiance, after all “our shoppers are mostly health and wellness buffs,” said Watsons Philippines chief operating officer (COO) Robert Son.
Watsons is almost done renovating 10 stores, including the one at The Northwing of SM City Cebu, to complete this program which started in July this year.
Next year, the company targets to convert about 50 stores, to Gen6 outlets which will provide shoppers a great shopping experience.
Every store converted to Gen6 requires at least P1.5 million investment. The company targets to renovate about 50 stores a year starting 2012.
According to Son, the shoppers’ shopping attitude now has greatly changed. While wellness is now the hottest trend, most customers are also demanding for a good and inviting environment while doing their shopping.
G6 stores will re-define the meaning of personal shopping through innovation and design with its new look, he said
Today, Watsons has a total of 262 outlets nationwide employing a total of 3,500 personnel. The company targets to end this year with 280 stores.
The health and wellness retail chain specialist is a joint venture between AS Watsons Group in Hong Kong and SM Group. It plans to put up at least five more Watsons store in Cebu, and also will make presence in other areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, such as Dumaguete, Iligan, and Tagum-Davao, among others.
Now on its ninth year of providing affordable personal necessities in beauty, health and wellness categories, Watsons growth registered a 10 percent average per year.
Despite fierce competition in this kind of retail category, Son said the company is confident to sustain its leadership in the market, owing to the company’s strong brand, with more than 2,000 exclusive products.
Watsons is operating in three different store formats: stand-alone (health and wellness) store, pure pharmacy, and all-beauty store. (FREEMAN)