Watsons Philippines adding more stores this year

Watsons Philippines plans to open another 50 stores this year, adding to the 781 branches it already operates.

Parent AS Watson, the health-and-beauty retailer headquartered in Hong Kong, has more than 15,200 stores worldwide. It launched the Watsons brand in the Philippines in 2002 after partnering with SM Prime Holdings, opening its first store at the SM Megamall.

Rafael Lim, director of trade and health at Watsons Philippines, told The Mindanao Times last week the new outlets will follow the format of existing stores and the company plans to continue to roll out its click-and-collect, omnichannel strategy in the market.

In some parts of Southeast Asia, click-and-collect – where customers order online and pick up in a store they choose – leads to incremental purchases by as many as 70 per cent of customers when they are collecting.

“We always seek and understand the needs of our customers,” said Lim.