Watsons, the health and beauty brand under AS Watson Group, has invested USD250 million to open and enhance 6,000 offline and online stores across 15 markets in Asia, as well as in Europe and the Middle East.
SEE ALSO: AS Watson Group appoints Freda Ng as MD for Park ‘n’ Shop Hong Kong & Macau
By the end of 2024, Watsons anticipates a network of over 3,800 upgraded stores, building on work that began in 2023.
According to Malina Ngai, group CEO of AS Watson, Watsons is opening over 1,200 new stores by the end of the year and “refitting” approximately 4,800 stores to elevate the shopping experience at a total of 6,000 stores.
The investment elevates 75 percent of Watsons’ store portfolio, providing redesigned interiors as well as new offerings such as spa and health services.
“We’re committed to offering our customers the highest quality range of products at great value, as well as providing them with a very pleasant shopping experience. We constantly hear from our customers about where we can improve, and we work closely with key brands to improve category-specific experience,” said Malina Ngai.
Watsons China has recently introduced Watsons Pink, where stores revolve around a striking pink colour to resonate with younger customers. A new Beauty Playground zone elevates the makeup shopping experience with on-hand makeup artists.
Watsons Taiwan debuts a refurbished concept with a makeup zone and My Colour Studio, where customers can receive seasonal colour analysis.
In Watsons Malaysia, shopping becomes an immersive adventure. The stores offer a variety of experiential zones, including My Beauty, Hair Studio, and Watsons To Go. Watsons Malaysia has also introduced a dedicated K-pop Land, showcasing popular K-beauty products, and Kid’s Wonderland, designed to entertain children.
In Watsons Hong Kong, the flagship store has undergone a redesign to introduce the HealthQ health decoding station.
The new station features a team of pharmacists, Chinese medicine practitioners, and nutritionists who provide personalised health consultations, vaccinations, and health assessments.
In Watsons Thailand, the health experience has been enhanced with a modern and stylish store design, accompanied by an extensive selection of health products. To support customers on their personal wellness journeys, a private health consultation room has been introduced.
Within this space, pharmacists offer personalised and professional advice tailored to individual needs.
SEE ALSO: Estée Lauder expands skincare portfolio with acquisition of Deciem, famed for The Ordinary
Said Ngai: “Watsons understands that simply providing the best products is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of our customers. We’re committed to continuous expansion and innovation, offering the best O+O customer experience.”