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Watsons announces the business direction for 2017 Focusing on customers experience and Strengthening its position as Thailand’s No.1 Health & Beauty Retailer

Store expansion of 50-55 stores combined with a major refit program .
Increased investment to over  THB 500 million  focusing on Customer Engagement. Mainly for new stores, store refurbishment, digital communication and eCommerce.

BANGKOK, May 15, 2016: Watsons, Thailand’s No.1 Health and Beauty retailer, has announced another successful performance in 2016 as customers continued to respond well to the retailer’s ongoing innovation and growth initiatives. Our target for 2016 was to open 50 stores and we opened 55 ending the year with 425 stores. Watsons also revealed its plans for 2017 that once again will focus on accelerating growth and store expansion with another 50-55 stores in 2017. Store expansion will be well balanced between Bangkok and up-country to ensure improved access to Watsons for Thai consumers. Our investment budget will also allow for substantial investment Store Refits, eCommerce development, digital communication and Watsons’ Own Brand product development. Investment is well targeted to ensure improving customers experience and access across both online and in stores. In addition, we are continuing to improve product innovation, promotional excitement and our Watsons loyalty program as they are proven growth drivers.
Mr.Rod Routley, Managing Director of Watsons Thailand disclosed that, “Watsons has successfully achieved double digit sales growth from many factors including product innovation, attractive and exciting sales promotions and increased accessibility for customers through many more stores, digital platform and more exclusive CRM activities for Watsons’ customers.”
In 2016 we saw increased trends towards digital communication and ecommerce. We will continue to improve our digital communication and ensure it is well targeted and relevant to our customers. Our eStore has been well received and our innovative Mobile App has dramatically improved customer experience. We will continue to strive to ensure it easier and more convenient for customers to access our innovative products.
“Watsons aims to bring the excitement and innovation of our in-store experience with increased convenience to our connected customers.  Extra health & beauty information, targeted special offers and additional ranges are available anywhere/anytime for consumers on their smart phones, tablets or PC’s. Watsons sees having both an exciting in-store and online experience as key to our continued market share growth. Additionally, Watsons also has a very strong social media presence with over 1.9 Million fans on Facebook. This, along with Watsons Line Official platform is helping to drive increased customer engagement, exchange of quality information and increased convenience.
Watsons Own Brand products continue to deliver great quality and value for Thai consumers and 2017 will see close to 200 new items being added to the range. Sourcing of Own Brand products has widened and now includes Thailand, Japan, Korea, Australia, UK, USA and France. Our Own Brand products have been growth continually in 2016 as we drove further range expansion and product innovation. In addition, Watsons has many more exclusive brands and products to ensure that our customers have a unique shopping experience.said Mr. Routley
Watsons also continues to strengthen its market-leading loyalty scheme now with more than 3.5 million Watsons card holders. Special offers, loyalty discounts, point redemption, as well as exclusive activities continue to drive increased engagement. The Watsons card member base,  in addition, is helping us to understand customer preferences better than ever, while helping consumers move seamlessly across the in-store and online shopping environment.
Additionally, Watsons has continued its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program under four pillars: Workplace, Marketplace, Environment and Community. With high engagement from staff, suppliers and customers, Watsons sees CSR as an important way to widen engagement beyond the normal retail touch points. Watsons has a policy to cultivate awareness while providing opportunities for staff and customers to make social contributions and support the environment. For more than 10 years, Watsons has supported women’s rights by donation and creating fundraising events for the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Soamsawali (APSW). In 2017, Watsons will continue to support the APSW and additionally will have extra focus on promoting the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Increased support for health organizations though CSR events and fundraising will be evident in 2017
“We are looking forward to another year of great performance driven by our continued innovation, increased stores and substantial investments to improve customer experience and ongoing engagement. We are confident that the Thailand market has growth potential and look forward to extending our lead as the No.1 brand in Thailand health and beauty retail segment.” Mr. Routley concluded with positive outlook to 2017.

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About Watsons Thailand

Watsons, the No. 1 health and beauty retailer in Asia and Thailand, was launched in Thailand in 1996. Watsons is the country’s leading health and beauty store currently with over 400 stores offering products from consumer goods to health and beauty products. Watsons continually aims to offer top quality products combined with value for money, as well as providing high-standards of service to every customer. Watsons has been awarded Superbrands Status for the ninth consecutive by the Thailand Superbrands Council for the brand’s strong brand quality, affinity and leadership in the industry

Watsons continually sets the standards in the health, wellness and beauty market, providing personalized advice and counseling in health, beauty and personal care on top of its market-leading product range, making customers LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT every day.

No. 1 Pharmacy/Drugstore Retail brand in Thailand *
* Campaign Asia-Pacific/Nielsen “Asia’s Top 1,000 Brands” survey 2016 of over 6,000 respondents

About A.S. Watson Group
Established in Hong Kong in 1841, A.S. Watson Group is the largest international health and beauty retailer in Asia and Europe with 13,300 stores in 25 markets. Each year, over 3 billion customers and members shop with our 13 retail brands, both in stores and online.
A.S. Watson Group is also a member of the world-renowned multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, which has five core businesses ports and related services, retail, infrastructure, energy and telecommunications in over 50 countries.
Please visit www.aswatson.com for more in-depth information about A.S. Watson Group and    its brands.