The world’s largest and fastest growing international health & beauty retailer AS Watson Group celebrates an important milestone today as it opens its 15,000th store.
Growth Continues at Record Rate
For the fourth year in a row, AS Watson’s new store opening continues to be at an average speed of one store every seven hours across its 25 markets in Asia and Europe.
The worldwide 15,000th store opening of AS Watson coincides with its 500th store opening of Watsons in Malaysia, one of the fastest growing countries for beauty and wellness products. Watsons is the flagship retail brand of AS Watson with over 7,200 stores in 13 markets in Asia and Eastern Europe.
The new store is located in Central i-City, a new shopping mall in Malaysia, and it uses technology to enhance customer experience and connect offline and online. The 4,200 square-feet G8 design store is equipped with StyleMe, AR (Augmented Reality) technology, to showcase the latest fashionable product, in a fun and engaging way for customers. Watsons’ Hi Mirror skin analysis device is also available for customers to assess their skin conditions at the store. G8 represents the 8th Generation of the Watsons store design incorporating extensive customer and store team feedback, as well as market research of latest trends on shopping experience. It will roll out across the region in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Türkiye later this year.
O+O Strategy – Strengthening Customer Connectivity Offline Plus Online
Mr Dominic Lai, Group Managing Director of AS Watson Group is very excited at the celebration event of this important milestone, “The continued success of our business is about customer connectivity – our ability to connect customers with products, trends and experience they want in beauty, personal care, health and wellness. Our O+O (Offline plus Online/ O plus O) strategy focuses on providing an extensive store network, excellent in-store customer service, most relevant health and beauty assortment, combined with seamless digital experience and loyalty schemes that help to put smiles on customers’ faces.”
Globally AS Watson has over 135 million loyalty members and has been investing HK$1 billion (approx.US$128 million) in digital since 2012 to enhance customer experience and enable the business to build data-driven approach to stay closer to customers’ needs.
A Thankful Celebration
Mr Lai continues, “We are one of the longest standing companies in the world with 178 years of history. To be able to reach yet another critical milestone, this is only possible with the love from our customers, passion and commitment from our 140,000 colleagues around the world, and the unfailing support from our business partners.”
From one dispensary in Hong Kong to 15,000 stores worldwide, AS Watson has built close relationship with customers and a strong team of 140,000 colleagues. The celebration activities in every market will be about thanking customers and showing appreciation to colleagues. There will be campaigns in every market to celebrate, including member-exclusive benefits and special offers, both offline and online.
Press Release and Appendix: AS Watson 10 Years Challenge (in pdf)
