As part of its global Corporate Social Responsibility programme, AS Watson is launching an initiative this Christmas through its newly established Luxury Division across Europe aimed at generating funds and awareness with a commitment from different operations to donate a portion of their sales to their favourite local charity organisations.
The 11 different operations participating in the 2006 European Christmas Charity Initiative are:
Marionnaud (France, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Portugal)
ICI Paris XL (Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands)
The Perfume Shop (United Kingdom, Ireland)
The Perfume Shop has been trading in the United Kingdom for 15 years and has clearly established its position as the leading specialist retailer of fine fragrance products. The Perfume Shop operates over 145 stores selling all major women's and men's fragrance brands in a modern and friendly atmosphere.
Ian F. Wade, Group Managing Director of AS Watson said, "As a group, we are active participants in initiatives to benefit the wider community in markets where we have a presence. The charity and community initiatives in which we are involved address a range of social needs, from youth education to health programmes, sporting events to providing assistance to those less fortunate."
"With the establishment of our Luxury Division earlier this year, we felt it is appropriate to have a joint effort in making a difference this Christmas by raising new funds for charities. We believe that by giving the freedom for our operations to choose their local charities, we can create closer sense of connection and greater impact."
The charities selected for the 2006 European Christmas Charity Initiative are: Unicef, Reves, Paris Tout Petit, Sternschnuppe, Licht ins Dunkel, Fundacion SOS, Meyer Pediatric Hospital Foundation, Apoio a Vitima, SOS Kinderdorpen, Teenage Cancer Trust. The initiative aims to raise at least half a million euros.
Charity selection and amounts donated are entirely up to each of the participating operations and the fund raising mechanism varies from the sale of Keep Lucky charm bracelets to the sale of Christmas teddy bears with the redemption of several euros on each sale.
