Watsons debuts Membership Card in Thailand

Tuesday June 23rd, 2009

Watsons Your Personal Store, No.1 health and beauty retailer in Thailand, is introducing Watsons Membership Card which is the biggest campaign of the year bringing enhanced, tailor made benefits to its customers. Watsons Membership Card gives exclusive access to the best health, wellness and beauty services with special price offers, reward point redemption as discounts as well as other special privileges through collaboration with L'Oréal, Unilever, P&G, Biersdorf, Johnson & Johnson, Elca, Blackmores, Proactiv and Phyathai Hospital. Watsons has invested over 50 million baht in this customer loyalty programme and expects to gain 300,000 members by the end of 2009. It has also prepared 360 degrees communications activities to promote the card among Thai consumers and accelerate member subscription.

Toby Anderson, Managing Director of Central Watson Co., Ltd. said, "In order to further enhance the personal shopping experience, Watsons is offering the Watsons Membership Card which will serve as the passport to the best health, wellness and beauty services with reward points, attractive price offers, and other special privileges for members in order to create good value for money. The programme is part of Your Personal Store concept that values customers as the priority. We try to offer the best and most trusted products with personalized professional service for our customers to make sure they feel great and have fun shopping at Watsons."

The lifetime membership card requires 100 baht subscription fee and members will benefit from different privileges including: 5% discounts for Watsons' brand, special price offers for members only in Watsons stores, e-newsletter update on latest products and promotions, as well as privileges for exclusive events and giveaways. In addition, members can collect reward points for redemption. Every 25 baht spent equals one point. 500 reward points can be redeemed as 50 baht discount. In sales promotions, participating product items will give special Bonus Point for members. Ten times reward points will also be offered for members when making a purchase during their birthday period to speed up their points accumulation. Apart from the reward points, members will also receive more than 2,000 baht voucher included in the Welcome Pack which comprises special offers from our partners including L'Oreal, Unilever, P&G, Biersdorf, Johnson & Johnson, Elca, Blackmores, Proactiv and Phyathai Hospital which offers special price for health check-up and 10% discount for both In and Out Patient treatment at all branches of Phyathai Hospital group.

Nuanphan Jayanama, Marketing Director of Central Watson Co., Ltd., said, "We learned from the customers that trendy new product offerings, personalized professional services and essential products with great value are what they are looking for. We are launching this card to respond to these needs."

"With all the privileges we have carefully designed, we believe that the member card can be the answer for today's generation who are looking for special offers and special little treats that cater to their lifestyles in their health, wellness and beauty aspirations to help them look good and feel great," Nuanphan Jayanama added.

The investment for the Watsons Membership Card is over 50 million baht and it covers marketing efforts, staff training, IT system improvement, and Watsons Call Center with the aim to draw 300,000 members by the end of this year.

Membership subscription will start on 25 June 2009 onwards. In order to achieve the targeted number of members, 360 degrees communications activities including TVC, print ads, out of home media and below-the-line activities are in the pipeline to promote the card among Thai consumers and accelerate member subscription. All communications activities will be tailored to different target groups to make sure everyone can relate to the membership programme which is designed for them and their lifestyles with special privileges for great value for money.

"The Watsons Membership Card really reflects how much we care about our customers. Not only does it strengthen the bonds between Watsons and customers but it also brings value-added benefits to our loyal customers which I believe will enhance each individual shopping experience at Watsons," Toby Anderson concluded.