Watsons franchise Philippines marked a significant milestone with the opening of its first Greener Store in San Pedro, Laguna, on June 21. This new store embodies the mantra “Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great” and represents a positive shift toward sustainable practices in the global retail industry. As a leading health and beauty retailer, Watsons is at the forefront of efforts to minimize waste and empower customers to make eco-conscious choices for a healthier planet.
“We proudly inaugurate the first Greener Store in San Pedro, Laguna. This store sets a new standard in sustainable retailing, embodying our dedication to fostering a vibrant culture of sustainability in every facet of our operations. By empowering our customers to embrace sustainable products and practices, we aim to make a meaningful impact on our planet,” said Jin Jimenez, director for store operations. The opening event was attended by representatives of Ramil Hernandez, governor of the Province of Laguna, and Mayor Art Francis Mercado of San Pedro, Laguna. Alisandrea Coloma, the senior manager for sustainability, provided insights into the unique features of the Greener Store.
Coloma highlighted three key aspects that define the Greener Store. Firstly, the store is partially powered by solar panels. Secondly, it features an expanded Sustainable Choices area to promote eco-friendly products. Lastly, the store includes a Recycle for Rewards area, where customers can bring in empty health and beauty bottles in exchange for rewards.
The Greener Store also uses eco-friendly materials for in-store collaterals, replacing PVC or plastic with Solidus, and wooden crates. Additionally, the store integrates other sustainability initiatives, such as the People Pillar under sustainability, supporting the Give A Smile Program in partnership with Operation Smile Clinic, which provides free surgeries for children with cleft palate conditions. Eco-friendly lighting, air conditioners, and chillers further enhance the store’s sustainable efforts.
Laguna, known for its commitment to sustainability and green initiatives, was an ideal location for Watsons’ first Greener Store. The store complies with local government sustainability commitments and has been certified by Pi Energy for sustainable electricity consumption and solar power usage.
The Greener Store also features refilling stations, the first of their kind outside Manila, offering Naturals by Watsons products. Customers can bring their old bottles for refills, promoting the use of recycled plastic and sustainable ingredients.
As part of their O+O (Offline plus Online) program, Watsons is investing about USD 250 million in opening and upgrading stores across 15 markets, mainly in Asia, but also in the Middle East and Europe. In 2023, over 2,200 stores were included in the program, and the company expects to have over 3,800 new and refitted O+O stores by the end of 2024. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, emphasized the importance of enhancing the in-store environment to meet customer needs, with over 1,200 new stores and approximately 4,800 refitted stores planned for 2023-24.
New in-store experiences have been introduced across various Watsons locations. In Watsons China, the new Watsons Pink concept features a pink-themed interior and spa services, while the Beauty Playground zone offers an experience-led makeup space. Watsons Taiwan has revamped its stores to create social media-friendly environments with unique features like the lipstick-shaped makeup table. Watsons Malaysia has introduced experiential zones such as My Beauty, Hair Studio, and K-pop Land, along with a Kid’s Wonderland for young shoppers. Watsons Hong Kong’s redesigned flagship store includes HealthQ, a health decoding station with personalized health consultations, and Watsons Thailand has unveiled an enhanced health experience with a diverse selection of health products.
“Watsons understands that simply providing the best products is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of our customers,” Ngai emphasized. Watsons’ commitment to sustainability and innovative in-store experiences reflects its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of health-conscious and eco-aware consumers.