Watsons invests $250M for 6,000 new and upgraded stores in Asia

75% of the stores in the region will offer customers upgraded experiences.

Health and beauty retailer Watsons is investing $250m for the opening and upgrading of 6,000 O+O (Offline plus Online) stores across 15 key markets in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

The brand said it is expecting over 3,800 new and revamped O+O stores by the end of 2024, building on work that began in 2023.

“We are opening over 1,200 new stores in 2023-24 and investing in refitting approximately 4,800 stores in the same period,” said Malina Ngai, group CEO of AS Watson. “This means 75% of the store portfolio in Asia will provide a more innovative and upgraded experience for our customers.”

In China, Watsons has introduced innovative store concepts such as Watsons Pink, featuring captivating pink-themed interiors tailored to appeal to younger demographics. Additionally, the introduction of spa services within the stores offers customers the opportunity to indulge in self-care while browsing their favorite products.

Taiwanese customers enjoy visually stunning Watsons stores, complete with makeup zones and personalised color analysis services to meet the demand for experiential retail amongst social media-savvy consumers.

Meanwhile, Watsons Malaysia has embraced the trend of experiential retail by introducing themed zones like K-pop Land and Kid's Wonderland.

In Hong Kong, the flagship store now features the HealthQ health decoding station, where customers can receive personalised health consultations and assessments from qualified professionals.

Moreover, Watsons has also revamped its stores in Thailand to offer a comprehensive selection of health products and personalised health consultation services.