Int’l wellness firm eyes 5 more stores in Cebu

Cebu’s robust economic growth continues to attract more investments in many industries including the beauty, health and wellness retail and services sector.

Last week, an official of international brand of beauty, health and wellness shop Watsons Philippines  said they would focus their investments in the Visayas and Mindanao region with Cebu being a major growth area for their yearly expansions of at least 40 stores nationwide.

Watsons Philippines is a joint venture of AS Watsons Group of Hong Kong and the Philippine’s SM Group that has been in operations in the country for nine years now.

In an interview last Friday, Watsons Philippines chief operations officer Robert Sun said that they already have 258 stores nationwide including the recently opened store in J Center Mall in A.S. Fortuna, Mandaue City.

“In Cebu this is the 14th store and we will have at least five more stores to open here,” Sun said.

The group aims to end the year with 280 stores.

“Our five stores here will be in SM Consolacion, there will be three stores there and two more stores in Maguikay, Mandaue City,” he said.

The group also will be focusing on stand alone stores that are not necessarily located in a mall.

“We are very confident in the market and we are always giving good offers to our buyers through quality products at very affordable prices.”

Based on their survey, 80 percent of their buyers come to Watsons to buy products for themselves making them see that they have become a store that people visit for “me” time.

“With that we offer items for personal care because that’s the profile of our buyers.”

Sun said that Watsons Philippines grow on the average of 10% every year based on number of outlets and revenues.

“We expect the same growth trend this year and we are very optimistic about the prospects in the new growth areas in the region,” Sun said.

Meanwhile two Cebuano sisters Cherri Ann Lim-Acorin and Abbie Lim are investing on a skin care industry with their skin care center.

“This is our first investment on the business and we are very optimistic to grow our customer base within the year,” said Acorin about their Skintech Face and Beauty Center, which will open on Oct. 5 at the Ayala Center Cebu.

“Cebuanos nowadays have also become more accustomed to the idea of taking care of themselves and letting skin care experts like us do it for them. People now really pay for these services,” Acorin said.

She said that with Cebu becoming more of a metropolitan and highly urbanized city, investments on beauty and wellness services would continue to grow. /Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap