P4.5M for new Watsons outlets, Cebu renovations

International wellness retailer Watsons will invest at least P4.5 million in Cebu for new stores and renovations of at least four existing outlets.

Robert Sun, chief operations officer of Watsons Personal Care, said the company will spend at least P1.5 million for renovations of four stores to be called Generation 6.

Sun said the investments showed that Watsons remained bullish about the market in the Visayas and Mindanao particularly in growth areas like Cebu.

“This is the first Generation 6 store that we have reopened after renovations in the Visayas and in Cebu. Three more in Cebu will be renovated following this layout including our Ayala store,” said Sun during Friday’s opening of its 1st Generation 6 store in SM City Cebu Northwing.

Sun noted the firm’s yearly capital expenditure for 40 more store openings aside from the budget for renovations.

“To date, we have already 262 stores and we will be opening another one in Tagum, Davao next Friday. We will end 2011 with 280 store openings. In Cebu we will have five more stores to open,” he said.

Three of their five stores will be located in SM Consolacion and the remaining two stores will be in Maguikay, Mandaue City. Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap