As the leading retailer in Mainland China, Watsons sets O+O (Offline plus Online) as the new standard for retail, seamlessly integrating offline and online platforms to help start-up brands expand their businesses, reach target audiences and increase sales.
Watsons China has an extensive store network and beauty advisors. During the pandemic, customers switched to shopping online. With advanced data analytic capability, Watsons has gotten to know its customers’ preferences and is able to identify the right target audience for start-up brands. Watsons has successfully helped the brand Herborist Derma explore new O+O opportunities by sending coupons to customers through SMS, and delivering content through livestreaming, Xiao Hong Shu and Grass Seeding. Through these initiatives, Watsons is able to strengthen relationships between the brands and their customers.
Watsons China has an extensive store network and beauty advisors. During the pandemic, customers switched to shopping online. With advanced data analytic capability, Watsons has gotten to know its customers’ preferences and is able to identify the right target audience for start-up brands. Watsons has successfully helped the brand Herborist Derma explore new O+O opportunities by sending coupons to customers through SMS, and delivering content through livestreaming, Xiao Hong Shu and Grass Seeding. Through these initiatives, Watsons is able to strengthen relationships between the brands and their customers.
Watsons O+O retail model seamlessly integrates offline and online platforms, using cloud technology to connect physical stores with online platforms. After customers place their orders in the cloud stores, products can be delivered to their homes within 30 minutes, meeting customer’s immediate demand. The O+O retail model can also help brands to expand their businesses. For instance, Herborist Derma Niacinamide Brightening Essence has quickly become the customers’ top choice in whitening essence. Sales went up by 200%, which broke the start-up brand’s record.
The O+O retail model not only allows customers to shop whenever they want to, it also gives customers a shopping experience like no other.
Winona is a skincare brand specially designed for sensitive skin. Watsons’ O+O retail strengthens Winona’s offline experience and helps the brand to grow. The brand understands that a great shopping experience is crucial to its success, with Watsons’ network in nearly 500 cities, the brand can take advantage its professional skin analysis equipment in store to provide customers with a more comprehensive shopping experience. At the same time, online customers were brought offline through live broadcasts, apps and WeChat, turning them into loyal fans, while establishing closer connections both offline and online.
Winona is a skincare brand specially designed for sensitive skin. Watsons’ O+O retail strengthens Winona’s offline experience and helps the brand to grow. The brand understands that a great shopping experience is crucial to its success, with Watsons’ network in nearly 500 cities, the brand can take advantage its professional skin analysis equipment in store to provide customers with a more comprehensive shopping experience. At the same time, online customers were brought offline through live broadcasts, apps and WeChat, turning them into loyal fans, while establishing closer connections both offline and online.
Watsons China has established the WATsNEW online concept store, bringing together a selection of start-up brands that have not yet been listed in Watsons physical stores. Members can try these brands for free and submit a trial report. Watsons will also invite beauty industry experts to conduct professional reviews. After vetting the brands with customers and experts, Watsons then decides whether a brand can officially enter the Watsons O+O retail platform. This model not only helps start-up brands to save market research costs, it also provides real users and experts’ evaluation. New brands can gain customers’ trust within a short period of time, making it easier to successfully enter the market. In order to discover the new beauty and skincare brands in the Mainland, Watsons has cooperated with Unilever to select “UniExcubator” high-quality start-up brands to be featured on WATsNEW.
