WatsON - Stay tuned with AS Watson

Watsons Spearheads Aesthetic Beauty Trend With Strategic JCprogram Expansion Across Asia

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:11:31 +0000

Watsons, AS Watson Group's flagship health and beauty brand, strategically positions itself at the forefront of the global aesthetic beauty revolution through accelerating the expansion of JCprogram, an exclusive Japanese clinical skincare brand, across Asia.

Building on its successful debut in Watsons China in 2021, where JCprogram has quickly became the Watsons’ No. 1 aesthetic beauty brand, it expanded into Watsons Taiwan in 2024. Within months of launching in Hong Kong in May 2025, JCprogram became leading exclusive aesthetic brand in Watsons Hong Kong, highlighting the substantial customer demand for aesthetic beauty solutions that go far beyond just derm. This remarkable performance has accelerated Watsons' strategic expansion into Thailand and Malaysia, targeting key growth markets with significant aesthetic beauty potential.

At the exclusive launch ceremony of JCprogram in Malaysia, Watsons welcomed Dr. Nobutaka Furuyama, founder of JCprogram and Japan’s renowned cosmetic surgeon, to commemorate the exclusive partnership with Watsons and the brand’s successful regional expansion. The launch also marked with an experiential facial spa for beauty editors and a preview for celebrities, showcasing the brand’s aesthetic innovations. Exclusive member offers accompany the launch, delivering clinical-grade skincare and added value to its beauty community.

Caryn Loh, COO of Health & Beauty Asia, AS Watson Group said, "JCprogram's rapid expansion and category leadership demonstrate the extraordinary market appetite for scientifically-backed aesthetic beauty solutions. Watsons is strategically positioned to capture the most significant growth opportunity in beauty retail, while delivering breakthrough innovations that meet rapidly evolving customer demands for clinical-grade results."

Aesthetic Beauty Revolution: Three Transformative Trends Reshaping Beauty Markets

This launch capitalises on unprecedented market transformation, as the global aesthetic beauty sector projects explosive growth from USD19.6 billion in 2025 to USD35 billion by 2033, representing a robust 7.5% compound annual growth rate.

The aesthetic beauty landscape is undergoing its most significant transformation, shifting customer preferences from invasive procedures toward sophisticated, non-invasive and science-driven beauty solutions. This evolution is driven by three key trends:

the longevity skincare movement focusing on cellular-level health through DNA repair and molecular protection;
non-invasive treatment dominance reflecting customer preference for natural-looking enhancements; and
demand for scientific transparency where customers seek clinically-proven actives with documented professional-grade efficacy.

Revolutionary JCprogram Technology Meets Asian Market Demand

Recognising these transformative market dynamics, Watsons has exclusively partnered with JIYUGAOKA CLINIC to launch JCprogram, a revolutionary Japanese clinical-grade skincare brand that directly addresses all these major aesthetic beauty trends through innovative "1:1 Seamless Aesthetic Replication" technology. Founded by Dr. Nobutaka Furuyama, recognised as "Asia's Premier Micro-Aesthetic Surgeon", JCprogram represents the convergence of 30 years of clinical aesthetic expertise with cutting-edge skincare science.

JCprogram's breakthrough approach features three specialised treatment series that replicate professional medical procedures with documented clinical results:

Sculpt & Glow Series delivering Thermage-comparable results with 32.24% wrinkle reduction and 20.9% skin firmness improvement in two weeks
Series offering 1:1 mesotherapy replication with 30.24% moisture improvement; and 27.69% radiance enhancement in seven days
Dermal Repairing Series providing medical-grade recovery solutions that decrease epidermal moisture loss rate by 9.2% in just two weeks

This breakthrough innovation has been developed to democratise access to premium aesthetic treatments across Asia, enabling customers to enjoy high-efficacy experience through convenient, safe, and cost-effective home-use solutions that deliver dual experiential benefits without the risks and costs associated with invasive procedures.

Looking ahead, Watsons will continue to capture aesthetic beauty opportunities across its over 8,000 store network to meet evolving customer needs and reinforce its market leadership position, helping customers look good, do good, and feel great through innovative beauty solutions that redefine industry standards.

Ignite the Vibe

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:05:59 +0000

Watsons Turkey hosted the 4th Watsons Youth Festival, attracting over 10,000 Gen Z customers. The event featured music performances, gaming, and a pop-up Watsons store showcasing K Beauty and exclusive products at special discounts for all customers. The festival created an engaging environment that celebrated youth culture and strengthened Watsons' connection with the vibrant Gen Z community, successfully generating a buzz on social media.

AS Watson Champions Ethical Retail and Community Empowerment

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:01:04 +0000

As a responsible and ethical company, AS Watson is dedicated to respecting human rights, caring for our people and our communities.

On the topic of human rights, AS Watson has a clear policy framework to prevent misconduct, supported by due diligence, supplier audits, and relevant training. The Group uses global standards and tools, such as amfori’s Business Social Compliance Initiative and Business Environmental Performance Initiative, to vet Own Brand manufacturers and ensure ethical practices. Last year, 467 Own Brand manufacturers underwent social and environmental assessments in medium and high-risk countries.

The People strategy focuses on key priorities to support employees throughout their careers: Health & Wellbeing, DEI, Good Jobs & Talent Development, Attracting & Engaging Talent and Inspiring Leadership. Notably, youth development programmes have also brought significant achievements, such as the recruitment of over 107,000 youths globally through internships and apprenticeships, providing nearly 3 million training hours.

We prioritise community-focused programmes through partnerships and initiatives. Notable examples include "Give a Smile” campaign, which has provided over 8,000 children with cleft lip/palate surgeries, and "Project LOL" philanthropy programme, focused on health, education, and support for the underprivileged, donating HK$54M to charities. Other key efforts include volunteer programmes, food donation campaigns with charities like Food Angel, and events supporting specific causes such as digital inclusion and dementia care. The company is committed to amplifying community support by running donation drives, encouraging global employee participation in volunteerism, and supporting youth and sports development events.

If you want to know more about AS Watson's 2024 sustainability achievements and stories, read our full report:https://www.aswatson.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/AS-Watson-SR-2024.pdf

A Journey of Hope

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:14:29 +0000

Fortress TechLife announced a partnership with The Salvation Army, encouraging the donation of pre-owned suitcases to support those in need. This initiative promotes sustainability by giving used luggage a second life while fostering community care and adding meaningful value to every journey.

From now until 30 November 2025, customers can donate luggage of any brand at designated Salvation Army locations. By presenting a photo of their donation at participating Fortress TechLife stores, customers will receive a 10% discount on selected premium luggage models.

Sophisticated with Fine Bubbles

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 08:03:53 +0000

Watson’s Wine recently hosted a series of exclusive Champagne tasting experiences for Pacific Place 'above' members, celebrating sophistication, community, and the finest bubbles. Customers indulged in a curated selection of prestigious Champagnes, from crisp Blanc de Blancs to rich vintage varieties, making the tasting journey truly exceptional.

Blossom with Style

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:45:30 +0000

Watsons Thailand held a flower artwork workshop for Watsons Club Members at The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi store, in collaboration with the limited-edition Y.O.U Radiance Glow Blooming Sakura Serum. Members designed their own serum Flower Box, adding a personal touch that reflected their individual style and creativity.

Top Scorers of Customer Love Score💯

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:30:18 +0000

At AS Watson, our commitment is to put a smile on our customers’ faces today and tomorrow. We believe the best way to achieve this is by listening to their feedback. To this end, we conduct a monthly customer survey called the Customer Love Score across all our markets, allowing customers to rate their experiences after each visit.

Congratulations to the top scorers of this month's Customer Love Score survey for achieving a perfect score of 100!

In this month's Top Scorer series, we feature:

Watson's Wine – Hopewell Centre
ICI PARIS XL Netherlands – Uden
Drogas Latvia – Bauska
Marionnaud Austria – Hallein

Every customer is a valued friend. We welcome them with sincere enthusiasm, warmth, and heartfelt care, creating an environment filled with joy. We will continually enhance our service to put a smile on our customers' faces.
Samson Lau, Store Manager
Watson’s Wine – Hopewell Centre

By inspiring and motivating each other daily, we grow as a team and deliver the best service to our customers. With care and passion for one another as colleagues, we go the extra mile to ensure everyone feels welcome and special in our store.
Maaike Huberts-Tijmensen, Store Manager
ICI PARIS XL Netherlands – Uden

We strive to serve customers quickly and with quality. We assist in finding their needs, offer advice when requested, and prioritise their satisfaction. Treating all customers equally, we create a positive and welcoming shopping atmosphere.
Elina Livmane, Store Manager
Drogas Latvia – Bauska

We provide honest, professional, and solution-oriented advice tailored to each customer's needs. Through clear communication and friendly support, we build trust and focus on long-term satisfaction. Positive customer reviews affirm our efforts and motivate us to deliver the best service possible.
Sandra Schaber, Store Manager
Marionnaud Austria – Hallein

The ABC of LOVE Strategy: Building Passionate Growth

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:02:52 +0000

Executive Summary

AS Watson's growth strategy has evolved through several generations, focusing initially on operational excellence, then customer-centric approaches, integrating offline and online channels, and now emphasising connection and community under the ABC of LOVE strategy. This strategy centers on agility, bonding, and building a customer community to foster sustainable and passionate growth. Every colleague plays a key role by collaborating effectively, listening to customer feedback, innovating, and engaging customers to enhance experiences and strengthen relationships.

Our path to sustainable growth is rooted in LOVE, but it’s not just a feeling - it’s a deliberate strategy. By focusing on the ABC of LOVE, we ensure our organisation thrives, our customers stay loyal, and our community grows stronger.
Malina Ngai
Group CEO, AS Watson

In this issue of WatsOn, we share with you the evolution of AS Watson growth strategy and how you play a part in it.

At AS Watson, our strategy has always been about building on our strengths while embracing new innovations to deliver sustainable growth, even in volatile times. This has been our foundation as we evolve with the changing needs of our customers, employees, and partners.

An Evolution in Strategy

Our journey in the recent two decades can be divided into four key generations of strategic focus, each generation building upon the progress of the last:

Generation 0 (G0): 2007–2009

We began with a focus on operational excellence, aiming to strengthen the fundamentals of our retail business following a series of acquisitions in Europe between 2002-2006, positioned AS Watson as one of the world’s largest health and beauty retailers. This phase was about fixing the basics - laying the groundwork for future growth by improving efficiency and reliability in our operations.

Generation 1 (G1): 2010–2018

The next stage was about going beyond operational processes and becoming more customer focused. We introduced the DARE strategy, emphasising:

Different: Providing differentiated offer to customers

Anywhere: Being accessible wherever our customers need us

Relationship: Building meaningful, lasting connections

Experience: Delivering exceptional experiences that mattered to our customers

These core principles became the foundation of how we connected with and served our customers.

Generation 2 (G2): 2019–2024

We embraced the O+O (Offline + Online) strategy, evolving from traditional physical retail to an integrated offline and online model. This allowed us to serve customers anywhere, anytime, combining the convenience of digital channels with the personal touch of physical stores.

Generation 3 (G3): 2025 and Beyond

Looking ahead, we step into G3, where the focus is on building connections - with our colleagues, customers, and partners. This phase is all about unity: empowering our people, fostering deeper bonds, and creating a thriving ecosystem of collaboration.

G3: The ABC of LOVE

The essence of G3 can be described through the Chinese character for LOVE, which symbolises the core of our strategy:

This ABC of LOVE defines how we approach the next phase of our growth, ensuring that every interaction, decision, and initiative is rooted in empathy, connection, and innovation.

What is ABC of Love Strategy

1. A for Agility

Agility is the foundation of our success. It starts with building a capable, united organisation that operates with excellence and passion. This means empowering our team with the tools, skills, and mindset they need to deliver exceptional results. With the right ability, we act with purpose and pace, adapting to customer needs and staying ahead of the curve.

2. B for Bonding

Bonding is the heart of LOVE. It’s about creating meaningful connections within our organisation and with our customers, business partners, and stakeholders. Internally, we foster a culture of unity and collaboration to ensure we move forward together. Externally, we go beyond transactions, building trust and long-term relationships through personalised service, shared values, and genuine care.

3. C for Customer Community

Community is where LOVE grows and thrives. We aim to create a vibrant, engaged customer community that feels a sense of belonging with our brand. Through shared experiences, authentic interactions, and opportunities for customers to connect with one another, we transform transactions into relationships and customers into advocates.

The ABC of LOVE is more than a strategy - it’s our commitment to growing with passion, purpose, and people at the center. By focusing on Agility, Bonding, and Community, we ensure that our company not only grows but truly connects with the hearts of those we serve.

Our strategy continues to combine the strengths of the past with forward-thinking innovations. With G3, we are committed to empowering connections, enhancing experiences, and staying ahead in an ever-changing world.
Together, as one united team, we're ready to embrace the opportunities of the future. Thank you for being an integral part of this exciting journey. Let's continue to make a difference together!
Malina Ngai
Group CEO, AS Watson

AS Watson Celebrates World Pharmacists Day Honouring Over 3,000 Pharmacists and Nearly 10,000 Health Professionals Worldwide

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:27:07 +0000

On World Pharmacists Day, AS Watson proudly celebrates the dedication and expertise of its global network of pharmacists and health professionals, who play a pivotal role in helping customers lead healthier lives.

“On this meaningful day, we extend our deepest gratitude to over 3,000 pharmacists and nearly 10,000 health professionals at AS Watson across the globe. Their commitment goes far beyond in-store services—they also provide online consultations in most of our markets, ensuring customers receive trusted health advice anytime, anywhere. Their expertise is essential in helping our customers navigate their health journeys with confidence,” said Peter Macnab, International Commercial Director of AS Watson.

Meeting the Rising Demand for Health and Wellness

AS Watson’s health and wellness business continues to accelerate, fuelled by evolving customer expectations, a growing focus on preventive care, and strong category growth. In the past 12 months alone, overall health & beauty sales have increased by over 10%, with the vitamins & dietary supplements category also rising more than 10%, and the diet & fitness category seeing an impressive surge of over 20%.

Weight management has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments, with sales of related products and services soaring by 130%. As global obesity rates climb, more customers are turning to trusted pharmacists for safe, expert guidance. AS Watson’s pharmacists provide access to weight management medicines and supplements, along with personalised advice on nutrition, lifestyle, and sustainable health practices empowering customers to take a holistic approach to their wellbeing.

Complementing this category momentum is the rapid adoption of AS Watson’s O+O (Offline plus Online) retail strategy. Online sales of health products have surged by 30% year-on-year, underscoring a shift in consumer behaviour towards convenient O+O access to trusted health essentials. This surge reflects not only a preference for O+O shopping experience but also a growing tendency among customers to proactively manage their wellbeing.

In response to these trends, AS Watson has significantly expanded its health product portfolio, offering a comprehensive range, from vitamins and supplements to condition-specific solutions. AS Watson is committed to supporting every customer’s unique health journey with both breadth and depth of choice.

Empowering Health Customers Across Age Groups

AS Watson is witnessing a dynamic shift in customer demographics, with both younger and silver generations increasingly prioritising their health and wellbeing.

There’s has been remarkable year-on-year growth of 30% in the young customer segment seeking health products. This surge reflects a growing awareness among younger consumers about preventive care, wellness. They are actively seeking expert advice and convenient access to products that support their lifestyle and long-term health goals.

Meanwhile, the silver generation now represents over 30% of AS Watson’s health customers and continues to grow steadily. Spending 1.4 times more than the average health shopper, they reflect increasing engagement and purchasing power, underscoring the importance of personalised health solutions tailored to their needs.

Peter added, “We are proud to serve a diverse and growing customer base. Both younger and silver generation are powerful forces in the health category, and we are committed to supporting them with relevant products, expert advice, and a seamless O+O health shopping experience.”

As AS Watson continues to evolve with the changing health landscape, our commitment to innovation, accessibility, and customer-centric care remains stronger than ever. By empowering pharmacists and health professionals with the right tools and platforms, we’re shaping the future of health retail—one that is more personalised, inclusive, and digitally connected.

Recycled for Good: rPET Bottles, Infinite Possibilities

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 04:35:24 +0000

Why Should We Choose rPET?

Recycled PET (“rPET”) refers to recycled polyethylene terephthalate. It is fabricated from PET waste, collected either come from post-consumer or post-industrial sources. Plastic bottles made from rPET are commonly used in the beverage industry, and can also be found in personal care products packaging.

What is the problem with plastics?

The amount of plastic waste we generate each year is massive, with plastic bottles taking 450 years or more to decompose. According to World Economic Forum, it is estimated that plastic waste will triple by 2060, with packaging accounting for the majority of that waste.

Environmental Benefits of rPET

Compared to traditional virgin PET, rPET uses 79% less energy and uses less water.

Watsons Water has long been a pioneer in sustainability, with many industry firsts. In 2015, it launched the first-ever 100% recyclable rPET bottles to help reduce plastic waste. Today, all Watsons Water bottles and labels are made from 100% rPET, which can be recycled infinitely—maximising resource value, reducing waste, and minimising the demand for virgin plastic.