A.S. Watson announces landmark, tech heavy China store

A.S. Watson Group has opened its 3,800th Watsons store in China.

Spanning over 2,000 square feet, this is located in Kunming, the largest city in Yunnan Province. It is equipped with StyleMe 2.0, an augmented reality technology combined with a personal session with professional in-store make-up artists.

Watsons China has also developed a Scan & Go service where customers can scan a QR code with their mobile phones to purchase products directly through the Watsons mobile application without waiting at a check-out.

Also on offer is the One-on-One Beauty Consultation Service. Customers can take advantage of this by connecting with store staff via the Watsons China WeChat account. If the selected product is not available in a specific branch, Watsons staff will help customers place an order through the system. They can have their order delivered through courier, Click & Collect or the One Hour Flash Delivery service.

Malina Ngai, CEO at A.S. Watson (Asia & Europe), says: “This is a significant milestone for us, as both ‘3’ and ‘8’ are the luckiest numbers in Chinese culture, representing liveliness and prosperity.”

“Our extensive physical store network provides unique touchpoints in over 470 cities in China, connecting us to customers through in-store experience and digital engagement. All stores provide 30 minute Click and Collect service and 60 minute ‘click and delivery’ service which are widely used and appreciated by customers.”

This year, A.S. Watson Group is on course to open 1,300 new stores globally, she adds.