Agencies await A.S. Watson’s regional pitch result

A.S. Watson Group operates three household-name brands in Hong Kong—Park-n-Shop supermarkets, Watsons personal care chain, and electronics retailer Fortress—and also has Watsons stores region-wide.

PHD is currently the media agency for A.S. Watson in Hong Kong, while ZenithOptimedia holds the media account for Watsons stores in Taiwan, Singapore and one or two other markets, while OMG network is working on the account in other markets, a source close to the client said.

“The pitch took place on a country basis, and the pitch result should be already out, but we are still waiting,” the source said.

According to the Group's website, as of the end of 2011, the flagship brand Watsons opened its 1,000th store in Mainland China, one of its 33 operating markets, and was expecting to open its 10,000th store globally.

In the China market, the brand faces increasing competition from local and overseas beauty convenience stores such as Sasa, Bonjour, Mannings, and Sephora.