Drugstore chain Cosmed (康是美) yesterday marked its 20th anniversary by unveiling four new concept stores and a revamped corporate branding that is to be implemented nationwide as the company upgrades its stores to provide consumers with a new shopping experience.
Cosmed, the nation’s second-largest drugstore chain operator after Watson’s Personal Care Stores (Taiwan) Co (台灣屈臣氏), is operated by President Drugstore Business Corp (統一生活事業), a subsidiary of President Chain Store Corp (統一超商).
The company unveiled four distinctive concept stores: the “Urban Oasis” in Taoyuan; the “European Garden” in Hsinchu; and the “Fashion Lab” and “Modern Forest” in Kaohsiung.
Photo: CNA
The company is upbeat on its growth prospects, citing data by the Ministry of Economic Affairs that showed total sales by Taiwan’s pharmacies and drugstores rose 4 percent annually to NT$182.9 billion (US$5.59 billion) last year.
However, the company acknowledged that consumers are making more purchases online than before, with total sales surging to NT$613.8 billion in the first half of this year from NT$382 billion in 2012.
“While online sales compete on content, the attraction of a physical store lies in the shopping experience,” President Drugstore Business Corp president’s office manager Aaron Chang (張世勳) said.
Chang said the “Fashion Lab” concept shop is focused on makeup, while the “Urban Oasis” store features a comfortable cabin-like decor to provide busy professionals with a respite. Meanwhile, the “European Garden” invokes the elegant atmosphere of the old continent and the “Modern Forest” store features a theme combining nature and technology.
“The four new concept stores reflect the results of our research on what our customers want. The themes will be implemented to suit the needs of the customer base in each business district covered by our 370 stores nationwide as they complete their upgrade cycle every five to six years,” President Drugstore Business Corp president Martin Chang (張聰本) said.
Stores are to be adjusted according to sales, and that the company is prioritizing quality and not necessarily looking to expand the number of stores, Martin Chang said, adding that new products are to be added to the mix, such as South Korean fashion accessories and jewelry.
“We anticipate sales will grow 5 percent annually this year to more than NT$10 billion, surpassing last year’s NT$9.6 billion,” Martin Chang said.
The firm also retired its woodpecker logo, replacing it with a cross comprised of colorful dots, a tribute to each consumer’s individual pursuit of personal health, style and beauty.
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