Watsons has become a household name in the Philippines. You’ll find it in nearly every SM mall, beside every grocery, and in almost every city. But how did this happen? And why did SM choose to partner with Watsons over Mercury Drug, the country’s most established pharmacy chain at the time?

In this episode of Brand Origins, we uncover the complete history of Watsons in the Philippines and how it became one of SM’s most powerful retail partners. From its beginnings as A.S. Watson & Co. in 19th-century Hong Kong, to its massive expansion across Asia, to its eventual partnership with SM Investments, this video breaks down how the brand grew from a small apothecary into one of the largest health and beauty retailers in the world.

We’ll explore how Watsons built its image of trust, accessibility, and convenience, and how SM’s business strategy helped the brand dominate the Philippine market.📌 Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:58 Henry Sy's Vow to Crush Mercury Drug02:40 How Britain Took Hong Kong06:49 The Hong Kong Dispensary7:55 AS Watson's Rapid Growth10:17 Watsons Water11:07 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock11:23 How Li Ka-Shing acquired the company12:02 Brands AS Watson Owns14:20 Watsons in the Philippines15:08 Watsons' Secret Cash Cow (Optimo)18:39 Watsons Pink19:43 Outro💼 SponsorshipsWant your brand to be featured in future episodes? Let’s collaborate.📩 Visit chrisgarin.com for sponsorship inquiries, partnerships, or collaboration opportunities.