Switch and Save at Watson's and get a Switcher's Surprise!

Did you know that you can actually save thousands of pesos in shopping money, simply by studying those labels and taking note of their prices? Unfortunately, doing that requires a lot of time, not to mention a lot of effort in comparing each brand one by one. But hey if you are really eyeing that new phone, or saving up for that overdue vacation, every peso counts right?

Thankfully, I found a better, and easier way to save money and enjoy my shopping at the same time-- and I discovered that during my regular trips to Watsons!


Before, I was just kind of an occassional  "smart shopper". You know, the time you only consider about trying to save as much when you want to buy something? In my case, its always been bags, so whenever I find a bag I really like that is the only time I become very meticulous (translate: kuripot when shopping)

It was about two years ago, when I first started to become a regular at Watsons SM North. During the first few times I just went there to buy a few things like toiletries and some personal care items  But as I began to spend more time in the store, I discovered that they had a lot of equivalent item for the branded ones that i bought.

So how do you save at watsons?  By making the Switch and Save of course!

First, its all about convenience, since Watsons stores are located strategically whether you are commuting to or from work, or even if you are driving your own car, they have almost 400 stores all over the country so its easy to find one near you, so you dont have to make that extra stop or make an effort to find one.

Second,  Watsons Label products takes out the guesswork when finding quality products. With over a hundred years of pharmacy experience and recognized as one of Asia's leading retailer, you are assured that you get quality products just by their brand.

Third, Watsons label products are priced considerably lower, and you can save as much as 60 to even 80 percent on their items as compared to other brands.  Not to mention their have a lot of buy 1 take one offers.

Last year they even launched their own generics line so I dont need to go to a different pharmacy for my multivitamins and medicines/ antibiotics as well!

This year, Watsons’ further rewards smart shoppers who have made the SWITCH and SAVE with the SWITCHER’S SURPRISE campaign. The Switcher’s Surprise campaign brings to life the idea that by switching to Watsons label, customers are able to save money for things that they really want or that matters the most to them.

Last January 26 and January 28, several shoppers at the SM Mall of Asia had a double surprise waiting for them simply by making the switch and choosing Watsons Label products. These include a wide range of selected products from personal care to generic medicines likeWatsons Glutathione, Watsons Travel Hair Dryer, Watsons Argan Oil Hair Conditioner, Watsons Body Scrub, Watsons Collagen, and Watsons Breath Strips, among others.

During designated hours of the day, shoppers who pick up specially marked Watsons Label products instantly get the chance to win fabulous prizes, such as a flatscreen TV, a Macbook Air, and a trip for 2 to Hong Kong!

The lucky shoppers were guided to a specially designed booth where they get their surprise – a most coveted prize personally handed by celebrity endorsers Lorna Tolentino, Iya Villania, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Patty Laurel-Filart and Christian Bautista!

“On top of the savings they get from purchasing Watsons Label products, our loyal shoppers have also gotten used to receiving cute items and tokens, so this year we decided to raise the stakes and reward them with something truly unforgettable,” says Karen Fabres, Group Marketing Manager of Watsons Philippines

“Could it be a weekend staycation, airline tickets, maybe a shiny new gadget or phone or it could be the luxury item they have long been saving for, that is what makes the Switcher Surprise even more exciting,” adds Fabres.

“Our customers shop at Watsons to save on the things they really want in life, but with the Switcher Surprise promo, they might just bring home that thing they’ve saving up for with but a single purchase!” It’s definitely a lot easier to enjoy what life has to offer when you choose to Switch and Save the Watsons way.”

For Iya and Patty, Watsons has become their go-to place for their beauty and skincare needs as well as toiletries saying they get the same quality as branded ones but at a more affordable price.

Socialite and self-confessed Tessa on the other hand says she realized that she’s saving even more by buying bigger sizes and more quantity, “so the more I shop the more I actually save!”

Even the men are also discovering Watsons as the idea; place to get their personal care needs, just like Christian Bautista, “There’s always a Watsons conveniently located near you and because of its organized store layout you can easily find what you need quicker.”

As the newest addition to the Watson’s family, Lorna advises making the switch to Watsons Generics. “Women at any age need to keep themselves looking and feeling healthy and with Watsons Generics you are guaranteed to get quality medicine and even save as much as 80 percent!”

Watsons Label believes that with more value from hard-earned money spent on quality affordable products, every Filipino gets more savings to enjoy the other important things in life with their loved ones. With a wider variety of products, from personal care items, beauty essentials, and now medicine, Asia’s leading personal care store provides smart shoppers the choice to save as much as 80 percent without compromising on quality.


In addition to Switcher Surprise, Watson also has the ongoing Buy 2 Take 1 Promo on selected Watsons Label Products until March 2016.

Switch and Save to affordable Watsons Generics

Watsons a leading pharmacy retail brand in Asia recently launched its own line of multivitamins and medicines Watsons Generics last August 7, 2014 at Manila Peninsula together with its new ambassadors Lorna Tolentino and Edu Manzano.  They are admitted to switching from their branded multivitamins to Watsons generics before becoming its endorsers. Lorna Tolentino have tried Glutathione and Milk Thistle with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin B1+ B6 + B12 and among others. Edu Manzano on the other hand have tried the Vitamin B1, B6 and B12 as well. They told the guests and media that they are happy with the healthy switch and is living a healthy lifestyle.

 Watsons Generics also held a free medical consultation on that day, free blood sugar test, blood pressure monitoring and BMI test, and provided free medicines to those who have suffered from illnesses such as diabetes and mild hypertension.

Health literacy remains to be a key health challenge not only in the Philippines but around the world, even in developed countries. With literacy and health both recognized as fundamental components of pursuing health and well being of the society according to World Health Organization, medical and health industry leaders highlight a new collaborative framework to help address the low health literacy in the country.

At the launch of Watsons Generics, Dr. Anthony Leachon, President of the Philippine College of Physicians, emphasized that health literacy plays a critical role in addressing the dismal health situation of Filipinos including poor health and high risk of hospitalization.

“There still are many gaps that need to be addressed to improve health literacy in the country. Poverty and lack of education remain to be some of biggest contributors that prevent patients to communicate, understand health information, and subsequently make sound decisions about their health. What we need is a pragmatic approach toward health literacy—not only involving the doctor and patient but also the pharmacist and product,” shared Dr. Leachon.

He further explained that the best way to address these gaps is to use a practical framework that illustrates how the physician, patient, pharmacist and product can work together to create a more health literate community. “Ultimately, health literacy is achieved when patients and providers truly understand each other,” he added.

Watsons Generics prides itself for maintaining highly trained pharmacists in all of its branches nationwide. These pharmacists aim to support consumers with their medical decisions, particularly in purchasing medicines and adhering to the doctor’s prescription.

“Pharmacists must do their part in educating the public through conversations with customers. The well being of our customers is at the core of everything we do, and by entering the generics industry, we enable Filipinos to remain vigilant in their decision-making process when it comes to their health care,” Chiong added.

Aside from making health information accessible to the public through its pharmacists, Watsons also empowers consumers with the launch of its own generics medicine line. The Watsons Generics line will offer a wide array of medicines and supplements that are manufactured by trusted partners to ensure that all products are of high quality, safe and effective while maintaining its affordability. By providing quality generic medicines to the public, Watsons aims to build trust amongst its consumers and encourage them to be more proactive on maintaining their health.


“We believe that the public and private sectors can collaboratively develop solutions to mitigate this problem of low health literacy. The new product line of Watsons Generics is a testament of our commitment to give the public more options so they can take control of their health,” said Danilo Chiong, Health Business Director of Watsons.

In its initial launch, Watsons Generics will offer a wide variety of over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and maintenance drugs that addresses common ailments, illnesses, and lifestyle needs of Filipinos. Watsons was a pharmacy first with over 170 years of pharmacy experience, and continues to lead the industry as Asia’s no. 1 pharmacy retail brand for five consecutive years according to Campaign Asia.