Transformation from Colonial Chemist to Global Health and Beauty Retailer

A S Watson Group (ASW), its health and beauty retail arm commonly known as 'Watsons' in Asia, traces its humble beginnings back to a matshed colonial apothecary shop called the Hong Kong Dispensary (the 'Dispensary') when it was set up back in 1841. This book unlocks the secrets and transformations of ASW from a colonial chemist to the number three global player in health and beauty retailing. How was ASW able to pull through each and every global or national crisis it faced in the 180 years to emerge more robust and vibrant?

In Part One of this book, Patrick vividly describes Watson's globalization journey over the past 180 years. He details how Watsons survived the waves of social unrest, civil wars, global financial turmoil, political crisis, and pandemics that confronted the world. One of the most exciting developments in this history took place from 1999 to 2006 when ASW achieved quantum leaps and consolidated its position as a leading global drug store chain under Wade's leadership.

In Part Two of this book, Patrick analyzes the corporate management practices of Watson. He articulates Andrew Chi-Fai Chan's 'Left-and-Right Circles' theory behind Ian Wade's branding strategy. He further draws upon Wade's other 'Prosperity Strategies' in parallel with the '4+2' Formula' advocated by Nitin Nohria et al. Over the past fourteen years, the global market has undergone tremendous changes in China, Asia, and Europe. And with it, ASW has undertaken a pragmatic growth approach to dodge the headwinds of the subprime mortgage crisis, the Eurozone crisis, China-US decoupling, Brexit, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Contents:

• From Colonial Chemist to Global Health and Beauty Retailer:

  • 18411896: The Birth of A S Watson: Initial Public Offering and Opium Substitutes
  • 18971941: The End of the Qing Empire: Turbulent Sailing in Republican Times
  • 19421981: Japanese Occupation and Post WWII Era: Diversification and Privatisation
  • 19821988: New Leadership: The First Leg of Geographical Expansion
  • 19891998: Overheating Economy: The Asian Economic Crisis
  • 19992001: Y2K, SARS and Dual Springboards into the UK: Powwow and Savers
  • 20022003: A Quantum Leap for the Continent: Kruidvat, Superdrug
  • 20042006: Dirk Rossmann GmbH, and Enlarging the Beauty Business Portfolio: Marionnaud and The Perfume Shop, and the Emerging Markets
  • 20072021: Organic Growth: One Crisis After Another

• Best Practice Management and the New Retail Era:

  • The Three Britons: Who Changed the Destiny of AS Watson
  • Li Ka Shing, 'Wangdao', and From Good to Great
  • ASW Business Model, Sustainable and Profitable Strategies
  • Consumer Trending, E-Commerce, and New Retail: Delighting the Millennials and Gen-Z
  • Temasek, India, and the Post-COVID-19 Era

Readership: Academics, undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, and policymakers interested in the history of China and Britain's former colony of Hong Kong as well as the strategic growth of Watsons and the health and beauty retail markets in Asia and Europe.
Key Features:

• Unlocks the secret transformations of ASW from a colonial chemist to theworld's largest international health and beauty retailer
• Shows how ASW was able to pull through each and every national or global crisis it faced over the course of 180 years to emerge stronger and more vibrant
• Tells a story every consumer, business leader, graduate or undergraduate student in history, business administration, and best practice management is keen to learn

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