Join Waterhouse Wade Founder Terry Waterhouse in the #NAIRCLPhilippines Webiner on May 22nd at 10:00 AM (GMT +8).

Please register below:
http://nai.rclproperties.net/registration.php

SM Supermall is the first in the Philippines!

The first Museum Context store in the Philippines, offering an immersive Harry Potter shopping experience, opens 9^th November 2019 at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Manila.  

The launch marks a new chapter for the Museum Context brand, which cast its spell on avid Harry Potter fans father-daughter Carlo and Katsie Llave, who first came across the magical retail experience on a ‘Potter Pilgrimage’ visit to Scotland’s capital Edinburgh. 

They were blown away by the immersive Museum Context retail concept when they visited the flagship store packed with officially licensed Harry Potter merchandise and curiosities at 40 Victoria Street, the cobbled Victorian street in Edinburgh’s Old Town which is believed to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. Katsie Llave’s company will be spearheading the project and opening the Manila branch. 

The new store is likely to a magnet for Potter fans as well as people with an interest in interiors and the arts. It will stock a range of curated gift and home interiors pieces including official film replicas, stationery and fashion items.

Museum Context founder Andrew McRae said: “A chance meeting in Edinburgh led to this collaborative venture which will spread some of the Museum Context magic in the Philippines. We are very excited to introduce the brand to the region with the support of SM MOA, and to welcome Carlo and Katsie as partners.

“We look forward to seeing the reaction of visitors to our unique and truly immersive shopping experience which has its origins in the birthplace of Harry Potter, and home of JK Rowling. Our customers love the feeling of discovering special items among our carefully curated gift and home interior items. We stock an extensive range of official Harry Potter merchandise alongside work by top European artists and a whole range of weird and wonderful curiosities to suit all pockets.” 

Katsie Llave is ecstatic about the project: “When we started our small events company, it was our dream to create magical moments for fans BY fans. In everything we’ve ever done, we have always prided ourselves in being able to deliver experiences that we ourselves would like to experience, and this partnership with Museum Context has given us the perfect opportunity to do just that. Every item in this shop has been selected with genuine excitement and dedication to the brand, and we are confident that fans will fall in love with this just as much as we have. We are truly looking forward to celebrating this milestone with our Potter family, and hope that it will continue to grow because of it. The magic lives on.”

Founded in Edinburgh in 2007 and now operating from four outlets across the city, Museum Context’s award-winning retail concept launched in Hong Kong in 2011.  Since then it has operated from profile locations across Hong Kong Island, Macau and in Tsim Sha Tsui. The brand has established many successful partnerships, working with museums and cultural organisations as well as commercial operators, and has featured heavily in UK and global media. The SM MOA store marks the next stage of expansion across the Asia Pacific and China region.

The SM MOA Museum Context store opens on 9^th November 2019 

Opening hours are 10.00am to 10.00pm

Congratulations to SM & Surplus on the successful launch of Surplus Flagship Store at SM Makati, Manila, Philippines!

The Launch Event was attended by Waterhouse Wade Founder & Director Terry Waterhouse, as well as SM Executives Hans T. Sy, Jr., Ponciano C. Manalo Jr., Aida De La Cruz and Surplus Brand Ambassador AC Bonifacio amongst others.

#greatfashionfinds #greatfinds #teamsurplusph #waterhousewade

23 years ago Terry Waterhouse directed the rebranding and design of Eu Yan Sang International brand identity implementation programme.

The current Eu Yan Sang brand identity has remained timeless and relevant over the past 20 years since it was launch.

The call came from Mr. Richard Eu, C.E,O seeking assistance to rebrand, rejuvenate and reposition Eu Yan Sang brand In 1996.

As with Eu Kong the founder of Eu Yan Sang's Journey to Malaya from Guangdong in 1870, Eu Yan Sang needed to prepare for its next expeditious journey in to the new Millennium (2000), it’s 120th year anniversary and with the 4th generation having taken over the helm of the company with the vision to list the business on the Singapore Stock Exchange, this set the context for the rebranding project.

The brief for the task was formulated after undertaking a comprehensive audit of Eu Yan Sang’s brand image, the proposition, retail stores, customer experience, product packaging over three countries, Hong Kong, Singapore, & Malaysia.

At the time there was no brand consistency. There were six different logos in use across Eu Yan Sang in the three countries and also there was no differentiation between what was a logo, a sign, product trade marking and copyright on product.

There were many variables and misuse of Eu Yan Sang brand image which created confusion across the market as well as internally within the company. The lack of consistency and standardization added cost specifically in the branding application, copyrighting of Eu Yan Sang product packing.

The lack of brand consistency didn’t also help build Eu Yan Sang brand awareness and created a poor customer perception of the brand.

A brand audit was carried out to establish a market situation assessment of Eu Yan Sang brand image, Its competitors and also the emerging western wellness business.

The brand audit involved analysis, question why ? Challenge the status quo and look ahead to preferred future and seek to innovate Eu Yan Sang using the new brand identity as the catalyst of change.

A full Situation assessment and Strategic development programme was developed from the audit, which generated the new vision, new ideas and recommendations were formulated to establish the new corporate brand identity strategy and associated initiatives for future development.

The brand audit addressed all facets of Eu Yan Sang Business:

• Product & services
• Environments (shops, offices, factories)
• Communication (The brand, packing design, marketing, advertising)
• Behaviour (internal & external)

At the same time the market conditions for Traditional Medicine was going through changes, which were to also have an impact on the Eu Yan Sang future and these were taken in to consideration.

This process left no stone unturned and addressed every conceivable customer touch point of the business to develop the new Eu Yan Sang brand identity.

From this the current Eu Yan Sang Band was created.

The following questions were recently asked to Terry Waterhouse about the attributes of the Eu Yan Sang brand identity.

It's interesting to still see the strong authentic traditional roots of the business big idea and the symbolism of need for regeneration to stimulate new growth over the decades through the tree icon.

Q: What is the definition of each element of the logo?

A: The over all construction of logo represents Ying and Yang as it is split in two colours Burgundy & White.

The Burgundy colour forms the layer of earth, where produce grows and the roots of the brand are embedded. The white back ground is sky, atmosphere that provides the oxygen to life.

The key design element that forms the logo is a symbolic Chinese tree which stands for:

• Longevity
• Steadfastness
• Endurance
• Longevity

The tree is is also split in to two design elements:

The Roots of the depicted heritage and tradition of Traditional Chinese Medicine Philosophy that dates back 5000 years and also the 140 years history of growth of Eu Yan Sang’s brand

The upper portion of the tree trunk is symbolic of the future regeneration and growth of the Eu Yan Sang brand. Where growth and new ideas will blossom for the future.

The over all all styling of the tree is oriental and characteristic of Asia & Chinese.

The logo lock up is also cross cultural using traditional Chinese calligraphy and English typography.

Q: What was the brief given to you?

A: As stated above the overall brief was to rejuvenate and reposition Eu Yan Sang as a market leader in Chinese Medicine, rebrand for its 120 year birthday and position the brand in to the new Millennium (2000).

Q: How did you come up with this logo idea?

A: From the audit, analysis and creative process outlined above. It is important to note that we had a multi-disciplinary as well as multi-culture team working on this project.

That developed the strategy and thinking behind the direction of the new design of the brand through to the implementation process across all brand touch points.

Q: Was there any interesting thing that happened during the process of creating the logo?

Work on this was huge learning for the team to learn about the Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy, The history of Eu Yan Sang and gain insight to all the ingredients and the benefits of the products that Eu Yan Sang retailed. I personally sampled many of the products during the audit and remember not being able to sleep due the amount of Ginseng Tea I drink in the stores.

A: Also part of my research took me to a Traditional Chinese Medicine University in Guilin where I was plugged in the electrical mains circuit to demonstrate the Mandarin system and energy flowed around the body.

This was a fascinating project and certainly opened all our eyes to traditional Chinese Medicine highlighting to the team the strength and power of a believe system.

Also we could see the huge potential where Asian Wisdom and Western technology could be incorporated to make the product more accessible, customer friendly and accessible.

Q: Having designed the logo 20 years ago and seeing it now, what do you feel about creating this logo for Eu Yan Sang? Would you change anything?

A: The logo has stood the test of time and is time less.

Whilst the brand has developed & implemented many initiatives over the past twenty years, which has been welled received and recognized the brands weakest execution is in retail store network.

The Eu Yan Sang retail network is the brand s biggest foot print and public billboard for the brand and to my mind this is where the brand need to invest its future in.

The future of the Eu Snag Sang brand needs to appeal to a younger demographic and create a new customer experience that will integrate the Physical,Human and Digital experience (P.H.D).

What did you want customers to think and feel when experiencing the logo? What were your thoughts then?

We wanted to symbolise change to the market and the customers, build brand awareness, establish a device that could be consistently applied to all aspects of Eu Yan Sang Brand applications, convey quality, integrity and promote a more contemporary visual image.

Any quotes you would want to share for Eu Yan Sang’s 140^th anniversary?

When we think of today’s most innovative companies, we often list those that are less than a decade old, based in Silicon Valley and have recently gone public.

Arguably more impressive, however, are the companies that have been around for not just 10 years, but 10-plus decades. That is, before the internet, let alone television, air travel, the Great Depression and the end of the first World War.

You Eu Yan Sang Has managed to survive through the years. Through striving to maintain relevance and innovate an industry that is dates back 5000 years.

The brand holds it's ground with many brands that have managed to sustain their brand and business for more 100 years.

To remain relevant over the next 60 years to the market landscape will be it's most challenged ever in its history.

"Those who look at the past and present are sure to miss the the future”. J.F. Kennedy

Change is now the new normal in every business sector today

We live in a world of fast change and information overload. The tectonic plates of the retail world are constantly shifting with new geographies, new strategies, new ideas, new products, new technologies, and new customer experiences.

But the fundamental fulcrum of manufacturing, distribution and consumption will always be retail whether through the physical retail store or the digital platform.

Eu Yan San now need to focus their attention on building its brand and community of customers through developing a new intimate relationship with its customer base both old and young, Asian and Western to establish a new life style centred around the philosophy of Chinese Medicine and transforming the customers perception from the old perception of traditional Chinese Medicine to new modern day life style and culture through the Physical, Human and Digital elements of its business.

The symbolism of the Eu Yang Sang logo has never been more relevant at that this time and hopefully the Eu Yan Sang brand will continue to grow, regenerate, and flourish for years to come.

Here are a list of centenarian.companies that Eu Yang Sang share a similar age:

List of companies that are over 100 years old.

Hamelys Toy shop (Founded :1760 (260 years old)

General Electric | Founded: 1892 (127 years old)

Coca-Cola | Incorporated in 1892 (127 years old)

The J.M. Smucker Company | Founded: 1897 (122 years old)

Target | Founded: 1902 (117 years old)

JCPenney | Founded: 1902 (115 years old)

UPS | Founded: 1907 (112 years old)

Boeing | Founded: 1916 (103 years old)

Nikon | 1917 (102 years old)

Shell Oil 1907b (112 years old)

Surplus is your one-stop-shop for fashion finds and branded items at affordable prices in the Philippines and we are proud to have been involved with this exciting project which is due to open in late July 2019!

Store Front Update with new Fascia and Signage:

POS Zone with Impulse Purchase Slots

Central Merchandising Zone

Birds Eye View of the Store

We asked Ian F. Wade, former Managing Director of A.S.Watson group from 1982 to 2006, what would be his top tips to retail leaders today.

Ian’s retail achievements across Asia, Europe, and the USA are well recorded.

These include becoming the world’s largest Health and Beauty retailer, as well as buying a larger share of Priceline now (Booking.com) for 2 dollars a share and driving it to be number 1 in the world for internet travel.

1: As a leader don’t hide from the problems, they will get worse.

2: Are your management team able to adapt to today's trading and market conditions?

3: On-Line effectiveness, can you cope with the digital transformation age?

4: Sales verses Margin, the essential question.

5: Does your Store design & planning have the "WOW factor" to stimulate interest, attraction and create a memorable experience for the customers?

6: Is your product range stale or still relevant?

7: Is your purchasing and marketing team alert and reviewing price points?

8: Is your store frontage compelling? Reminder, its the biggest advertisement for your brand.

9: Are you aware of each customer in the store? They are precious.

10: Just a reminder, Please don’t ignore your problem areas!

Ian was responsible for the fastest growing international business in the world, a visionary strategic leader with unique experience of retail development, acquisition, organic growth, profitable investment, brand re-invention, development and developing markets. An in depth knowledge of running for profit and growth of a diverse portfolio of businesses, including a supermarket / hypermarket chain, the largest health and beauty store chain in the world, a unique luxury perfume and cosmetic chain spanning 15 countries, multi-format airport retailing, beverage manufacturing business, a wine chain and Hong Kong’s most prestigious electrical brand.

An entrepreneur who has contributed to almost half of the turnover of one of the world’s largest conglomerates, by growing their retail business from 16 to 7,700 stores. A.S.Watson now has 15,000 stores.

Launched ground breaking hypermarkets in China and Hong Kong of up to 20,000 sqm. Developed the new innovate retail format stores including establishing the wine market in Hong Kong through developing Watson Wine.

Being a Senior Executive of a Chinese, worldwide multi-category Group, frequently involved in property development across many Asian countries, particularly in China. Ian was also responsible for the Group’s hotel division and he was accountable for its P and L.

Expanding the business from Asian player to a more balanced Asia / European retailer with a mix of developing markets and cash generating established operations. Built a fantastic international team who developed unique skills of market entry and development.

In these challenging times, if you are unsure of the way forward let Ian Know.

Ian now shares his knowledge and expertise to help build a mind set for transnational leadership with retailers.

Unlike virtually all consultancies we can execute, not just not just talk about it.

Contact us for more information:

Email: info@waterhousewade.com

Phone: +852 9040 8251

STAYING ALIVE

For nearly all animals, speed is the critical factor in Survival. A few seconds can spell the difference between avoiding a predator or meeting death.

Do retailers today posses instincts that are finally calibrated to circumstances that threatens their existence?

Complacencies, procrastination, lack of intuition, conservatism, inflexibility commitment, agility and speed to market is killing retail and retailers today.

What are you doing to keep your predictors at bay and survive in today’s complex and competitive market.

We believe in making life easier, adding value and helping our clients stay a head of the change curve.

Contact us for creative strategies and new intuitive big ideas.

CURIOSITY

Don’t think about why you question, simply don’t stop questioning. Don’t worry about what you can’t answer, and don’t try to explain what you can’t know.

Curiosity is its own reason.

"One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day"

- Albert Einstein

We are curious and always ask why and why not?

Are you curious to find out more?

Contact us: http://www.waterhousewade.com/

Museum Context is the retailer of officially licensed Harry Potter merchandise and much more. There success story spans from Europe to Asia with multiple stores in Hong Kong and plans of expansion in Asia, this is a true success story of Andrew McRae, a chartered architect from Scotland.

Waterhouse Wade Founder and Director, Terry Waterhouse was instrumental in the success of Museum Context from the very early stage of the opening of its first store in Hong Kong. Below is an article published on The Scotsman, Scotland's National Newspaper on Saturday 08 December 2018:

It was a cold, wintry day in January 2011 and Andrew McRae was behind the counter of his heritage-themed and Harry Potter curios shop in Cockburn Street in Edinburgh’s Old Town when a “distinctive looking gentleman” walked in and began examining the items very closely.

“He started asking questions about my plans for the future. I said my wife Alice and myself had a dream of opening shops all over the UK. He then gave me his business card, said ‘thank you’ and before he left said we should go out and open a business in Hong Kong.”

McRae, a chartered architect who specialised in conservation projects including the Signet Library in the Royal Mile before branching out in to retail, took a leap of faith and emailed Hong Kong based designer Terry Waterhouse – the customer in the shop – a business plan, and got a positive reply within 48 hours saying the idea was a “goer”.

McRae who started with a pop-up shop in the former colony, now has three shops in Hong Kong’s busiest shopping districts at Taikoo Shing and Harbour City and Causeway Bay as well as a pop up store at the Hong Kong International Airport and plans to expand into China and Asia.

“I went to Hong Kong in April 2011. I couldn’t move quickly enough to get into this.”

“Hong Kong has a very strong ‘gift culture’. With many people having small flats they’re looking for unusual, hand-sourced good with a real story showcasing our history and culture.

“It’s not just the high-tech sector which does well overseas. Scottish businesses can have an international footprint if we get our pioneering spirit back.”

McRae has four shops in Edinburgh – his flagship Modern Context store in Victoria Street, famed as the birthplace of JK Rowling’s Diagon Alley where wizarding students buy supplies, his Cockburn Street store and also two John Kay’s Shops, (named after the 18th century caricaturist and engraver) in Victoria Street and in the Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile.

He sources much stock for Edinburgh and Hong Kong from Scottish artisans, ranging from Hogwart’s jumpers and scarves from Lochaven knitwear in Stewarton, in Ayrshire, who dressed the stars of the Harry Potter Hollywood movies; Isle of Skye Candle Company products and artwork by Iain Mackintosh, illustrator for author Alexander McCall Smith’s novels.