Wilcon Depot is poised to enter its 45th year very strongly this 2022. During a press briefing held after its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on June 20, the country’s No. 1 home improvement and construction supplies retailer reiterated its position to focus on strategic growth plans to fulfill its mission.
“This is anchored on our confidence in our market’s resiliency and that their [consumers] desire to build, improve, and refine their homes for a sustainable and comfortable life remains unchanged,” said Wilcon Depot Founder and Chairman Emeritus William Belo.
Wilcon Depot has retained its strong performance as a retailer through its resilient strategies amid the ongoing pandemic. The company has never laid off or furloughed employees even during the two-month closure of its stores due to pandemic lockdowns in the first half of 2020. It has also exhibited resilience through adopting ‘new normal’ retail practices—practicing health safety and physical distancing inside stores and at the same time strengthening its online retail operations.
The company was also among the first local firms to order vaccines, and provided those for free to its employees, with equal quantities donated to the national government.
Most of all, Wilcon Depot has never faltered on its goal to continuously expand its network of stores nationwide. The company is confident it would reach its target of operating 100 stores by the end of 2025. Wilcon Depot was operating 63 stores by end of 2020 and 73 by end of 2021.
“It’s only 2022, so I think we are on track given the pace we have,” said Wilcon Depot President Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, who also disclosed that the retailer is aiming to operate 81 stores by the end of this year. “Hopefully, there will be no more surges or restrictions. It’s going to be quite timely for the 100-store target.”
Belo-Cincochan also reiterated the company’s expansion of its product mix, being a customer-driven and customer-focused retailer. Different product mix strategies are now in place across Wilcon Depot’s categories.
“The outlook remains positive given that we had the elections in May. The trend still continues as far as the construction sector is concerned. It’s alive and active now,” said Wilcon Depot Chief Operating Officer Rosemarie Ong.
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