Customer behavior is changing rapidly over the course of time. That is why businesses need to keep improving and remain relevant to people's lives in order to keep customers and encourage new ones to love their brand.

Technology and different environmental changes have been playing a key role in changing customer behavior.

In the past it would be natural for people to wait days, weeks, or even months to receive an item they ordered through phone or even online. However, with improved technology and logistics, customers are now looking into fast ways to get what they want, when they want.

"The very obvious and increasing demand for personalized customer shopping experience has urged us to adopt and embed technology, and of course digitalization in transforming and enhancing our shopping supports or services both in the physical and online store. We are talking about virtual reality technology, it has become very popular especially in retail in order to improve customer engagement and transform how customers can do their shopping," shares Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP-COO for Wilcon Depot.

Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Interactive shopping right at home

Due to health restrictions and customer's high demand for fast and yet personalized shopping, Wilcon Depot, one of the country's leading home improvement and construction retail stores, has come up with a way to allow customers to interact with the products virtually.

An interactive 360 degrees virtual experiential tour inside their flagship store in Balintawak, Quezon City was launched during the time when people were restricted from going out due to health and safety reasons.

The one-of-a-kind virtual reality shopping experience lets customers discover the product collections that are available at the store - making it convenient and easy for customers to look around and feel as if they are teleported inside the store.

For their loyal customers, the virtual reality store is a 'new and revolutionary shopping experience' as it lets you see everything as if you were physically inside the store.

Growing everyday for Filipinos

Wilcon Depot continues to expand both physical and online. "We are very thrilled to tap new markets and serve more communities and help more and more Filipinos fulfill their dreams because we acknowledge that our responsibility is to just go beyond retailing," shares Bosch-Ong.

Today the home improvement and construction retail chain has a total of 84 stores across the country, 18 of which are in Metro Manila and 66 stores in key cities and municipalities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Some of the Wilcon Depot retail stores nationwide. Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Some of the Wilcon Depot retail stores nationwide. Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Some of the Wilcon Depot retail stores nationwide. Photo source: Wilcon Depot

Moreover, it plans to open at least 8 to 10 more stores this 2023, remaining on track to fulfill their five-year store expansion campaign #Flyhighto100, wherein the retail chain aims to have 100 stores operating nationwide by 2025 while still considering external factors that may affect their goal.

"You know having 84 stores now means we are only 16 stores away from fulfilling our plan and we are quite happy with this trajectory, so this year we are planning to open this year in key cities and provinces all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao," explains Bosch-Ong.

The most recent store opening will be in Parañaque by March, and also Rosario, Batangas. Wilcon Depot also plans to open stores in Bulacan, Cavite, Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, among others.

In 2022, Wilcon Depot also celebrated its 45th Founding Anniversary. A business founded in 1977 by their Chairman Emeritus William T. Belo, from a 16 sqm hardware store to one of the country's leading home improvement and construction supply retailers.

For Wilcon Depot, reaching 45 years in the business is a testament to the company's success and commitment to helping every Filipino build, improve, and refine their homes for a sustainable and comfortable life.

During their anniversary celebration all their stakeholders and employees gathered as Wilcon Depot recognized their loyalty and hard work. For the company, everyone played a significant role in building and keeping the business alive throughout any challenges and circumstances which put them where they are today.

"Wilcon never stops, we will continue to raise the bar in retail home shopping and we will continue to put our customers at the center of our operations and initiatives. So, expect more exciting things ahead for Wilcon," shares Bosch-Ong.

Personalized exciting and innovative shopping experiences to customers

The home improvement and construction retail chain believes in investing in personalizing and customizing in store experiences and online shopping platforms to make an impact on customer satisfaction and retention.

"So, one of our campaigns launched in 2022 is 'Better Spaces for Better Lives'. This campaign really highlights creating better home spaces that can make Filipino families lives easier and more comfortable with high quality products offered," according to Bosch-Ong.

Wilcon Depot's way of helping Filipinos is by helping individuals and families make the most of their home living spaces, whether they are staying in a small condo, or whether they are living in a spacious home, Wilcon Depot desires to be part of every Filipino family's home, business, and leisure spaces.

Offering a wide range of products such as: tiles, sanitarywares, plumbing, furniture, home interior, building materials, hardware, electrical, appliances, and other DIY items. Customers may also discover various exclusive brands and in-house brands, and products from local producers and from different parts of the world.

Continuously evolving while pursuing sustainability

Wilcon Depot aims to continuously evolve with the changing times.

"We cannot just stay in the status quo just because it is comfortable for us. We have to evolve, we have to transform, so that we can adapt. Things are changing very fast especially with technology and even the consumer's preferences and behavior change so we need to adapt, we need to be in tune with the times so that we will always be a step ahead," shares Bosch-Ong.

This year, Wilcon Depot also focuses on sustainability initiatives, putting a spotlight on involving all stakeholders, especially their employees in their green and sustainable practices in order to continue being a mover in the home improvement and construction retail industry.

One of the first steps in their initiative is putting in solar panels in almost all of their stores to help reduce their stores' carbon footprint.

"We hope to continue to be an inspiration to every Filipino and a trailblazer for this movement, not just because it is popular, but it is really something that is close to our hearts and our mission as an organization," shares Bosch-Ong.

For more information about Wilcon Depot, visit its website or follow its social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe and connect on Viber Community, LinkedIn, and YouTube Channel.