Wilcon Depot: from humble beginnings to 40 years of being a household name in homebuilding supplies
FOR FOUR DECADES , Wilcon Depot has established itself as a trusted name in the retail construction industry, supplying high-grade materials and excellent services to it s customers. A pioneer in the industry, the company was founded in 1977 and started from humble beginnings as a small hardware store.
Driven by its commitment to help Filipinos find and build big ideas for their homes, Wilcon Depot has significantly grown, offering a wide range of merchandise such as tiles, sanitary wares, appliances, plumbing, hardware, tools and other DIY items such as elect r ical , bui lding materials, automotive, doors and mouldings, hardware, outdoor living, and paints and sundries.
As it celebrates its 40th anniversary, Wilcon Depot looks back at the company’s steady rise in the industry and how, in spite of growing competition, it has remained a favored brand to many.
Created with the vision of helping people build, improve and refine their homes for a sustainable and comfortable life, Wilcon Depot consistently strives to fulfill its vision and attributes its success to its endless pursuit of improving product choices and services. “Another important factor to our success is our strong partnership with industry partners and suppliers — it is through their constant support and trust that we are able to sustain our status in the industry,” shares Wilcon Depot COO Rosemarie Ong.
The best brands under one roof
Unfazed by the ever- changing demands of the market, Wilcon Depot welcomes brands to its roster of home products that speak innovation, functionality and excellence.
The company prides itself for being chosen as the sole distributor of world- trusted and renowned products such as Grohe, Franke Kitchen Systems and Kohler Kitchens.
Aside from these, Wilcon is the home of Italy’s Natuzzi Editions, premiere tile brands Grespania, Rocersa, Gardenia Orchidea and Novabell, and sole distributor of Philips Consumer Lu mina ire products. These, coupled with other local and international brands, make Wilcon Depot a construction and building supplies haven for everyone.
Wilcon also has its own house brands such as Pozzi, Heim, and Ariston, among others, that hold encompassing product selections for various needs.
Aside from bringing customers the best international and local brands for their building supplies, Wilcon also makes sure to make their stores more accessible, targeting key cities nationwide to set up shop. “We are targeting to open eight branches this year. Wilcon Butuan would be the first and is launching today. We choose key cities and provinces to open our stores, those which show great potential for business and high demand for homebuilding materials,” expounds Ong on how they choose the locations where they put up their stores.
From its first branch in Quezon Avenue, which was built in 1977, Wilcon Depot now has 38 branches with the biggest branch being Wilcon Balintawak.
IPO listing
Aside from expansion plans, Wilcon is also delighted to announce its IPO listing this year, “The upcoming IPO will support us in our expansion plan. We decided to list in the capital market because for one, we have 40 years of experience and we want to grow our business further and faster, and four decades of providing the needs of the Filipino people in their homebuilding, renovation and refurbishing requirements is no easy feat. We want to sustain the legacy of the brand. There are windows of opportunities in the construction sector being one of the growth drivers of our economy and Wilcon, which is part of the home improvement and retail construction industry is a viable business to invest in.” says Ong.
Constantly evolving, adapting to clients’ needs
Wil con believe sin the importance of giving customers the satisfaction they deserve whenever they are inside the store, which is why it continues to put its efforts into making their shopping experience unforgettable and worth their time. The company is known as a haven that offers the most extensive selection of strong and trusted local and imported brands in the market. Each store provides easy and convenient shopping through its organized and clutter-free environment inside the store, air- conditioned shops and dependable delivery services, to name a few. Wilcon is also the first to introduce the Design Hub, a service that allows customers to create their own design through a computer software, with cost estimates and product lists made available inside the store.
More than great products
Wilcon is also a reliable venue for learning and seminars, both for students and industry professionals. Armed with trained and knowledgeable personnel, Wilcon has its own training facility where they can learn important product information and have an actual experience using the merchandise it offers. Further, with its green advocacy, Wilcon has been the home of Green AP’s Monthly Seminar, a group that pushes Sustainable Architecture in the country.
For the past 40 years, Wilcon has remained committed to helping customers nourish and materialize ideas for their homes. And with the ever-changing demand in the market, the company continues to stay up-to-date by attending trade fairs and seminars, to search for innovative products and services as part of the company’s growth and help improve the lives of Filipinos.