TAIWAN-BASED Johnson Health Technologies Co. Ltd. (JHT), the third-largest manufacturer of health equipment in the world, said on Wednesday it will open a Philippine subsidiary next month as part of its expansion program in Southeast Asia.
“We’ve been planning to enter the Philippine market since 2014. We have organized a project team to study the possibility and they found out it had good potential,” Johnson Heath Tech Regional Sales Manager Katsuya Ito said in an interview at the sidelines of the Taiwan Excellence organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council held in Makati City.
The Philippines is the fourth country in Southeast Asia where Johnson has a presence. It has presence in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
Ito said JHT will offer products for the entry level, middle and high-end markets. The Matrix line will be sold to the high-end while Vision and Horizon are going to be offered for the middle and entry segments respectively.
JHT is scheduled to open its office in August this year at the Bonifacio Global City.
It said Johnson will also offer products to the middle and affordable markets. Horizon is the product for high-end, while Vision and Matrix are going to be offered for middle and entry levels, respectively.
For a start, Ito said Johnson plans to open five stores in Metro Manila and later to growing urban areas outside Metro Manila, such as Cebu and Davao.
“We will conduct a training program for our staff so they can be familiar with our products” Ito said.
Ito said the country’s economic growth is going to be a big factor in the growth of JHT products.
“With the construction boom going around, there will be a great demand for health products from condominiums, hotels and villages,” Ito said.
He said JHT is committed to the Philippine market as it plans to spend $250,000 up to $2 million for their operations. “We are definitely here for the long term,” Ito said.
Established in 1975, JHT has specialized in the design, production and marketing of award-winning fitness equipment. It has grown tremendously in the ever-evolving fitness market.
JHT products have been sold across 60 countries and are marketed to the commercial, specialty and home-use markets. It includes eight different fitness brands present in all major sales channels and markets.