Anko in Asia: Australian Retailer Opens Store in the Philippines

Australian lifestyle brand, Anko, has picked the Philippine business district to house its first physical store in Asia. 

The new flagship store in Glorietta 2 mall, Makati City, aims to capture a significant share of the Metro Manila market—a region with a population exceeding half of its home base, Australia—according to Rachel Turner, country manager of Anko Philippines.

Opening on November 7, 2024, the new 1,200-square-meter store will offer thousands of products related to homewares, kitchenware, beauty, crafting, and pet care, among others. 

While Anko products have previously been available online, the new store provides an immersive shopping experience that allows customers to directly interact with the brand, said Turner.

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Anko's expansion into the Philippine market however presents a unique challenge. Unlike established retailers with strong brand identities, Anko is relatively unknown to Filipino consumers. While it enjoys a loyal following in Australia, the brand faces the task of introducing itself to a new audience. Despite this, Anko remains optimistic about its prospects in the Philippines.

“Why not the Philippines? It’s a huge market, obviously. People respond well to our products, and the culture is similar to home. It is focused on family,” Turner told Esquire Philippines in a product preview.

“It’s a really good opportunity to see there’s a hundred million people in the Philippines, and in our home market of 30 million people, we sell over a billion units of products, so there’s a lot more opportunity,” she added. 

What to expect in Anko flagship store

In its new store, shoppers may pick from a selection of home essentials, from scented candles to plates, to organic Australian cotton bed sheets. It also offers seasonal decor, personal care items, and pet essentials.

Anko is making its entrance into the Philippine market following the launch of similar lifestyle brands such as Japan’s Nitori, which opened its first store in Q2 of 2024. In 2023, Flying Tiger also sought Filipino clients with its unique blend of quirky and functional products, catering to a youthful demographic eager for vibrant and whimsical home goods. 

We dare say the sequential arrival of these brands reflects a burgeoning appetite for contemporary home goods among Filipino consumers, signaling a promising future for the retail landscape in the country.