Shopping and Local Retail Industry

[Linguine]

Rustan’s reopens supermarket

AMID THE STIFF competition from big-box merchants, and other grocery chains, Rustan’s Supermarket group is counting on its distinct brand of service to remain the top-choice among shoppers.


THE NEWLY reopened Rustan’s Supermarket at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall boasts of brightly lit shopping aisles to attract more customers.

Guided by this principle, Rustan’s recently reopened its supermarket branch at the basement of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong.

The supermarket was razed by fire earlier this year. From the ashes of that unfortunate incident, Rustan’s Supermarket rises once again sporting a fresh, streamlined and more modern look.

With its brightly lit atmosphere, Rustan’s is bringing back its famed range of imported and local products to the discerning shoppers in the area.

As a treat to shoppers, Rustan’s Supermarket has implemented promos to celebrate its reopening. The supermarket is also giving discounts on select meat, poultry and seafood products.

Delightful discounts await those who frequent the produce section via good deals on red onions, Flames seedless grapes and even a nifty buy-two-take-one deal on Ponkan oranges.

Checkout amazing savings on bakery, dairy and frozen deli items, including buy-one-take-one promos on products such as Haagen-Dazs Favorite Selection Minicup Multipack, and cranberry orange nut loaf.

For people on the go, enjoy special discounts on Rustan’s meals to go (including Chicken Galantina with Rice, Baked Macaroni and Lumpiang Shanghai with Rice) and Gourmet-to-Go sandwiches like Ham and Brie, Roast Beef and Italian Tuna.

Aside from the branch in Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Rustan’s Supermarkets are located in Rockwell Power Plant Mall; The Gateway Mall in Araneta Center along Katipunan Road, Quezon City; in San Antonio Plaza Arcade, Forbes Park, Makati; Greenbelt, Makati; Paseo de Magallanes, along South Superhighway; Corinthian Hills; Ayala Center, Cebu; Arcenas Estates, Banawa, Cebu; and Il Terrazzo Mall, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. -- Jeffrey O. Valisno


http://www.bworldonline.com/weekende...t.php?id=21025

[Linguine]

The Negros Showroom
By Cecile Jusi-Baltasar
November 21, 2010, 3:06pm

There is much to like in Bacolod City, the booming capital of Negros Occidental. At the top of the list are the delicious food and a vibrant art scene (director Peque Gallaga, painter Charlie Co, and actor Joel Torre are true-blue Negrenses). Coming a close second is Negrense craftsmanship. This skill to create something beautiful out of indigenous products is showcased in the Negros Showroom, efficiently and artfully run by the 24-year-old Association of Negros Producers (ANP).

The Showroom, which is, according to the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions, the top trade house in the Philippines, sits in an unassuming two-storey building right across the Capitol Building and an artificial lagoon on busy Lacson Street. Entering the Showroom, one is welcomed by a shiny burst of color from laughing masks of Bacolod’s famous annual Masskara festival. Everywhere else one looks, there are exquisitely made handicrafts, such as ceramic wind chimes, jewelry, photo frames, souvenir T-shirts, embroidered children’s clothes. Also, shelves and shelves of signature Negrense sweets for pasalubong. Upstairs are the furnishings, the Showroom’s bestsellers both in the Philippines and abroad.

All these products are made by the laid-back and artistic Negrense.

Backyard Businesses

The ANP currently has 92 active members, made up of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), corporations, and foundations. All these members have their products consigned to and displayed in ANP’s Negros Showroom. The products are divided into four categories: furniture and furnishings, food, fashion, and gifts and houseware.

“We have an advocacy to help Negrense entrepreneurs,” says Kathleen Trebol, operations manager of the ANP. “Our profits go back to our SME members to assist them in any way we can.” Membership into the ANP has many benefits: quick and low-interest financial loans, assistance in DTI and DOST registrations, exposure in local and Tinternational markets, help in product development and quality control.

This is why an ANP membership is highly sought by Negros producers. To become a member, the entrepreneur has to be, of course, Negrense. Also, the manufacture of products (from materials that have to be sourced in Negros) has to be done in Negros. ANP tries marketing applicants’ products for three months, after which a product evaluation takes place, which makes or breaks the application process.

Successful applicants aren’t always big-shot entrepreneurs. Small businesses, whose production takes place in the owner’s kitchen or garage, are always welcome to apply for ANP membership. In fact, says Trebol, “we help our members grow from being just backyard businesses to becoming confident and experienced entrepreneurs and even exporters.”

To accomplish this, ANP members are consistently exposed to trade fairs, both local and international. Also, ANP facilitates hook-ups between its members and international buyers (or even just buyers from Manila). Presently, the Negros Showroom, which doesn’t have any branches, supplies products to high-end Manila-based stores such as Kultura Filipino, Balikbayan Handicrafts, Tesoro’s and Rustan’s. The Showroom’s jewelry selection has found a home in Firma, in Greenbelt, and has secured an invitation to display from the Ayala Museum.

Overseas, Trebol says the ANP’s top customers are the Middle East (which orders the most furnishings), the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia.

Although currently the export market is down due to the world economic crises, the local market is up, with furniture as the bestsellers.

Rising from Poverty

The ANP’s history is actually about how a group of women raised the rest of Negros up from hunger. Negros, a monocrop industry, suffered a huge drop in economy in the 1980s when world sugar prices plummeted. In reaction, the government grabbed control of sugar trading, crippling sugar workers all across Negros. Eighty-four percent of Negros then lived below the poverty line, 60 percent of its children became malnourished, over 150,000 workers were displaced.

In an effort to get up from this huge stumble, 15 Negrense women began sharing their craftsmanship and entrepreneurial know-how with the wives of the unemployed farm workers. The House of Negros Foundation was thus born: a non-stock, non-profit, non-political organization made up of entrepreneurs, professionals and housewives with the sole objective of creating jobs. Later on, the organization took on the name Association of Negros Producers.

In time, this organization would mold little-town budding craftsmen into global entrepreneurs. And rightly so.

The Negros Showroom is at Lourdes C Building, 9th Lacson St., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Tel. nos: (034) 434-1000 and (034) 433-8833. E-mail: info@anp-philippines.com.


http://www.mb.com.ph/node/288758/the-negro

[Linguine]

Retailers reminded on gift certificate validity

RETAILERS were reminded in the run-up to Christmas to comply with the new gift certificate regulation that requires vouchers to remain valid for at least two years.

The Trade department order issued back in June remains in force, despite earlier announcements of a review following protests from store owners, Trade Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya said last week.

So far, a retailers’ group has reportedly promised to abide by the new rule, as did an association of supermarkets.

"The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) said they have no problem with complying anymore, given the transitory provision," Ms. Maglaya said in an interview late last week.

This provision in department order 10-04 requires all gift certificates issued after July 15 to bear "an expiry of two years."

After that, "holders of unused gift certificates shall be...entitled to replacement after revalidation by suppliers."

The rule eases into the stricter policy that prohibits firms from imposing expiry dates on all gift certificates issued by 2012.

"We thought they’d ask for an amendment, but the last we heard from them, they said they’re doing well," Ms. Maglaya said of her meeting with the PRA last month.

PRA officials could not be immediately reached to confirm this.

Earlier, the group had complained that the order violated private parties’ right to freedom of contract.

The PRA had also said expiry dates were needed to minimize the credit risk associated with the delayed use of the certificate and the incidence of fraud.

A supermarket group, meanwhile, said compliance among its members should be easy, since their gift certificates are usually liquidated before the expiry date.

"Shoppers use supermarket gift certificates for prime and basic commodities, the consumption of which is immediate," Philippine Association of Supermarkets, Inc. Carlos V. Cabochan said in a telephone interview yesterday.

"An expiration date for supermarket gift certificates is not much of an industry concern," Mr. Cabochan said. -- Jessica Anne D. Hermosa
|


http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=22054

[Linguine]

Supermarkets grow at low single-digits

Thursday, 02 December 2010 00:00

By Ben Arnold O. De Vera, Reporter

Supermarket associations on Wednesday reported sales growing in the low single-digits so far this year.
Steven Cua, Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. (Pagasa) president, told reporters that supermarkets and groceries expect sales to be better this Christmas season than last year.
“As consumers’ confidence levels go up, spending would increase,” Cua said.

The official said Pagasa members, which are mostly small-and medium-sized supermarkets and groceries, have seen their sales rise between 3 percent and 5 percent so far this year from 2009 levels.

Cua also said the increase in the branches of supermarkets like Savemore and Puregold contributed to the higher sales.
Federico Ples, Philippine Association of Supermarkets Inc. secretary general, said Christmas shoppers have yet to come in droves.

“We expect shoppers to flock starting December 15,” said Ples, whose association brings together big supermarket chains.
Cua said that goodies for the Noche Buena feast are usually bought 10 days before Christmas day.

But Ples said consumers should shop earlier than usual to have more time to scour for cheaper products, as well as avoid the crowds.


http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php...-single-digits

[Linguine]

Public urged to buy Pinoy products this holiday season
By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated December 07, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (6) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - A female lawmaker urged the public yesterday to buy Philippine-made products this holiday season to spur the local economy and promote love of country.

Democratic Independent Workers’ Association party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay said the Christmas and New Year spending could be more meaningful if locally made products are purchased as it would immediately benefit fellow Filipinos.

She said buying local products would also save on foreign exchange that is used to purchase imports.

She also cautioned the public against buying substandard products during the holidays, especially imported toys that may contain harmful chemicals.

Aglipay urged the Department of Trade and Industry to intensify programs that promote the purchase of Filipino products.

Meanwhile, Ako Bicol party-list representatives called on Filipinos to purchase gifts that are environment-friendly.

“Buying indigenous-inspired gifts will contribute to our economy by saving dollar reserves, enhancing livelihood opportunities in the countryside and boosting micro-entrepreneurs and cottage industries. Remarkably, this will also play a role in protecting our environment,” Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe said.

[Linguine]

Benny Tantoco, father of luxury retail
Saturday, 08 January 2011 17:07 Samito Jalbuena



Just before 2010 came to a close, former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Bienvenido R. Tantoco was honored by President Benigno C. Aquino III and the Philippine Retailers’ Association (PRA) with the title “Father of Luxury Retailing” for his unswerving efforts to forever upgrade the landscape of taste and style in the country.

As patriarch of the Rustan’s Group of Co. and chairman of Rustan Commercial Corp. (RCC), Mr. Tantoco sits at the head of the table of luxe retailers who have influenced not only an entire people’s lifestyle, but how branded objects and services are perceived, marketed and enjoyed to the utmost. The President concurred.

President Aquino lauded Tantoco who, with his late wife, the former Gliceria Rustia, has pushed open the portals of good taste to include “beauty, quality and sophistication” as a vernacular, attainable by any citizen on the street. Starting with the first Rustan’s Department Store on the thoroughfare called San Marcelino in Manila almost three scores ago, Tantoco influenced the transformation of the nation’s retail trade from the Escolta of pre-war luxury stores like Aguinaldo’s, La Estrella del Norte and Oceanic, to the nation-building lifestyle industry that is Rustan’s today.

Mr. Aquino then asked from Tantoco, in jest and almost to tickle the audience, a “discount,” to the laughter of hundreds of guests at the PRA’s 14th annual search for outstanding Filipino retailers, held at the grand ballroom of Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila in Ortigas Center.



The joys of shopping

Said PRA president and Golden ABC CEO Bernie Liu: “The man we pay tribute to has been instrumental in shaping the country’s taste and style. He, together with his wife, would travel the world and [procure] the best of what it has to offer, and present these to the country’s lifestyle icons and the rest of us Filipinos who appreciate beauty and sophistication.” Liu noted that through the couple’s pioneering efforts, the country has come to know luxury retailing.

In a speech, Tantoco, through his son and RCC director Bienvenido “Rico” R. Tantoco Jr., responded: “It’s a great honor to be among a gathering of the best and the brightest in Philippine retailing. As I go through my life’s work, I count this as one of the most gratifying tributes I have been given. This was due in large part through the efforts of the ‘mother of Philippine luxury retailing,’ my beloved wife Gliceria Rustia Tantoco. I mention this because [she] epitomizes the Filipino as world-class.”

Tantoco met the former Gliceria Rustia back when Manila was suffering a dearth of high-quality merchandise. When they first traveled around the world, the Tantocos returned not with gifts for friends and family, but with gift items which were sold in the living room of their home, also on San Marcelino Street.

That business has grown over the decades to include several Rustan’s Department Stores, the Shopwise supermarket chain, and the Marks & Spencer and Starbucks franchises, as well as other companies including Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI), an outfit that has shook the very nature of luxury retail in the country. SSI manages dozens of independent stores that house Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Tod’s, Zara, Gap and Banana Republic, among others.

In his speech, President Aquino jested that “shopping, as my sister has often said, is important to all of us, a very important national pastime. It has made a lot of shoppers happy and economists very happy, as well.” Mr. Aquino’s younger sister is, of course, television celebrity and “shopaholic” Kris Aquino. The President noted that the luxury retail sector enjoyed as much as a 12-percent to 15-percent growth in 2010 on the crest of an unprecedented bull season for the Philippine economy.



The national pastime

THE BusinessMirror was able to talk to Anton Huang, executive vice president of SSI and grandson of Ambassador Tantoco, on the prospects of the recently concluded holiday season. Said Huang: “Our sales projections are definitely higher than last year’s, as we always strive to surpass previous performance.”

Huang noted that local retail is “very optimistic.” He said: “Over the years, we have witnessed the increasing sophistication of a slim, but strong, upper market segment and a growing aspirational middle class. Our customer is now a well-traveled individual who is familiar with trends worldwide, exposed to media, and increasingly becoming more demanding.”

He expected this market segment to enjoy the environment at Rustan’s and SSI stores where measures are “in place to offer the trend-savvy customer personalized service in elegant surroundings, with merchandise that answers every lifestyle need.”



The Rustan’s experience

Indeed, the season’s total lifestyle experience at Rustan’s would not have been complete without a tug at the heartstrings of warmth for kids and parents, too. The appearance of Santa Claus always brings joy and laughter to the kids, fueling their imagination and giving them happy memories at the luxury store. In fact, merely posing with an authentic looking Santa for a photograph is already quite an experience for shoppers, what more if one enjoys the benefits of a Rustan’s personal shopper.

We talked to Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, marketing communications manager of Rustan’s and wife of Ambassador Tantoco’s grandson Paolo, about the value-added service. “A personal shopper is there to assist you with any or all of your shopping needs,” said Dina. “For example, you may go to a personal shopper with a list of people you want to give gifts for a special occasion. A personal shopper chooses items that fit your budget.”

Dina added: “Beyond that, a personal shopper can also chose fashion, home or even cosmetic items for you and your family. Our personal shoppers always go the extra mile to extend the best service possible to our most valued customers. For example, our VIP shoppers may choose to have a variety of items dropped at their residence for later selection.”

Hearing this from Dina, a Tantoco in-law and every bit a part of the family, you know there’s energy surging in the air. Credit that to the senior Tantoco couple whose great taste has spilled onto kin and country.

In Photo: The Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican and patriarch of the Rustans Group of Co., Bienvenido R. Tantoco was recently honored by President Aquino and the Philippine Retailers Association for his pioneering efforts in luxury retail.


http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/hom...-luxury-retail

[helorider14]

I don't know where to post this

Originally Posted by napoleon

Ikea mega-stores coming here soon

THE NATION Published on May 12, 2009


Singapore-based Ikano, which has received the franchise rights for opening Ikea home-furnishing mega-stores, has shown its commitment to invest in Thailand despite the economic and political difficulties.

The company plans to open at least three Ikea outlets in Bangkok in the next 10 years, said managing director Tom Huzell.

Wholly owned by Luxembourg's Ikano Group, the Singaporean subsidiary now has the franchise rights for Ikea stores in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Ikea is one of the world's biggest retail chains for home-furnishing products, with more than 300 stores in 35 countries.

"We see Thailand as a great potential market," Huzell said.

He called Thailand a fantastic supplier country, one that is a strong, skilled production base for home-furnishing products. Ikea purchases Bt5 billion worth of furniture products annually from Thailand as part of its global sourcing strategy. The opening of Ikea stores in Thailand will encourage local suppliers to access Ikea's global market.

Huzell said Singapore was now ranked 12th globally for Ikea in number of visitors, and Malaysia fifth. "We expect Thailand to take a top-ranking position for Ikea, as well."

Huzell said each store would cost ค80 million (Bt3.76 billion) to open, occupy 35,000 square metres of retail space and carry 9,500 products.

The Ikano subsidiary and Siam Future Development yesterday announced a new joint venture called SF Development, which will build a Bt10-billion shopping complex called Mega Bangna, featuring the first Ikea store and expected to create 20,000 jobs.

The first Ikea will be in Mega Bangna, located on Bang Na-Trat Road Km 9, near the Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road.

Huzell said that in accordance with the Foreign Business Act, Ikano would own only 49 per cent of the new joint venture. Siam Future will own another 49 per cent and local furniture-maker SPS Global Trade the rest.

SPS has supplied home-furnishing products to Ikea for more than 20 years.

Siam Future Development CEO Nopporn Witoonchat said the Mega Bangna shopping complex would consist of 400,000 square metres on 290 rai of land. Construction of the mega-complex will start in the third quarter, with opening scheduled for no later than the first quarter of 2011.

The Mega Bangna complex will cost Bt10 billion, consisting of Bt3 billion for the land and the rest for construction. Its catchment area - a radius of 40-50 kilometres of radius from the venue - will cover 14 million people. The complex is expected to attract 40 million shoppers annually.

"Mega Bangna will open by 2011, and we expect it to break even in 10 years," said Nopporn.

Huzell said Ikano now operated two Ikea stores in Singapore and one in Malaysia.

"We are also interested in opening Ikea stores in other potential markets in this region, such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia," he said.

[Ady001]

Carrefour nga di napenetrate ang Pilipinas, eto pa?

But I'm open to open Ikea here.

[blitzmage_89]

^Hindi ba tayo nagtataka bakit, despite our high demand for malls, hindi pa nagoopen ng branches dito ang Carrefour, Takashimaya, Sogo and other foreign malls? =.=

I smell bribes

[xxxriainxxx]

I like IKEA, dirt cheap and functional. I also like Takashimaya, would be a great addition to retail in the Philippines.

[b_two]

i always go to ikea pero di naman ako bumibili. kumakain lang ako sa mga food kiosk pagkatapos ko umikot at mang-usyoso ng napakaraming items.

as for carrefour... i'd rather go to an sm or robinsons supermarket or better yet sa ating mga ever-reliable na pamilihang bayan.

[hakz2007]

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[Bamboo88]

PROJECT WATCH: Ayala Mall will be named Centrio
Posted on February 11, 2011 by damarre
cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com




It’s official and it’s hot from the frying pan….Ayala’s mall development at the heart of Cagayan de Oro will be named CENTRIO.

The tarpaulin was being installed this morning when I happened to pass by. Unfortunately, the large tarp is still blocked by a few vending stalls so I couldn’t take a wider shot. But the thing is that it’s gonna be “CENTRIO – Home of Fashion!” A lifestyle mall indeed.

A perspective of the mall and hotel is also shown in the tarp showing the multi-storey hotel on top of the mall and the glassy facade and a red colored portion of it. Please forgive me for the fruits – anyway, it’s a hot day so melons are just what we need. You can also notice some palm trees on top of the mall…part of the rooftop landscape maybe.























On updates of the construction, vertical construction is now ongoing in one section fronting Graphics. The tower crane is also being prepared. Lots of excavation at the hotel site is observed. Delivery of concrete piles is also in progress. Steel bars and other construction materials are also onsite already.

Browse over the photos for the updates.















Forget Gemini, it was perhaps a just “working draft” for the mall’s name which is now called CENTRIO.

[roudinni]

^ nice one CdeO! Centrio will be iconic part of CM Recto!

[wakeuptoreality]

CEBU......

Originally Posted by sloid

Wow haven't been here in the longest time! So I was shopping for clothes online and this South Korean Brand Mutnam had the shoot for their Summer collection in Cebu and the pictures are really nice.



















www.mutnam.com

[shanebishop]

One problem I can see is that businesses and retailers in the country don't invest in advanced POS software. Problems in inventory management (particularly warranty replacement) are commonplace.

[Bosnyboy]

Originally Posted by blitzmage_89

^Hindi ba tayo nagtataka bakit, despite our high demand for malls, hindi pa nagoopen ng branches dito ang Carrefour, Takashimaya, Sogo and other foreign malls? =.=

I smell bribes

Hindi kasi papatatok mga yan dito. Sobrang entrenched na ang local mall developers. For supermarket alone, there's sm, robinsons, rustans, puregold all over the place. For lower end may llanas, waltermart, gaisanos etc etc. If these foreign supermarkets will try to sell to the AB crowd, sobrang liit naman ng market. Saka nakaka discourage yung provisions ng retail liberation act. Im not sure but I think foreign retailers must spend close to 200mil s US$(correct me on this) in order to be allowed entry to the country. Another route for foreign retailer is to tie up with local counterparts. So far makro tried and failed so did jc penny, S&R is the only surviving foreign retailers after tying up with puregold supermarket. Even walmart cant penetrate our market. Besides we dont need these foreign retailers, our supermarket are sometimes more beautiful than them.

[OtAkAw]

As for foreign shops with no Philippine presence, I want IKEA, UNIQLO, H&M, A Bathing Ape, Dean and Deluca here!!

[xxxriainxxx]

I love shopping in Manila. I am bringing empty suitcases to Manila pag uwi ko. Puno yan pagbalik ko.

[anone]

ako naman mas gusto kong mag shopping dito dahil madiling bitawan ang pera lalo na pag SALE. pag kasi sa peso na ay parang ang laki laki at ang mahal pakinggan. may nakita nga akong murano vase sa rustans ay 75k ang halaga kaya ayon hindi ko binili.