Cover Story
PHILIPPINE RETAILING
FROM PAGE 1... Global retail experts share... fashion brand while being a fair and equal company.
Central Pattana Deputy CEO Ms. Wallaya Chirathivat
set the tone of the conference on Day 2. She shared
insights on the changing role of malls from being
a place to shop into becoming a destination, where
people do not only buy stuff, but gain experiences
as well. Central Pattana is Thailand’s largest retail
property development and investment company. Homegrown telecommunications and digital
services giants PLDT Enterprise and Globe Business
inspired retailers through their presentations
“Fearless in the Mobile Retail Era” and “Enabling
Retail Transformation” respectively.
Chirathivat’s talk was followed by Mr. Massimo
Volpe, Chairman of the Forum for International
Retail Association Executives (FIRAE) who discussed
the “Global State of Retailing” including the latest
trends in retailing in various parts of the world.
Anchored on this year’s theme Reinventing Retail,
PRA President Rosemarie Ong called on the
delegates to revamp their strategies to keep up with
the times and stay ahead
of the game.
“With all the challenges
the brick and mortar
stores
face
today,
especially
from
the
emergence of the online
digital retail channels, it
is now time for retailers to
step up the ante in their
business. Keep up with
the pace of the industry
and create strategies
to meet the current
consumer demands, as well as achieve a perennial
advantage in an increasingly demanding industry,”
she said during her welcome address.
Talks on Retail Reinvention Strategies
from Experts
Latest reports on the current retail landscape and
the future of the industry were discussed during
the two-day conference with inputs from global
research companies Kantar Millward Brown
(Philippines) which shared tips on achieving
brand growth and resilience through meaningful
disruptions and Euromonitor International which
shared insights on the drivers of the new consumer
trends and mindset.
An insightful talk on sustainability was discussed by
H&M Singapore Sustainability Manager Xin Yi Wong
who shared the efforts of the global fashion brand in
leading and changing into a circular and renewable
While Business Works’ Consultant and Stylist Nika
Diwa gave tips on how companies can build their
brands and tell their story and artist and Dream Big
(Spain) CEO Juan de Lascurain gave an inspiring
talk on dreaming big and following one’s dream.
Amazon Web Services’ Santanu Dutt shared
innovations at Amazon, while JDA Software’s Lee
Gill talked about the global perspective of retail
transformation. TaskUs also shared their company’s
culture and their goal of delivering the best
customer service.
Two
lively
and
inspiring
panel
discussions also took
place, on Day 1 focusing
on the role of leisure
and
entertainment
in transforming the
retail landscape in
the
country,
with
panelists
including
some of the country’s
biggest entertainment
providers such as giant
TV network ABS-CBN, family amusement arcade
center Timezone, Viu Philippines which offers
Korean dramas, variety shows and other Asian
programs thru their website and app, and indoor
play city for kids, Kidzania.
The second day featured successful women in retail
including Wilcon Depot President and CEO Lorraine
Belo-Cincochan, AllValue President Camille Villar,
Oryspa CEO Sherill Quintana, DMark Beauty CEO
Nikki Tang, and Echostore Sustainable Lifestyle
and Great Women co-founder Jeannie Javelosa, who
shared their insights and experience as women in
retail leadership.
Delegates Flocked Breakout Sessions
Due to the success of the Breakout Session on
Supermarket Track last year, the NRCE has brought
back the breakout session on Supermarket Track,
which again received a wide audience. Topics
FROM PAGE 1... New PRA board of directors elected
This term’s Board consists of 14 reelected directors and a new addition to the Board in
the person of Bench’s Chairman Ben Chan. The 15 newly elected directors are Bench’s
Ben Chan, Blim’s Lifestyle Group’s Samie Lim, Central Books’ Ma. Alegria S. Limjoco,
Cinderella’s Arthur G. Coronel, CMG Retail Inc.’s Chan Kok Bin, Ace Hardware’s Lorenzo
C. Formoso, Mercury Drug’s Vivian Que Azcona, Penshoppe’s Bernie H. Liu, Picture City’s
Paul A. Santos, Robinsons Recreation’s Frederick D. Go, Rustans’ Bienvenido V. Tantoco
III, SM Retail Inc.’s Jorge T. Mendiola, Sportshouse’s Mars C. Chua, Toby’s Sports’ Roberto
S. Claudio, and Wilcon Depot’s Rosemarie B. Ong.
Among the Board of Directors, Ms. Rosemarie B. Ong SEVP-COO of Wilcon Depot, was
voted as the new PRA President while past president Atty. Paul A. Santos was named as
the new PRA Chairman.
2
3RD QUARTER 2018
included are megatrends in supermarket, unmanned
supermarket-Bingobox,
retail
transformation
in Europe, and digital transformation real world
example.
New this year is the Digital Transformation Track,
which also received great interest from NRCE
delegates. Topics included are using social media to
drive e-commerce conversions, analytics for retail,
creating new experiences through design thinking,
customer service in digital world, and newest
technology and concepts in Singapore’s Capitaland.
Retail Innovations Featured in the Expo
To complement the conference, the Stores Asia
Expo featured “tools for global retailing” from over
100 exhibitors offering products and solutions
for the retail industry such as Retail Solutions,
E-Commerce & M-Commerce, Shop Fittings &
Store Design, Digital Marketing, Commercial and
Real Estate Developers, Web Developers, Non-
traditional Advertising, Financial Services, Storage
and Distribution, HR Solutions, and Billboard
Locations among others.
The Stores Asia Expo, the Expo counterpart of the
NRCE is one of the longest running retail suppliers’
expo in Asia, has drawn more than 3,000 visitors
and decision makers from the retail and related
industries.
Talks on the latest innovations in retail also took
place at the Retail Learning Lab inside the Expo
Hall.
“We hope that you take both the conference and the
expo as opportunities for you to grow your business
allies and networks as well as build valuable
partnerships in the industry,” 25th NRCE Overall
Chairman and PRA Vice Chairman Frederick Go
said during the opening program.