Wholesaler opens retail store for home finishing, furnishing

Sun.Star Cebu <> Wednesday, July 8, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

A WHOLESALE distributor of home furnishing and finishing products in the Visayas and Mindanao has put up a new store in Highway Maguikay, Mandaue City to cater to the growing construction industry in Cebu.

Home Options Inc. will formally open today Savers Home Depot, a 2,100-square-meter retail store that displays various home products, including tiles, lighting, water faucets and vanities.

“As the company grows, we see big opportunities in Cebu where the construction business is growing,” Home Options Inc. president Kendrick Sulay told Sun.Star Cebu.

He said the company invested around P20 million on the store, including its stocks.

There are plans to put up more Savers Home Depot stores in the northern part of Cebu.

“The south, where there is a very big market, is already congested, and there are many competitors located there.

The market for construction in the north, on the other hand, is growing,” Sulay said.

He remains optimistic amid the global financial crisis that is affecting consumer spending, saying the market is still very big and there is still room for more suppliers and distributors.

Apart from plans of expanding to the north, Savers Home Depot will also partner with developers and homeowners associations.

Savers Home Depot, Sulay said, is being positioned to target classes B and C and “a little of class A.”

The store’s “boutique” layout was created to attract more customers and give them home design ideas.

“When a customer comes in, he will immediately see our products, like lights and furnishings imported from China and Malaysia, among others,” Sulay said.

Another part of the store is the Do-It-Yourself (D.I.Y) section that Sulay plans to expand, depending on the market response.

Savers Home Depot soft-opened last June 20. Its mother company, Home Options Inc., started in March 2005 and continues to distribute home-related products on a wholesale basis outside Cebu.

Filed under: Business, Construction/Building, Real Estate, Retail, Small and Medium Enterprises

Retailers told to give convenience, out-of-ordinary experience to buyers

Sun.Star Cebu <> Tuesday, July 7, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

THESE days, shopping is no longer about the stores but about stories and experiences, said global marketing and advertising firm JWT.

JWT Manila chief executive officer Jos Ortega urged retailers to let their customers experience beyond the ordinary.

He cited several examples, including Apple that provided units that customers can try.

“(But) first, you must know your brand story. And be authentic.

Customers won’t be fooled. If they are, they won’t visit you again. Engage your clients and deliver your message,” Ortega said.

He urged retailers to strengthen their front lines since the employees are crucial in carrying out the store’s brand story.

Ortega was in Cebu for the 3rd Cebu Regional Retail Conference where he spoke about design techniques for the retail sector.

In the same event, Marge Martinez, The Nielsen Company (Philippines) Inc. associate director for retailer services, advised retailers to make a good and lasting impression on both regular and new shoppers.

“The struggling economy has a significant impact on how and where people shop. Now is not the time to cut corners on factors that will negatively impact shopping experience. Treat every shopper like it’s their first time in your store,” said Martinez.

The Nielsen Company (Philippines) Inc. has found that several retailers across the world are innovating by putting up in-store clinics, and stressing health and wellness messaging in store layouts, product assortment and advertising.

Martinez also pointed out that shoppers, who want convenience, are calling for malls to offer everything under one roof and for retailers to continuously replenish their products.

She noted that in response, commercial malls are expanding; community malls are combining supermarket, gym and health center and boutiques in their premises;
bakeries are putting up seats within their areas to encourage shoppers to eat; and convenience stores are offering more than just groceries.

She also observed that regional supermarkets are understanding local needs and creating modern wet markets while traditional store owners are upgrading their stores to become independent mini-marts or groceries.

“Some big players are going to smaller store formats in order to grow faster in the race for good locations and reach more consumers,” Martinez said.

Filed under: Business, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Retail, Small and Medium Enterprises

SkyCable launches high-speed Net packages

Sun.Star Cebu <> Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

IN response to the clamor for faster Internet access, the Cebu unit of a national cable company launched last week high download speed packages of up to 12 megabytes per second (mbps) in Cebu.

The Lopez-owned SkyCable Corp. already tested SkyBroadband plans in Manila last year and went full blast last January.

Last Oct. 1, SkyCable Cebu began offering these packages to its cable subscribers in the province and received “encouraging” feedback, said SkyCable area director for the Visayas Ronnie Pacio in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu.

Instead of using phone lines, SkyBroadband uses SkyCable infrastructure to connect to the Internet. Cable lines can carry more data and offer higher bandwidth.

SkyBroadband packages include Plan 1.5 mbps (with monthly subscription fee of P1,199), Plan 3 mbps (P2,499), Plan 6 mbps (P4,999), and Plan 12 mbps (P6,999).

Pacio said that their highest plan is four times faster than any residential DSL (digital subscriber line).

The total initial payment for Plan 1.5 mbps and Plan 3 mbps is P2,199 and P3,499, respectively, due to the P1,000 cable modem deposit upon installation. Cable modem is free under Plans 6 mbps and 12 mbps.

All plans are covered by a one-year lock-in period.

Installation for all packages is free.

Users of SkyBroadband Plan 1.5 mbps and Plan 3 mbps will also get P175 discount on their P675 monthly SkyCable subscription fee. The two higher speed packages are product bundles that include both Internet access and free SkyCable subscription.

All SkyBroadband packages-considered as SkyCable’s value-added service-are exclusive to its cable subscribers in selected Cebu areas in Banawa, Banilad, Cabancalan, Cebu Business Park, Consolacion, Capitol Site, Guadalupe, Labangon, Lapu-Lapu City, Mabolo, Ma. Luisa Estate Park, Mandaue City, P. Del Rosario in Cebu City, and Talamban.

“The highest speed of DSL plans being offered by other broadband providers is only 3 mbps. SkyBroadband packages ensure faster connections and less time consumption. Users can do many things on the Internet in one (sitting),” said Pacio.

He added that they already have nearly 1,000 SkyBroadband subscribers who are coming from the middle- and high-income brackets.

Pacio said that when the company has enough funding, they will expand to more areas until they can cover the entire Cebu.

Since March 2008 when SkyCable Cebu offered its first cable Internet called ZPDee, the company has allocated around P30 million to upgrade its plant for its broadband project.

Pacio said that one-third of this P30 million is not yet spent since they are still waiting for equipment from Manila to further upgrade its plant’s capacity and be able to cover more areas in Cebu.

After SkyBroadband is established in Cebu, SkyCable Cebu is planning to bring the digital signal to the province next year as part of its strategy to shift its technology from analog to digital and offer affordable packages to more price-sensitive markets. NRC

Filed under: Business, Education, Fun/Entertainment, IT/Computers/Software Development, Small and Medium Enterprises , broadband, Internet, SkyBroadband, SkyCable

CCCI awardees stress importance of hard work in success of business

Sun.Star Cebu <> Thursday, July 2, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

BEING inspired and being able to inspire were among the traits shared by the six local entrepreneurs who were honored during the 14th Annual Grand Chamber Awards Tuesday night.

The top award—Entrepreneur of the Year—was handed to Profood International Corp. president Justin Uy who was described during the awards night as a “self-made business icon.”

When he was 12, Uy started selling cigarettes to vendors on consignment. Shortly after, he he ventured into shell craft and later opened an egg and poultry business.

He enabled Profoods to achieve further growth amid economic and financial difficulties, and positioned the company as leading producer and exporter of processed fruit products.

“I am here partly because of my brother and sisters. I think my greatest success is to get 11 of us to work together. That is something I am very proud of,” said Uy who received the award from Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City south) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Samuel Chioson.

In a separate video message, Uy said the secret of being a successful entrepreneur is hard work. “There is no replacement for it,” he added.

The other awardees—Hyundai Cebu president Edward Onglatco as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year; San Remigio Beach Club president Antonio Ynoc as the Countryside Entrepreneur of the Year; CNT Lechon proprietors Norman and Catherine Quijada as Small Business Entrepreneurs of the Year; 33 point 3 Exports Inc. president Jenifer Cruz as the Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year; and Royal Oaks International School president as the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year—shared his views about the importance of hard work and perseverance.

The CCCI picked its awardees based on social responsibility, personal integrity, their businesses’ strategic direction, entrepreneurial spirit and the financial performance of their companies.

The Grand Chamber Awards, which was culmination of the Cebu Business Month 2009 of the CCCI, also included four special citations.

The Cebu Investment Promotions Center (CIPC) received a special citation for promoting Cebu to foreign direct investors.

According CCCI, CIPC is the “driver of investment opportunities in Cebu, the provider of business research and data…(and) the developer and trendsetter of economic thrust and direction.”

Cebu Mitsumi, Inc. got a special citation for employment generation and for being the top employer in Cebu. The electronic parts manufacturer had 8,393 workers as of March and contributes at least P40 million a month to the local economy.

A special citation for exemplary commitment to Cebu was given to Lexmark Research and Development Corp. for bringing its research and development operations to Cebu.

The company was also lauded for having “greatly contributed (and for being a) catalyst (in propelling) Cebu’s information and technology toward global competitiveness.”

British Armour Manufacturing International Inc. also received a special citation for exemplary contribution to innovation and technology. The company has more than 30 years of expertise in armoring and providing protection to guarantee ballistic safety with high quality design.

Grand Chamber Awards 2009 chair Alice Woolbright Fernandez said in a statement that the award’s goal was to provide “more than our usual dose of inspiration in today’s crucial and fragile economy.”

Filed under: Business, Employment, Export Sector, Retail, Small and Medium Enterprises

Liberal trade, WTO bring opportunities to Cebu firm

Sun.Star Cebu <> Thursday, July 2, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

AN international freight forwarding company maintains a positive outlook amid the global economic crunch that is affecting the country’s export industry.

Global Carrier Philippines Inc. managing director Camel de Pio-Salvador said there is a “big future” in the forwarding industry with the liberalization of trade among countries under the World Trade Organization.

She cited the lowering of trade barriers and the establishment of free trade agreements that prompt countries to remove tariffs on imports.

But she admitted that Global Carrier has experienced a “slight decline” in terms of volume of shipment. “We never experienced zero” even as the country begins to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, she said.

“The (forwarding) industry is relatively okay. It’s a continuing business,” she said.

She expressed hope that there will be more investors in the import and export industry.

De Pio-Salvador raised the need for establishing linkages with industry stakeholders in other parts of the world.

Last June 11 to 14, de Pio-Salvador attended the 6th Annual Sino-International Freight Forwarders Conference at Asia World Expo in Hong Kong. The event, organized jointly by the China International Freight Forwarders Association and World Cargo Alliance, provided a venue for top independent international logistics companies to network and explore opportunities for business growth.

It was attended by 1,500 delegates from 140 countries and regions. Global Carrier Philippines Inc. was the only Cebu-based company present.

“Through the conference, we were matched with other forwarders (with whom we) created contacts. At the same time, we were able to check the top (export and import) products in their locations,” de Pio-Salvador said.

Incorporated in 1994, Global Carrier Philippines Inc. offers comprehensive cargo services. It also caters to expatriates and consultants in the mining, cement manufacturing and energy generation sectors.

Filed under: Business, Export Sector, Small and Medium Enterprises

Pages Holdings expands in RP, sells franchises of food business

Sun.Star Cebu <> Monday, June 22, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

A MEXICAN-inspired restaurant chain in Cebu is expanding nationwide through franchising starting this year.

Mooon Café, now owned and managed by Pages Holdings Inc., is eyeing interested franchisees from Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Manila and Davao, among others.

“The outlets located outside Cebu will be franchises. One needs to be hands-on in managing a restaurant,” said Bunny Pages, chairman of Pages Holdings Inc. , which bought Mooon Café from its original owners two years ago.

He added that franchising enables the company to “share the business with others” and ensures that franchise owners will be on-site to address the “meticulous and demanding” requirements of managing a restaurant they have invested in.

More branches

Currently, there are three company-owned Mooon Café outlets in Cebu City—in Barangay Guadalupe, The Walk in Asiatown IT Park and The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu.

Pages said they will be opening two more company-owned branches this year—one in Parkmall before the end of July and the other in front of Chong Hua Hospital sometime in September.

After contracting RK Franchise Consultancy in February to put in place its franchising system and opening the franchise opportunity to the public about two months ago, Mooon Café will be opening its first franchise outlet in Cagayan de Oro.

The next identified sites are the cities of Lapu-Lapu in Cebu and Dumaguete in Oriental Negros.

“We are starting with P800,000 for the franchise fee alone,” said Pages, adding that their company will also provide training and other forms of support.

He also stressed that interested investors must have “integrity, financial capability and the entrepreneurial spirit” for the business.

Growth

“Five years from now, we (see) Mooon Café having 25 outlets nationwide,” he said.

Amid the competitive and growing local food industry, he attributed Mooon Café’s growth to the “combination of good food, inexpensive pricing, great ambience, and fast and quick service.”

He added that the global financial crisis prompted the restaurant chain—managed by Charlie Pages—to introduce new dishes, ensure top-notch service and exercise close supervision of the operations.

Pages-owned Pages Holdings Inc. owns and operates various businesses, including My Playroom, Bright Academy and Thirsty. Mooon Café is its first restaurant venture.

Filed under: Business, Retail, Small and Medium Enterprises, Tourism

MSMEs ask presidential wannabes to provide credit access to sector

Sun.Star Cebu <> Saturday, June 13, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

A GROUP of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Cebu urged presidential aspirants to include in their platforms easy and efficient access to loans for MSMEs.

Filipino-Cebuano Business Club Inc. (FCBCI) president Rey Calooy said the provision of easy access to credit would enable MSMEs to grow and compete with larger companies.

He lamented that some banks, including government-owned financial institutions, impose stringent requirements and tedious processes for MSMEs.

“This would dampen their (entrepreneurial) spirit and prompt them to turn to P500-P600 lending schemes or to banks with less stringent requirements but high interest rates,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

He cited India, one of the fast-growing economies in the world where MSMEs get funding support from government.

Meeting

Calooy raised the concerns of MSMEs during a luncheon meeting with two presidential candidates-Sens. Francis Joseph Escudero and Manuel Roxas II-last Thursday at the Marco Polo Hotel Cebu. The meeting was part of the First Conference of Independent Business Clubs organized by the Makati and Cebu Business Clubs.

Escudero and Roxas both agreed on the need to change processes followed by lending institutions in relation to MSMEs.

The two senator also saw a need to provide extra incentives to MSMEs.

Calooy said the two senators made good promises.

FCBCI reminded the public not to take for granted the MSME sector since it has made major contributions to the country’s economy.

Citing figures from the Small Enterprise Research and Development Foundation (Serdef), Calooy said that 60 percent of exporters in the country are MSMEs that contribute about 25 percent to the Philippine’s total export revenues annually.

The latest Serdef data shows that of the 783,065 total businesses registered in the country, 92 percent are micro enterprises, generating around 1.3 million jobs. About 219,937 of these jobs are generated in Central Visayas.

Most of these businesses are engaged in wholesale and retail, manufacturing, hotel and restaurants, and real estate and renting.

FCBCI will also hold a series of enterprise talks and other activities during the observance of the MSME Week next month.

Filed under: Business, Employment, Retail, Small and Medium Enterprises