SM Malls Philippines Blog

SM group to open upscale Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu

2010-05-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

Radisson Blu Hotel will be located at Cebu City’s North Reclamation Area, near the city’s international port, and SM City Cebu.

SMDC to launch low-cost condos projects in May, Great Innovation SM

2010-04-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 SM Development Corp. (SMDC), the listed middle income property developer of tycoon Henry Sy, is joining the low-cost housing bandwagon as it bared a plan to offer condominium units priced P1.1 million and below. It is a nice surprise to find SM is going into low cost condo development and the public and overseas contract workers will apprciate centrally located condos low priced near SM malls. How many more 5 star condos does the country need? OFW and retirees want low priced condos not 5 star even if developers love the big margins on 5 star condos! More power to SM and to middle class development.

Continue reading here

http://www.smdevelopment.com/smdc/index.php?p=800&type=2&sec=86&aid=6038

Other SM headlines

SM said it will have 40 malls at the end of 2010 on top of four malls it operates in China.

SM Prime hikes Reit offer size to $500m

SM group sees 2010 profit up a tenth, ‘sticks to knitting’

iMAX to finally hit SM Cebu this summer

2010-02-18T14:52:00.000-08:00

(The Freeman) Updated February 19, 2010 CEBU, Philippines - Whether the Cebu market is ready or not, SM City Cebu is bent on bringing in the iMax technology here this summer. Continue reading here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=550949&publicationSubCategoryId=108

Other SM News

SM Prime net income rises 10% on new, expanded shopping units

SM to open 20 Philippine stores this year mostly SaveMore

2010-01-22T14:03:00.001-08:00

ABS-CBN News 01/22/2010 MANILA, Philippines - The retail unit of Sy-led SM Group is planning to spend up to P2 billion this year to put up 20 new stores.

Robert Kwee, executive vice president of SM Hypermarket, said bulk of the new stores would be SaveMore outlets, and will be located in different parts of the country.

SaveMore is a stand-alone supermarket, which usually caters to the lower-end segment of the market. Continue reading here http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/22/10/sm-retail-unit-open-20-stores-year

.

SMIC to spend up to P600-M to convert Makro outlets

SMIC sees 14% growth in Q4, full-year profits

SM Prime to open 4th mall in Cavite

SMIC sees 2010 capex at P40.6-B

Retail, property businesses prop up SMIC 9-month earnings

SM Investments Q1 net income rises 15%

SM Prime to invest P20B in Cebu property ........Cebu Residents are excited

2010-01-14T15:37:00.001-08:00

Thursday, 14 January 2010 Via Business Mirror THE Cebu City government on Thursday signed an agreement with SM Prime Holdings Inc. for the outright sale of 30 hectares of the reclaimed South Road Properties (SRP), marking the official start of an estimated P20-billion investment by the company in the property for the next eight years.

SM Prime president Hans Sy said they will build a new mall that should be among the top 10 biggest malls in the world, a convention center and a chain of sky-rise hotels and condominium buildings. Two to five years following the completion of the mall, Sy said the company will put up a high-rise residential project, a school and a hospital. He said the whole development will be completed in eight years.

Although the contract with the city stipulates SM to build within 18 months, Sy said construction work will commence by the middle of 2010 for the 250,000-square-meter mall and the 60,000 square-meter convention center.

Continue reading here http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/20931-sm-prime-to-invest-p20b-in-cebu-property.html

SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy turns over to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña the initial payment of P406 million for a portion of SRP to the city government as other city and SM officials look on following the signing of the agreement yesterday. CYRIL CAMPOREDONDO

Read more at these links just click the titles below

SRP, northern Cebu projects to cost SM Prime some P21B

After Signing Deal To Buy SRP lot: SM set to pour P21B into Cebu

SM seals SRP stake
Biggest mall in Visayas, Mindanao to rise in Cebu

SM bags Cebu property deal
Mayor offers SRP space to national gov’t offices

Cebu Pictures Gallery - SRP or South Road Properties

What's up in Cebu?: Video: SRP Cebu

Cebu City earns P24M in sale of SRP lot to Napocor

Manny Pacquiao Museum in SRP - Cebu

Cebu SRP Boardwalk

Cebu City accepts Filinvests plan on SRP

Theme park in SRP pushed

Filinvest ink P1.5B deal for SRP

SM Cebu stools are PAINFUL for SENIORS ELDERS to use!

2009-12-27T22:17:00.000-08:00

I had the occasion over Christmas to attend a nice University of the Visaya's Christmas concert on Christmas Eve at SM Cebu. There were a number of older seniors in attendance at this concert in the main lobby of the new west wing.

But in the newspaper ads there were no times listed and this is a big problem and when we arrived no one seemed to know when the concert would begin and there were no signs giving the details. All public releases should always include approximate times for activities please. We arrived at 3pm and waited until 6 pm when it did finally begin.

I know Henry Sy has made great efforts to make his malls friendly to handicapped and senior citizens but these black backless stools were not included in this effort evidently. Yes it looks very architecturally correct but it is not practical for seniors who need extra support on the back . I put my stool against a support pillar to provide the support my curving old back needed hehe.

A more practical solution that SM should adopt as many quieter music events attract the older senior population, would be to use regular plastic chairs with backs as many malls do already. There are workers there already to set up and take down as they took the stools away before the concert to the other end for a children's activity and then returned them afterwards but the stools could have been used for the children's activitiy and the plastic chairs for the concerts please!

The concert was very enjoyable and UV just won at the Manila CCP awards 2009: A great year for the UV Chorale Watch them also on YouTube at another concert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t1fBzAFaR0&feature=player_embedded

Thanks SM for sharing with us.

SM Prime eyeing offshore real estate fund for malls in China

2009-12-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

From Bworldonline: Sy-led SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is considering putting the assets of its Hong Kong-based property unit under a Chinese real estate investment trust (REIT) to solidify its overseas market presence.

AN Artist’s rendition of the SM mall in Chengdu -- www.smcity.cnThis is an alternative to an offshore public listing, an option which the country’s largest mall operator is also studying.
“The [company’s plan] in China is that once we get a good number of malls and the condition is still good, we can either do an initial public offering (IPO) or a REIT offering,” Mr. Sio said.

“In China, if you do an IPO or REIT, you can sell as high as 25 times of your capital. [Here in the Philippines,] it is only 14 or 15 times. So the upside potential in China is huge,” Mr. Sio said.

Continue reading here http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=3413

SM Investments on track to hit profit target
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/179638/sm-investments-on-track-to-hit-profit-target

SM Investments sees over P15-billion income this year

Using 'Shoe Mart' name in vain

2009-12-14T02:56:00.001-08:00

Cito Beltran The Philippine Star December 14, 2009 Imagine “Santa Claus” being Mega Mauled.

Imagine some talent scouts “ripping off” a four-year old’s face. Imagine people using the “Shoe Mart” name in vain.

Through the years we have all associated the brand “Shoe Mart” or “SM” with professionalism and good business practice.

I personally have expressed my admiration of how the Sy family and the SM group conduct themselves to the point that I previously suggested that we ought to let the SM group build our international airports and facilities because they certainly know how to build things and operate them efficiently.

Unfortunately, size and success comes at a price.

It seems that certain individuals who have contacts or links with promoting events and thematic campaigns for the SM chain of malls, think that size and success is license to misrepresent the SM group and take advantage of “foreigners” or a four-year old.

Apparently some talent scouts associated with some advertising supplier for the Shoe Mart chain have been hiding behind the Mega Mall while stealing the faces of unsuspecting individuals.

In one case, a male foreigner was approached by some talent scouts and asked if he wanted to join in a “photo shoot” where they were searching for Shoe Mart’s Santa Claus. The foreigner thought nothing of it and went along with the invitation. He was told that if his face passed the screening, he would be advised. In the mean time he was paid a minimal fee for his time and participation in the photo shoot.

No calls came and so the foreigner thought nothing of it. One day he returned to “the scene of the crime” to go shopping. It was then he took notice of how his face or portions thereof were on certain Santa Claus promotional items displayed inside his favorite mall.

The guy was understandably upset at this attempt to “pirate” his physical trademark without so much as a “by your leave” or a plain and simple “thank you”. In his desperation, said foreigner “went to town” to bring this deceitful act to members of media.

When I saw the segment on Ben Tulfo’s “Bitag-Live” on UNTV, I simply shook my head in disbelief that some people can be so stupid in thinking that they could get away with the crime because their victim is a “foreigner” who won’t be staying long in the Philippines. I could only wish and pray that someone would bring the matter to Tessie Sy-Coson or one of the family members so that such abuse would be nipped at the bud.

Unfortunately, a few days later I learned about another case.

Unlike the “unwitting Santa Claus”, the next case was about a four-year old “tisoy” whose photo was to be used in a Toy Catalog ONLY. The mother as I understand it had explicitly stated that the material shot would be for the Catalog and not for TV ads or any other form of advertising.

Lo and behold, little four-year old’s face was soon on TV, the Toy catalog, and last we saw was on a huge billboard on the wall of Mega Mall. Of course the mother was upset with the betrayal of trust.
But what makes both instances sad and unfortunate is that both parties taken advantaged of, were people who patronize SM, who were willing to share their “character” with SM, and would have been proud to work with SM.
They were also people who could have used the extra income and the “break” that the SM image could have given them.

Instead they, along with SM were taken advantaged of by “talent scouts” who proved to be very talented at scalping helpless people as well as Shoe Mart. If by chance Ms. Tessie gets to read this “sumbong” may I also suggest that she develops a team who can reach out to people who encounter problems or difficulties with their various business units.

Sometimes, just being able to talk or tell someone who is willing to listen, already solves half of the problem. Reports have it that attempts at reaching out to the SM legal department is equivalent to talking to the façade of the Mega Mall. It does not talk back, it does not respond. And like some cheap cell phone, it cannot be reached!

If having “real people” in the front line is considered risky business, perhaps Ms. Tessie can put up a VERY PUBLICIZED Email address so people can send in their comments and suggestions which can then be reviewed by the Sy family and their managers. This way, columnists like me who don’t have Ms. Tessie’s number, would probably be writing about other things.

In the same breath, Ms. Tessie should also consider appointing independent “ambassadors” who can freely speak with the public, tenants, and suppliers who may have ideas, sentiments, and serious business concerns” connected with their chain of malls.

The fact of the matter is that the SM group has become the largest Kingdom among malls in the Philippines and just like the proverbial kingdoms, many feudal lords and war lords don’t always tell the royal court all the things that have been happening in their respective domains.

Perhaps it is also time to go back to the roots. To check who has been vigilant and who has been taking Shoe Mart’s name in vain, taking Shoe Mart’s cash in exchange for “pirated” material, and who among the Shoe Mart managers have been sleeping on the Job while “Santa” came to town!

My comment: I have noticed that there is some slack myself, email and phone numbers are not easy to find for the malls on the web, and who the tenants are as well. Each mall should have their own webpage with clear indication who to contact with suggestions and complaints as the organization grows so big. SM supermarket has a central email address which I have found to work well. I have not found it as easy to contact SM malls and SM Department stores and they should have easy contacts listed on the web as well. And all the stores in their malls should have the same information and contact details.

Read the full column here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532410&publicationSubCategoryId=64

SM pours P180M in Pinoy Center

2009-12-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 10 December 2009 Business Mirror THE SM group will spend P180 million in building 36 lounge facilities to attract overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families to SM Supermalls.

In an interview with reporters, Hans Sy, president of SM Prime Holdings Inc., said these facilities, which are called Global Pinoy Centers, are intended to meet the needs of returning OFWs and their dependents when they go shopping. According to Sy, each center will cost P5 million.

Sy also said providing OFWs and their families with more comfortable facilities is SM’s way of recognizing their contribution to SM’s growth through their continued patronage.

“Whenever I have trips abroad, I was always being asked by foreign investors what drives SM’s growth and I told them it’s because of the remittances of our overseas-based workers,” said Sy during an interview at the sidelines of the opening of the Global Pinoy Center at the SM Mall of Asia.

Continue reading here http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/19598-sm-pours-p180m-in-pinoy-center.html

Take mobile e-commerce seriously

2009-12-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

From the Cebu Sunstar: The growth of peer-to-peer or person-to-person trading sites like Sulit.com.ph, AyosDito.ph, 88db.com.ph, OLX.com.ph, Multiply.com, eBay.ph, among others, has allowed Filipinos from all the country to trade with each other. As you can scan through the various payment options, Globe GCash and Smart Money are in majority of these seller pages.

Anyone who has not looked into these two payment platforms in the past should think again. With mobile broadband becoming affordable and a growing number of Pinoys surfing through the mobile phone, there is a new opportunity to market and position the selling of product or service focusing on this growing user segment.

Globe GCash Glick (https:/ gcashclick.delbrosonline.net/), in partnership with courier company Delbros, now allows online sellers and buyers to trade with each other with ease. The system ensures buyers and sellers that a product ordered is received in good condition and in accordance with what was indicated online. In addition, payment is already secured prior to shipment, allowing proper transfer of funds after the delivery process. Continue reading here http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/toral-take-mobile-e-commerce-seriously

Also read my blog on sending money http://mysendmoney.blogspot.com/
And my blog on Business Ideas http://philippinebusinessideas.blogspot.com/

Business trend slowly shifts to online selling

2009-12-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

My comment: But major players like SM, Ayala, Metro, Robinsons, Island Souvenirs, CDR King and many others haven't seen the light yet in my opinion and missing a major business low cost opportunity

China's online sales soar in Jan-Sept: govt (wonder why no news like this in Philippines?)

Philippine Star CEBU, Philippines - Despite lots of business spaces now made available around the city, the advent of the internet has made online selling now the fast growing trend in the business community.

This is due to the free advertising and no need to pay for space rentals said Tina Tan, an online business seller who sells ready-to-wear clothes and accessories through the web.

Tan said that doing business online has become very popular and since the budding of social networking sites, it makes their jobs easier and gives them a chance to have a wider market.
According to Tan, business through online is very easy especially for those that have other things to do like students like her.

She said that all they have to do is add as many contacts as they can, preferably people they know so that they would not be scammed, and immediately they have instant customers.

Val Carla Vergara, a new online business player, said that she shifted to online selling because it is a new strategy for small business players like her who wants extra income but does not need to invest on a huge capital.

Vergara said that there are so many small business players that are using the net right now for their businesses but the competition does not worry her despite having the same kinds of products like RTW’s, accessories, and toys.

She said that just like any other kind of business, it depends on the marketing strategy of the online shop owner.

Vergara explained that she sells her products cheaper than those sold in malls and she puts the difference of the prices in her site so that the customers would be able to see how much money they will be saving if they buy it from her.

She said that unlike stores in malls and also from other online entrepreneurs who has fixed prices, she lowers her prices if the customers ask for a discount and she also does this if her clients buy three or more products.

But according to some like Armida Aguilar, a college student, the pictures are not enough for her to buy a product online. Aguilar said that despite online selling becoming a fad today and saves the shoppers time from going around places looking for clothes, she still chooses to go the conventional way pf shopping because she wants to make sure that she the quality is worth the money she is paying. Continue reading here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=530097&publicationSubCategoryId=108

SM Prime sticks to large mall tack My question is why?

2009-11-30T16:23:00.001-08:00

30 November 2009 18:47 Business Mirror MALL operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. is not interested in venturing into smaller community-type retail centers, preferring to stick to its tried and tested strategy of building one-stop shopping destinations.

This, despite plans bared by rivals to go into community shopping centers. Two weeks ago, Ayala Land Inc., which is behind the Glorietta and Greenbelt malls in Makati and TriNoma in Quezon City, said it is setting up a new subsidiary to develop small-format “neighborhood centers” with a maximum leasable area of 10,000 square meters (sq.m.). Continue reading here http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/19117-sm-prime-sticks-to-large-mall-tack.html

My comment: I hope that SM Supermarkets and convenience stores continue to expand as an example in metro Manila at the corner of Vita Cruz and Taft there are now about 5 universities and 10 or more high rise condos up to 42 floors and supermarket in sight except at less than appealing Harrison Plaza a 15 minute walk away. With prime real estate available to SM Hypermarts, Robinsons supermarkets, Metro supermarkets, South Supermarkets, Rustans Supermarkets, I think that its a opportunity waiting

SM City Cebu commend the mall’s management

2009-11-30T16:10:00.000-08:00

From the Philippine Star Since we mentioned SM City Cebu, we’d like to commend the mall’s management for installing those lights on the parking area that helps motorists find empty slots.

The lights are green when a parking slot is empty and turn red once occupied, this spares the drivers and their passengers, who are trying to be helpful, from craning their necks to see if there’s a vacant slot. Read the complete article here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=528292&publicationSubCategoryId=108

Online Retail Thriving: 8% Growth Expected This Holiday Season but are Philippine merchants taking note?

2009-11-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

From the NY Times In its State Of Retailing Online 2009 report, Forrester Research reported that the vast majority of Web retailers were not only profitable in 2008 - in a recession - but also that their overall level of profitability grew.

My commment; But has Philippine merchants noticed the trend and are they adapting to sell worldwide? Here is a area for growth and expansion and Filipino merchants need to take note.

The e-commerce market is expanding, due to a combination of factors.

Also brick-and-mortar businesses are migrating more of their operations online. We also have technology advances to thank: better recommendations technology, social media, the emergence of mobile commerce.

E-commerce Continues to Grow, Despite Economy

In the State Of Retailing Online 2009 report, Forrester Research reported that retailers saw their Web divisions grow by 18% in 2008. Given that Forrester described 2008 as "one of the worst years ever" in retail, that's significant growth in online retail activity.

Continue reading here http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/11/23/23readwriteweb-online-retail-thriving-8-growth-expected-th-45446.html

SM offers to buy lot from Cebu city gov’t for next big project, WOW

2009-11-23T14:58:00.000-08:00

My comment: We welcome such a investment to make Cebu truly great!

From Business World Online Nov 24 2009 Sy-led SM Prime Holdings, Inc. has submitted an unsolicited offer to develop part of the South Road Properties in Cebu City into what would be the listed mall developer’s next big-ticket project after the SM Mall of Asia.

SM Prime President Hans T. Sy said as much as P20 billion would be spent over the next 15 years to build a shopping, entertainment, and residential complex.

“We have officially made an offer [to acquire part of] the South Road Properties [last month]. Hopefully, everything goes well and we are quite confident [about it] because it is not a joint venture [project],” Mr. Sy said in an interview.

SM Prime, the country’s largest mall developer, offered to buy 28 hectares of the 240-hectare reclaimed lot for P11,000 per square meter or almost P3 billion, which Mr. Sy said was a “high price for a provincial standard.”

The site will host the group’s second mall and some residential projects. The plan is to transform the area into a smaller version of the Mall of Asia in Pasay.

SM Prime will start development in the area as soon as the group acquires the 20-hectare portion, Mr. Sy said, adding that he hopes to secure the contract in January.

“We are looking at a 15-year development and the target is about P20 billion. It will have institutional components [like] schools as well as a residential component and a hotel and convention center on top of the shopping center,” Mr. Sy said.

The group will likely build the mall first, to be followed by the residential component five years later, he said. Should the residential project push through, this will be sister SM Development Corp.’s first venture in Cebu City and outside Metro Manila.

“That is the next big project [of SM Prime] although on top of that we also have General Santos already and we are acquiring some more [lands] in the Mindanao area. There is still a lot of opportunity,” he said.

SM Prime has one mall in the Cebu City, the largest mall in the area, the fourth-largest shopping mall in the country, and the 11th largest in the world. Contnue reading here http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=2026

Also read SM Prime open to joint venture for 240-hectare Cebu City project
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=526700&publicationSubCategoryId=66

SM sees bigger presence in China

2009-11-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

From Business Mirror Philippines

PHILIPPINE retail giant SM plans to make a bigger presence in the huge Chinese market, said SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans Sy.

In an interview on Monday with reporters, Sy disclosed that SM Prime plans to put up eight malls in China within a period of five years starting this year up to 2014 as part of beefing its presence in that country. “SM Prime Holdings Inc. plans to put at least eight malls in China as part of the company’s recognition of its immense potential in retail,” said Sy during the sidelines of the SM’s Green Retail Agenda held at the SMX Convention Center.

Among the Chinese cities that will soon have SM presence are Suzhou, Chonging and Zibo. Xiamen, Jinjiang in southern China and Chengdu in central China are the cities where SM is currently operating.

Sy added that SM Prime wants to concentrate on China because of the huge volume of consumers that can be tapped for its retail products. “This is also in preparation for SM because we project that the Philippine market will be saturated in five years,” he pointed out.
“China is a significant market for SM Prime,” added Sy.

At present, Sy said the Chinese operations contribute 2 percent to 3 percent to SM Prime’s overall growth.

As far as their mall projects are concerned, Sy said SM Prime’s landbank is good for 50 malls around the country.

For 2010, Sy said SM Prime plans to have a capital expenditure of P7 billion to P10 billion.
In another development, SM Shopping Center Management Corp. (SCMC) president Anna Maria Garcia said the company is going to intensify the pursuit of its green agenda by pursuing several initiatives in and out of the organization. To make their green programs deliver a bigger impact, Garcia said former US vice president Al Gore has accepted SM’s invitation to give a speech on the environment during his visit to the Philippines on April 30.

Read the original article here http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/18572-sm-sees-bigger-presence-in-china.html

Internet supermarket booms in bad times, Selling online a golden opportunity for Filipino business

2009-11-16T14:13:00.001-08:00

- The Internet global supermarket is booming because people and businesses are looking for bargains and new outlets in bad times, a new report says. (My comment, Philippines has a golden opportunity for big and small businesses to embrace this technology and sell sell sell to the world. Example is the recent Pacquiao rumble where people wanted to buy tshirts, and much more and where were the Filipino merchants like Island Souvenirs online, seems they and others are missing a golden opportunity)

Sale of Pacquiao souvenirs increase

And the this great global shopping mall can only expand rapidly as mobile phone use explodes, the Chinese get involved and advertisers jump in, the OECD forecasts.

But the e-trade revolution is being held back by hidden frontiers, ranging from concerns over privacy of personal information, language problems, delivery costs and taxation and regulation barriers.
As the Christmas spending spree, vital to many retailers and manufacturers around the world, gets under way, the OECD also highlights other worries for consumers.

For example, Santa Claus may never turn up with the goods, or the purchases may be defective, or payment details may be stolen.

These are among the obstacles to increased cross-border trade, paradoxically even within the European Union, which the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development lists in a report on a conference under the heading: "Empowering e-consumers."

The report found that the financial crisis had breathed new life into electronic commerce, with sales rising in Europe, the United States and China at a time when the store-based retail sector struggles as consumers' disposable income shrivels.

"The financial and economic crisis appears to be giving a e-commerce a boost as consumers search for ways to reduce expenditures by purchasing items online," the OECD said, adding: "The savings can be substantial."
It cited a study showing that shoppers in Britain, Germany and France can save 17 percent by buying electronics goods, DVDs and clothing on online trading platforms rather than in physical stores.

In the United States on-line sales for 80 retailers rose an average of 11 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to another study.

One site, Craigslist, is forecast to report sales of 100 million dollars this year, a 23 percent increase from 2008. Another platform, Amazon, had net sales of 177 million dollars in the first quarter alone, up 24 percent from the first quarter 2008.

The OECD cites a study by the Forrester research group predicting that western European consumers will buy 123.1 billion euros' worth of goods online by 2014, for an average annual growth rate of 9.6 percent.
China too has experienced a jump in online retail activity. The online auction and retail website of the country's leading e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, reported a 131 percent rise in transaction volume in February compared with a year earlier.

Helping to spur electronic commerce is the growth in mobile phone use. The number of mobile phone subscribers grew at an average rate of 30 percent a year from 1993 to 2007 in the 30 industrialised economies in the OECD.
But the OECD warned that the future of e-commerce is not entirely secure, maintaining that its fate "depends for a large part on the level of confidence that consumers have in on-line shopping."

It noted that half the cross-border complaints and disputes filed with the European Consumer Center Network stemmed from purchases made over the Internet.

"Delivery problems and dissatisfaction with the products purchased were the leading reasons for the complaints, accounting for 75 percent of the total," the OECD said.

Customers voiced dissatisfaction with non-deliveries, misrepresentation by online retail sites and difficulties contacting merchants.

While the Internet may have made it easier to buy products from foreign businesses, consumers have shown themselves to be reluctant to do so, according to the OECD, which cited language barriers, higher shipping costs, regulatory barriers and scams and misleading practices as key constraints.

Last year 33 percent of EU consumers purchased products online but only 7.0 percent bought goods from another country, the report said.

While many countries have e-commerce laws and regulations, such practices risk becoming outdated given the speed at which new products and services are created.

The study found that most countries, apart from the United States, do not have specific regulations to protect the privacy of children.

It said many online retailers ask consumers to confirm their age simply by ticking a box, with no follow-up measures to ensure that the information is accurate.

Another area of growing concern for the sector, according to the OECD, is the use of behavioral techniques that track a consumer's purchasing habits in order to tailor advertising to his or her interest.

But there is little doubt about the economic impact of online advertising. A recent study cited by the OECD found that the contribution to economic activity of online advertising amounts to 300 billion dollars in the United States. The US online advertising sector directly employs more than 1.2 million people. Continue reading here http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/technology/11/16/09/internet-supermarket-booms-bad-times

SM Bacolod has joined the online community and started to blog wow!!

2009-11-10T03:22:00.000-08:00

I found that SM Bacolod has started offering a blog to keep customers connected. I have blogged previously about the lack of information online about the SM advantage card which is so heavily used by customers and SM Bacolod has listed some of the details but nothing about the redemption of points and what you can claim for the rewards. But at least it is a start. Congratulations. All of the malls nationwide should reach out to the online world as well as I have previously commented in this blog. Read the SM Bacolod blog here
http://smcitybacolod.blogspot.com/2009/11/sm-advantage-express.html

Presently SM websites are few and lacking details of merchants in their malls, their contact details, websites and phone numbers of the tenants especially for the Cyberzone. It is badly needed and so many are online these days and would use. And information on their SM advantage card is completely missing from all their sites and yet is part of their active promo and well known and should be detailed as to what the costs are and the awards offered.

SM collects data from customers on email addresses and cell phone numbers and should use much more actively in data bases. Getting customers to sign up for regular emails on sales and promos is very cost effective for SM and its tenants. And twitter can also be used as a tool as well as SUN customers like me to get text messages which SM is starting to use and its good as long as the customer does not get charged for the messages sent.

Why couldn't SM Department stores, Toy Kingdom or Us or SM appliances or Watsons or Ace Hardware have a online email every week for their SM Advantage or promo customers or those that enter its many promotions that SM collects names and email addresses? A valuable free tool is not being used here by most Philippine Merchants.

SM Advantage Express

Started 2009 October 25, SMAC Members-PLDT Subscribers can earn SMAC points;
Eligible customers must register their SM Advantage Card to PLDT rewards program before they can be awarded with points;
Only (1) SMAC number may be registered for one (1) PLDT account number;
There can be multiple PLDT account numbers that can be registered to one (1) SMAC number;

Registration:

Registration can be done thru the following :

Any PLDT Office
171
Filling up of Appilcation Form solicited by PLDT agents
PLDT website: www.pldt.com.ph/telerewards
PLDT and MCI reserves the right to validate the application and reject application found not to have complied with the requirements of the program.

SMAC Members will earn additional 50 bonus points when they register until November 15, 2009

Google launches ‘business stimulus package’ for SMEs, why can't SM do the same for its mall merchants?

2009-11-04T14:01:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 00:00

My comment: I have often wished that SM would do the same for its many mall merchants to get them online and with a web presence and and an active online ordering system since the islands are so spread out and have good transportation services even to the far flung areas and could even reach the world with their products with the internet smart buyers these days.

Stores like Toy Kingdom, CDR King, Island Souvenirs are ideal candidates to sell online but so far haven't met the challenge.

Maybe this Google effort will encourage Malls here to think beyond the box to the world market. The world is changing, I hope we can keep up........

---------------------------------------------------

Google Inc. on Tuesday launched a “business stimulus package” for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country to help them market their goods and services online better.
According to Google, any local MSME with a valid business permit can apply for the stimulus package by signing up at www.google.com.ph/stimulus starting today until December 15.

Upon signing up, participants can avail of the following: a simple company website developed by students of STI College. The first 200 applicants can get it for free, while subsequent participants would have to pay a one-time fee of P3,000 for website development; P2,000 worth of free credits to advertise on Google AdWords; and a free tutorial from STI on putting up a website and online marketing.

“It’s been tough for small and medium Philippine businesses in the last 12 to 24 months [due to the global economic slowdown]. When it’s tough—when everyone’s slowing down—it is a good time to speed up business,” Derek Callow, Google’s head of marketing for Southeast Asia, said in a briefing.

Callow said the Internet is a huge platform that can help small companies reach more customers. At present, about 25 million Filipinos use the Internet.

He said the Google package can help businesses establish a cost-effective online presence since STI will put up websites at a lower cost, while Google will promote these sites through its online advertising platform.

In addition, the MSMEs only pay when a potential sales lead clicks on their online ad.
“This initiative is going to help MSMEs increase their market audience,” Monchito Ibrahim, Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) commissioner, said.

For this project, Google partnered with CICT, Go Negosyo and STI Colleges, as well as with the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions and Philippine Marketing Association.

Google has also launched similar business stimulus packages in Singapore and Thailand, Callow said. http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/5252-google-launches-business-stimulus-package-for-smes

I just received this promotion in my email this morning. Are Philippine merchants/malls missing a great free advertising tool by email?

2009-11-04T13:33:00.001-08:00

Why couldn't SM Department stores, Toy Kingdom or Us or SM appliances or Watsons or Ace Hardware have a similiar online email every week for their SM Advantage or promo customers or those that enter its many promotions that SM collects names and email addresses? A valuable free tool is not being used here by most Philippine Merchants.

*Available while quantities last. All products may not be available in all stores.
Copyright 2009 ALDI INC. All Rights Reserved.

ALDI Inc. is very serious about protecting your privacy and is committed to avoiding
any abuse of your email address.

If you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, please go to

http://usa.aldi.com/us/html/service/newsletter_ENU_HTML.htm

Enter your email address in the UNSUBSCRIBE form, and click submit
and you will be removed from this list immediately.

www.aldi.us

Tags: Advertising by email

24th SM mall offers free Wi-Fi access in DAVAO

2009-11-03T03:40:00.000-08:00

I am impressed with SM now being a leader in getting its malls internet connected. Congratulations. But I wish they would continue in this internet world too and get all their tenants listed on their website for each mall so customers could easily find a computer store, restaurant, or appliance store just by looking at their website and getting the web address and phone number and email easily. It would be good relations for SM to get all their merchants online and help them start selling online which none do now hardly and it would then match the pace of the new internet knowledgeable customer. And it would be build business as well for both SM and its client renters. And would be greatly appeciated by the customers as well! Getting online already are SM clients like SM appliance, Ace Hardware, CDR King, and Island souvenirs but sadly none has gone the extra step to sell online and its a logical move for SM stores with excellent shipping natiionwide and worldwide available!

DAVAO CITY — In a bid to attract more mall-goers, SM City Davao has turned its 79,000-square-meter structure into a "wireless fidelity" or Wi-Fi zone.

Debbie A. Go, SM regional manager for Mindanao who switched on the free Internet access service Friday night, said the company’s shopping complex in Cagayan de Oro City has also become a Wi-Fi zone.
Ms. Go said this would provide customers Internet connection whenever they are in the mall so they can surf the Web or check e-mail for work or other purposes.

"This is also good for our mall considering this would be an attraction," she said.
Jennifer D. Silan, Philcom Corp. sales and marketing head, said the wireless connection can accommodate 1,500 simultaneous users, noting that anyone can get Internet access practically anywhere inside the shopping mall.

Ms. Silan, however, said the management is studying whether to restrict connections by banning sites "not good" for customers. The Davao complex is the 24th in the SM group’s malls with wireless fidelity connections.

Joanne A. Abrogar, operations manager of Cyberzone, another unit of the SM Supermalls, said the wireless fidelity access is also part of the corporate social responsibility of the SM group.
She called on shoppers to harness Internet connection for "good use" and report those using it for "questionable purposes."

The Information and Communications Technology of Association of Davao called on other big establishments to follow the SM mall’s lead.

Erriberto P. Barriga, vice-president of the council, said the connectivity was a "milestone" and "a manifestation" that the mall is becoming the leader in pushing for the city’s development.
"This is already an advantage and we need to capitalize on this by putting it to good use," Mr. Barriga said.

Singapore’s New Breed of Bar might be an idea for SM malls

2009-10-31T16:35:00.000-07:00

Oosh Bar and Lounge, in the Dempsey Hill neighborhood, has both indoor and outdoor spaces, including Balinese-style pavilions. Published: November 1, 2009

AS Singapore’s thirst for cocktails has grown steadily over the last few years, a new generation of bars and clubs has emerged in some memorably unusual places.

Ground zero for the city’s new breed of night life is the Dempsey Hill neighborhood. Where army barracks once stood surrounded by tropical jungle, bars and restaurants have been sprouting at a breakneck pace. The result combines a laid-back atmosphere with alfresco settings, all just a few miles from downtown.

The area trailblazer, way back in 2006, was Richard Goh, who opened Oosh Bar and Lounge (22 Dempsey Road; 65-6475-0002; www.oosh.com.sg) on almost 100,000 square feet of lush green property.
“Dempsey was just a nature enclave when I chanced upon it,” Mr. Goh said. “I had a vision that it could be transformed into a resort lifestyle venue.”

Indeed, Oosh may evoke memories of your last tropical getaway. Live musicians often entertain at the main bar; out in the garden, Balinese-style pavilions are set among moodily lit waterfalls and reflecting pools. Service can be slow, but strong cocktails and the stirring décor are distraction enough.

A more recent addition to Dempsey is the White Rabbit (39C Harding Road; 65-6473-9965; www.thewhiterabbit.com.sg), where a young and well-heeled crowd competes for attention with the space itself: a charmingly restored chapel, complete with stained-glass windows, which houses a bustling restaurant and alcove lounge leading out to a garden bar. The whimsical theme is carried through from topiary sculptures to “reinvented” takes on classic cocktails, like the Blackforest mojito, which is made with Chambord.

“I think locals and expatriates alike respond well to unique, multifaceted concepts,” said Tengwen Wee, a co-owner of the White Rabbit. “We’ve seen a growing base of discerning clientele in Singapore.”

Mr. Wee’s latest addition to the party scene fills a surprisingly underrepresented niche on this tropical island: the beach bar. Opened in May on the resort island of Sentosa, just off the city’s coast, the Shack (120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa; 65-...; www.theshack.com.sg) is an aptly unpretentious moniker for this breezy hangout, where the bar resides within an old shipping container and beer barrels have been recycled as tables.

Wild Oats (11 Upper Wilkie Road; 65-633...; www.wildrocket.com.sg) promises a lower-key experience at its hidden-away location within the residential maze of Mount Emily. Keep your eye out for an elegant, sprawling colonial mansion with a tranquil terrace out front. While the drinks selection is rather standard, there is an ambitious menu of bar food (the owner, Willin Low, is also the chef at the nearby Wild Rocket restaurant).

The most unlikely setting of all may be at KPO (1 Killiney Road; 65-6733-3648; www.imaginings.com.sg) in downtown Singapore, where a bar and lounge share space with an operating post office. During the day, KPO is a sleek cafe, but after dark, it fills with down-tempo beats and a mix of locals and tourists. A second floor also opens up at night, with a lovely open-air balcony where bar stools are arrayed to overlook the whizzing traffic below.

“KPO’s a great chill-out alternative to clubs and pubs,” said Vanessa Murthy, 31, while sharing drinks with a group of friends. “Singapore’s night life definitely offers a lot of variety nowadays.” http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/travel/01headsup.html

SM Websites should be updated as many customers use the internet now

2009-10-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a sample of Walmart's website and how quick it loads with the essential information right on the first page. and its current promos and where to locate the items in the stores (imagine nationwide), store locator, track orders and sign in. http://www.walmart.com/

Sears http://www.sears.com/

Pennys are also major malls in usa http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/default.aspx

Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/index.jsp

And even here in Philippines Metro Department store is good http://www.metrogaisano.com/stores.html

Hope SM can set a model website with lots of good information like these sites

Lists the SM malls and a few details but nothing like a full list of tenants and contact information with phones and websites

http://www.smprime.com/smprime/index.php?p=671&cat=3

http://www.smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/index.php?p=633 whould be advertised on all their plastic bags and advertisements so internet savy customers of today and access,

http://www.smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/index.php?p=1178 is under construction and has been for a long time. The front door should be http://www.smsupermalls.com/ and loaded with useful information on the first page and not so graphic intensive.

sales through emails signup http://www.smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/index.php?p=718

cyber zone link does not work

mall locator at http://www.smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/index.php?p=657 very slow loading and has no google map to find store location on site and no list of stores at each site and contact information

The site for Cebu is so old it still has the ice rink link even if it closed many years ago.

http://www.smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/index.php?p=635

Mall of Asia has attempted to be an informative site whats wrong with the rest of the SM malls?
http://www.smmallofasia.com/

but doesnt work when clicked

And sites like Makro (owned by SM) should be redone and the flash open page elimated as its useless and customers want immediate information not a book. http://www.makro.com.ph/ Read my blog on Makro website problems and samples . http://makroph.blogspot.com/

---------------------------------------

Top 10 web design mistakes http://www.webcraftscreations.com/resources/Web-Design-Articles-Top-Ten-Mistakes-in-Web-Page-Design.html (using frames)

Web Commandments: Ten Deadly Sins and How to Overcome Them
http://www.smartisans.com/articles/web_commandments.aspx (overuseage of graphics)

Your business' brand awareness is greatly affected by the image you give off to everyone - even the visitors to your website. If your website looks bad, does not work right, or is unpredictable across a variety of potential platforms and potential visitors, your very credibility will be harmed. http://www.royalways.com/20web-mistakes.html

Metro Department stores Philippines http://www.metrogaisano.com/

Sears http://www.sears.com/

Pennys are also major malls in usa http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/default.aspx
http://walgreens.shoplocal.com/walgreens/default.aspx?action=nuep is a good sample of easy viewing of sale items. After all you want to sell right not just look pretty?

Or here is a list of lots of usa merchants and how they advertise online
http://www.cybermonday.com/

http://www.bestbuy.com/ or a nice layout here

http://bfads.net/store/bestbuy and choice of language nice idea
http://www.officemax.com/

http://www.buy.com/
http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/homepage.jsp?cid=shoplocaltopnavbacktokohls

SM wins Retail Asia's 'Best of the Best' Award but what about.....???

2009-10-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - The SM Retail Group received the Best of the Best Award during the 2009 Retail Asia-Pacific Top 500 Awards held recently at the COEX Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul, Korea, highlighting its leadership not only in the Philippines, but also in the Asia-Pacific region.

This was the second consecutive year that the SM Retail Group was named the Best of the Best, and the sixth year in a row that SM won the Gold Award as the Philippines’ Top Retailer. The SM Department Store also received the Country Award for the Philippines by the Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Association during the closing ceremonies of the 14th Asia Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition also in Seoul, Korea.

The top three retailers from each of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region were awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards during the event; and the Best of the Best were selected from the Gold Awardees. Local retailers cited included Mercury Drug and Rustans, which won the Silver and Bronze Awards, respectively, for the Philippines.

“The 2009, Retail Asia-Pacific Top 500 Ranking was a pleasant surprise in that the combined sales turnover of the region’s top 500 retailers has expanded instead of contracting in the wake of what has been widely regarded as the world’s gravest economic turmoil,” says Steven HL Goh, executive chairman of Retail Asia Publishing Pte Ltd. “Total sales turnover grew at a sterling double digit rate of 13.7 percent.”

While one of the reasons for this better-than-expected performance “is that the region’s retailers had not yet felt the full brunt of the economic storm,’ Goh emphasizes that “ this does not detract from the extent of the achievement of all those Asia-Pacific retailers who had made it to this year’s Top 500 ranking.”

“As a retailer, change is in our DNA,” says Teresita Sy-Coson, president of SM’s Non-Food Retail Group. “We always innovate and make everything new and exciting.”

After years of highlighting basic merchandise at very affordable prices, the SM Department Store, which lies at the heart of SM’s retail group, has returned to its fashion roots. Changes in the marketplace have prompted the company to become a fashion store once more.

The change is evident in the store’s merchandise, which has more mastige brands or designer fashion items, allowing customers to transform runway looks into reality. Renovations of premiere stores and exciting design concepts in new stores have added a contemporary feel to the shopping experience. Innovative tie-ups, on the other hand, like those of Philippine Fashion Week, seem to be bringing SM closer to its goal. (But see my comments below on their lack of internet use, mapping store locations, store directory of merchants and contact information including cyberzone a internet favorite, new supermarket models below)

At the same time, SM continues to be known for affordable lifestyle shopping for fashion, for the home, for gadgets , for children and babies. The store has the widest assortment of merchandise in the country, ranging from basic items for everyday needs to fashion items for discriminating shoppers, making it top of mind when people think of shopping.

SM, which has 36 branches nationwide, has become part of the lives of many Filipinos, not only because of its merchandise but also because of its one stop shopping experience and service. Customers also go to the store to pay their utility and bankcard bills, buy tickets for the hottest shows in town, and exchange foreign currency.

It also has a rewards program that offers perks and services to more than four million members. Prestige card members have a lounge in premium stores where they can relax in between shopping and get special services. My comment: You get one point for 4 spent, while Metro department stores gives you one point for every peso spent? But SM does give 10 percent discount on some sales and other benefits to card holders)
Read the original article here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=518686&publicationSubCategoryId=66

My comment:

I often wonder why the stores here like Ayala, SM and Robinsons and lots of their tenants don't use the web more with most affluent shoppers here in the Philippines now having an active online surfing with places like facebook and even TV getting online. Setting up a website or blog is so cheap and easy to change or update if someone in authority made sure it happened. And customers would apprciate the ability to see complete lines of merchandise or specials for the week. One store in the USA and many parts of the world is Aldai and I wonder why they have not surfaced yet here in the Philippines as they would be excellent for small store locations with only limited items but quality at a low price.

SM does not even have a active functioning website to assist its many customers in the stores it has in its many malls and the contact information or maps online where their malls are or the contact even for their management at their many malls. That is really strange seeing they are opening the Cyber Zones which is internet based. Strange for the largest mall leader in the Philippines. They should take a look at Metro's nice site and also Aldai's

A model for SM, Ayala, Metro, Robinsons to design the website and open new franchise Aldais Read more here

SM Malls need to have a directory online of stores in their mall

SM Appliances LCD tvs cheaper prices (at least in Cebu SM) with its larger purchasing power and closer to the supplier source why can't the prices be lower than USA?

WHERE DID ALL THE TOMATOES GO HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?

2009-10-26T03:33:00.000-07:00

The Philippines has suffered a terrible weather problem with almost continous rain or cloudiness for the past few weeks. But what I can't understand is why the buyers for SM, Robinsons, Ayala, Metro grocery stores can't find alternative suppliers for a temporary solution rather than having store shelves empty of red tomatoes. In USA the buyers find supplies all over the world to make sure they meet customer needs. What is problem here? If there is no stock in country then Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand or even South Africa or Mexico or South America must have supplies that can be flown in to meet the lack here of so many different vegetables. If there is a source here in country it is not meeting the need for any I repeat ANY supermarket here in Cebu. I assume Manila stores are suffering similiar lack of supplies. The government should step in and relax the standards until the supplies return to normal and the buyers should use sources like I easily found by searching Australian tomatoes. The customers want tomatoes and other vegetables and I assume the buyers could find alternative sources until this crisis is resolve as we get all kinds of other offshore dry goods, why not tomatoes and other vegetables?

http://www.tomatoes-australia.com/

SM offers to build a unified development mall, hotels, convention center CEBU wow!

2009-10-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Cebu Mayor back at CH to receive offer of SM for lot at SRP

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña returns to work today to receive an offer from SM Prime Holdings for a portion of the South Road Properties (SRP). My comment: Its about time we get a unified approach in the development of the SRP rather than a piece meal setup! Great work and Cebu benefits

The mayor said that SM has long been interested in buying 30 hectares at the SRP, which worth about P2.7 billion.

Osmeña admitted that the negotiation has taken almost three years before they reached an agreement.

The mayor said that SM will build the biggest convention center in the Philippines in the SRP that could overshadow the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

“Kanang CICC mahimo gyud na nga urban poor sa tukuron nga convention center sa SM kay dako man gyud,” Osmeña said.

Aside from that, the mayor revealed that SM will also construct a shopping mall with a 250 hectare-floor area, probably the biggest in Visayas and Mindanao.

Moreover, SM will build two high rise hotels in the SRP with a 200-room capacity.

The mayor said that the purchase will go through the normal and usual process, like the Swiss challenge, the approval of the City Council and so on.

Osmeña is very optimistic that the transaction will be finalized soon and the city will receive the 25 percent down payment this December worth P600 million.

The amount, Osmeña said, will be put in another supplemental budget for the implementation and completion of city initiated projects.

The mayor disclosed that he was assured by SM that the groundbreaking of the proposed shopping mall will be held immediately as soon as the deal will be sealed.

Osmeña bared the other plans of SM Prime Holdings in the SRP for the coming years like building a hospital and even putting up a university.

Meanwhile, the mayor wants SM to prioritize the shopping mall, convention center and the high rise hotels once the deal is done. Read the complete original article here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=517696&publicationSubCategoryId=107

A model for SM, Ayala, Metro, Robinsons to design the website and open new franchise Aldais

2009-10-25T05:15:00.000-07:00

I often wonder why the stores here like Ayala, SM and Robinsons and lots of their tenants don't use the web more with most affluent shoppers here in the Philippines now having an active online surfing with places like facebook and even TV getting online. Setting up a website or blog is so cheap and easy to change or update if someone in authority made sure it happened. And customers would apprciate the ability to see complete lines of merchandise or specials for the week. One store in the USA and many parts of the world is Aldai and I wonder why they have not surfaced yet here in the Philippines as they would be excellent for small store locations with only limited items but quality at a low price.

SM does not even have a active functioning website to assist its many customers in the stores it has in its many malls and the contact information or maps online where their malls are or the contact even for their management at their many malls. That is really strange seeing they are opening the Cyber Zones which is internet based. Strange for the largest mall leader in the Philippines. They should take a look at Metro's nice site and also Aldai's

http://www.metrogaisano.com/
http://www.aldi.us/us/html/sitemap_ENU_HTML.htm

The major malls and department stores should seek to better use the internet web sites and blogs to make better use of their large purchasing power and get online in a big way and possibly set up a new chain franchise with the Aldai chain. It is becoming very very popular in the States with low overhead with 2 or 3 employees handling a whole store. It would seem with people looking for a new viable franchise this would be an excellent service and money maker.

Regardless, the major department stores here need to examine their online presence as the world changes and customers demand new and cheaper ways to market such as Aldai does so well with emails to customers weekly, sales online, and a good layout that the stores here could follow. Even SM doesn't evan contact information anymore for each store online and their addresses and maps. I think it is a major oversite that SM, Ayala, Robinsons, Metro need to address rapidly. Read more how Aldai does it below. Lets have all the malls online with the same information here in the Philippines......

the ALDI way: incredible value every day.

http://www.aldi.us/us/html/sitemap_ENU_HTML.htm

The ALDI way of shopping has been continuously honed and refined since our first store opened in Southeastern Iowa in 1976. Committed to bringing food to customers at the lowest prices possible, our early stores set up shop in small spaces and introduced shoppers to the select-assortment concept, carrying only 500 select brand products. Compared with other supermarkets, our stores seemed tiny. But ALDI found a niche with Americans hungry for real value, and the chain grew rapidly.
Over time, more products were added, including more refrigerated and frozen foods. ALDI also began experimenting with Special Buy items, to great success. More recently, Sunday hours were instituted, and ALDI began accepting debit cards.
Today, there are over 1,000 ALDI stores in 29 states, from Kansas to the East Coast. And today’s ALDI store carries about 1,400 regularly-stocked items, including fresh meat, and, in certain locations, beer and wine. Though the original ALDI concept has been modified somewhat to accommodate our ever-changing tastes and preferences, the core concept remains: “Incredible Value Every Day.”

Get your special buys or promos by email
http://www.aldi.us/us/html/service/newsletter_ENU_HTML.htm?WT.mc_id=2009-10-23-16-54

Special buys

http://www.aldi.us/us/html/offers/offers_11_01_2009_ENU_HTML.htm?WT.z_src=main

Shopping smarter
http://www.aldi.us/us/html/company/shopping_smarter_ENU_HTML.htm?WT.z_src=main

Store locator
http://www.aldi.us/us/html/service/store_locator_ENU_HTML.htm?WT.z_src=main

Index of web links for Aldais

store locator

All around the country, ALDI continues to grow!

Thanks to over 18 million loyal customers, ALDI is proud to be celebrating the opening of our 1,000th U.S. store! At a time when other retailers are cutting back and the recession is deepening, we continue to build new ALDI stores – now offering Incredible Value Every Day in 29 states nationwide. And this exciting 1,000th store in West Haven, Connecticut brings our common-sense solution to even more value-conscious consumers, just like you!

For over 30 years, ALDI has been offering grocery shoppers high quality products for a fraction of the cost – without having to buy in bulk. And now more than ever, we’re giving you more ways to save – without compromising quality! When you shop at ALDI, you can always count on finding products that are consistently equal to or better than the top national brands in quality and taste, for up to 50% less than at traditional grocery stores. And our Double Guarantee ensures it! In fact, you can find almost all of the items you need for your weekly shopping list at great ALDI prices every day – including staples like fresh produce, milk, bread and eggs. Helping you save an average of $115 a month on your family’s grocery bill!
Come see for yourself. Click here to find a store near you.

Or to get the full scoop on our 1,000th store, click here to read the press release.

SM, Ayala, Robinsons malls, Metro malls

Europe vows to liberate online shopping, what about shopping online in the Philippines?

2009-10-25T04:26:00.001-07:00

My comment: Here is the Philippines the merchants are losing a valuable opportunity to sell online as few do such a business. There is an increasing number getting online everyday and its a cheap way of advertising too. Even stores like CDR King which is always out of many items, would be an excellent candidate for such an expansion with pent up demand all over the country. And Island Souvenirs also does not seem to recognize the world wide potential of such world wide sales. And the Hong Merchants who sell on ebay should open a local stocking outlet since the non brand batteries cell batteries sold in country are mostly junk and don’t last good like the original brand and yet my experience from USA and Hong Kong batteries off brand, they are just as good and even if you can ever find any batteries in stock for your cell at CDRKing they are good not like the off brands sold at the stalls you find everywhere here in the Philippines. And there are lots of other items that would be easier to sell online with good delivery services like LBC, DHL and others here in country. Payment remains a sticking point so meet ups still might be the best way or payment after receipt like Globe is now offering although I don’t know how well it works. But if its a big reliable company it should be easy. Why not even sell LCD TVs online for local pickup from SM Appliances or Robinsons or Abensons?

Island Souvenirs http://philisland.wordpress.com/

CDRKing http://cdrkingph.blogspot.com/

SM Malls http://smmalls.blogspot.com/

Read the complete article here http://philippinestuff.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/europe-vows-to-liberate-online-shopping-what-about-shopping-online-in-the-philippines/

SM Mall of Asia puts up RP's first recreation center for children

2009-10-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

More A world-class recreation center for children has been put up at the SM Mall of Asia, the Philippines’ second-largest mall.

Besides being the first of its kind in the country, the recreation center covers 3,000 square meters and is worth P100 million.

The facility features Cosmic Kidz, a five-storey structure which will stimulate children’s imagination about space.

It also offers X-Rider, a four-dimensional cinema theater offers moving seats, air jets, as well as 12 different themes.

Launched last week, the facility was completed in partnership with Unilever Philippines through its Selecta Ice Cream Division under a three year contract.

The arrangement allows Unilever to sell merchandise inside the center, SM Shopping Center Management Corp. assistant to the vice president Steven T. Tan said.

The center may be replicated in other malls such as in Megamall and SM North Edsa, Tan said.

SM employees visited Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other countries “and put different ideas all together to come up with the concept," Tan added.

Read the original article here http://www.gmanews.tv/story/175244/sm-mall-of-asia-puts-up-rps-first-recreation-center-for-children

P100-million recreation center planned for Mall of Asia 10/22/2009

SM Mall of Asia, the country’s premier mall, has spent over P100 million to put up a world-class recreation center for kids inside the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

SM Shopping Center Management Corp. assistant to the vice president Steven Tan said the facility for kids of all ages that was launched last week, is the first-of-kind in the Philippines.

According to Tan, the completion of the activity center was in partnership with Unilever Philippine through its Selecta Ice Cream Division under an agreement contract of three years.

Under the deal, Tan said SM management has allowed Unilever-Selecta to have its merchandise inside the 3,000-square meter Selecta Kids Universe which Tan said may be expanded to other malls like in Megamall and SM North.

Coming with the concept, he said, wasn’t easy because SM has to send people to travel in countries around Asia to get an idea from similar facilities where kids will truly enjoy.

“We have visited Taiwan, Hongkong, Singapore and other countries and put the different ideas all together to come up with this concept.”

The entertainment center boasts of a five-story Cosmic Kidz that will have the imaginations of kids soar sky high into space as they immerse themselves into active play.

Kids should not miss the X-Rider which Tan said a unique 4D entertainment cinema made up of an eight-seater mini-theater that goes beyond the usual 3D visual spectacle. With 12 amazing themes shown in regular rotation the X-Rider’s movable seats, air jets, and other high-tech features, kids will experience the all the high-technology effects. Ayen Infante.

Original article here http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20091022bus4.html

SM Appliances LCD tvs cheaper prices (at least in Cebu SM) with its larger purchasing power and closer to the supplier source why can't the prices be lower than USA?

2009-10-15T23:57:00.000-07:00

Since I am observing a lot of clicks on LCD tvs on my Bargain Philippines, I stopped by the SM appliance store in SM Cebu today. I found a 32 inch tv as low as 23,999 so if your in the market for a new LCD stop by the SM appliance store in your area. The main entrance they may have the specials available. Their website does not reflect the latest sales and I continue to promote that SM needs to have a section for individual stores so they can highlight their offering directly rather than one generic website for the whole nation.

Makro does not have any good buys this week on LCD tvs. I hope they put out some more of their specials as they have had they have had the best buys I have found to date.
SM Appliance website for LCD TV's

http://www.smappliance.com/showsubcat.php?id=31

Makro

http://www.makro.com.ph/files/makromail/makromail.html

Robinsons

http://robinsonsappliances.com.ph/

Abenson's

http://www.abenson.com.ph/shop/categs.asp?categ=115

Cebu Appliance in downtown Cebu

http://www.in-cebu.net/cebu-appliance-center/

Alex Go email alexgoyap@gmail.com has shown the willingness to give good prices

Sulit classified ads have some good buys on LCD tv's check them out

http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/classifieds+directory/q/cheap+lcd+tv

Ebay Philippines also has some excellent buys check them out http://shop.ebay.ph/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=lcd+tv&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Also check out my new blog on LCD TVS Philippines
http://lcdtvphilippines.blogspot.com/

Free showing of ‘green’ films for students at SM, Good work SM!

2009-10-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines--A major mall chain in Metro Manila will be showing “green” films to students for free to show how they can care for the environment.

In response to the serious effects of climate change, particularly the unprecedented flooding in the metropolis caused by Tropical Storm “Ondoy,” SM Supermalls has launched the SM Green Film Festival that will showcase award-winning documentaries and international films on the environment.

Liza Silerio, SM vice president for operations, said the films will be open to the public, especially students.

“By showing these films, we aim to show everyone the beauty of our planet, to teach the value of conserving our shared resources, and to plan and practice environmental efforts toward a sustainable future,” Silerio said.

She added that with the cooperation of the Department of Education’s Adopt-a-School program, public and private high school students have been invited to attend selected screenings in SM malls near their schools.

The films will be shown Thursday at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City and on Oct. 21 and 22 at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Silerio said the film showing was made possible with the support of various embassies.
She added that the movie, “Home,” was especially lent for the occasion by the French Embassy. Home, a travel notebook that shows how human beings have seriously disrupted the Earth’s fragile life balance, has been touted as one of the films to watch out for this year.

“We believe that these documentaries and films will open our eyes to what is really happening to our environment and to our planet in general,” Silerio stressed.

To further foster the students’ participation in the project, Silerio said they are encouraged to bring old or used mobile phones, chargers and accessories to be dropped off at special Nokia recycling bins at the cinema venue.

“This endeavor will teach our youth that toxic waste such as cell phones should be disposed of properly,” Silerio said.

For SM Megamall, the following films will be shown: “An Inconvenient Truth,” Home, “11th Hour,” “Planet Earth (From Pole to Pole),” and “Ligtas Likas.”

At the SM Mall of Asia, the featured movies will be “Planet Earth (Mountains),” Ligtas Likas, 11th Hour, “Penguins, Penguins, Paano Ka Ginawa,” and Home. Original article here http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20091014-230083/Free-showing-of-green-films-for-students

Great time for US consumers: America is on sale, take note SM, Ayala, Robinsons

2009-10-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

There has never been a better time to be a consumer. America is on sale. So not only bargains can be found in Philippines Bargains but also in the USA. Merchants here in Philipppines take note. LCD prices are still cheaper on sale in America but they are slowly coming down here in Philippines too.

Prices on everything from clothes to coffee to cat food are dropping, some faster than they have in half a century. Items rarely discounted — like Tiffany engagements rings — are now. The two biggest purchases most people make — homes and new cars — are selling at steep price reductions.

“This is the new normal,” says Donald Keprta, president of Dominick’s, a supermarket chain in the Midwest, which just cut prices by as much as 30 percent on thousands of items. “We aren’t going back.” Read the full complete article here http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173728/great-time-for-us-consumers-america-is-on-sale

Check out some Philippine buys on LCD tvs as low as 8,999
Makro has some good buys on LCDs but often run out of stock. Just click the link below and then click nonfood on the left and then use the next arrow on the top of the screen to scroll through the current offerings which change every two weeks. Currently as of Sunday October 4 they have a Matrix 22 inch LCD for 11,999 pesos and a 32 inch ChongHong LCD for 24,990 pesos which is cheaper than Robinsons and SM Appliance but I have seen them even cheaper at Makro so check their Makro mail online to see what the current offerings are click these links

http://www.makro.com.ph/files/makromail/makromail.html

LCD TV Best buys in the Philippines

Another LCD Best buy 32 inch Robinsons

SM Appliance LCD prices LOWER now towards mass appeal like USA prices

32 inch LCD at Makro and Asian Home 19,999

LCD TV 19 inch 9,999 Bargain Philippines

And in the USA 42 inch only 28,500 pesos

Dynex® - 42" Class / 1080p / 60Hz / LCD HDTV (click the title to see the ad) Our Price: $599.99 (28,500 pesos wow Best Buy in USA)

Wonder why if we are closer to Asia we can't even have a cheaper price?

SM Malls need to have a directory online of stores in their mall

2009-09-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

Many google searches are done trying to locate businesses, their websites and their phone numbers and even if they have a yahoo messenger name to contact instantly with them. SM being the largest mall operator in the Philippines is a innovator but is missing a valuable tool for their mall stores to allow online customers an easy directory to contact them.

Read my blog posting about this here http://smmalls.blogspot.com/

Years ago SM Cebu featured a series of full page ads telling the contact details of their tenant renting stores with store floor location map and a phone directory so customers could easily contact the stores to ask about merchandise, stocks or other details.

But when you do a search online seeking what stores are in the Cyberzone which is an outstanding feature of SM, nothing shows up in search. Such a disappoint and loss of sales for the stores that pay rent at the Cyberzone.

On my blogs all the time people are searching for computer stores and if they were listed in SM Cyberzone there would be more sales and visits.

And for the other stores in SM like the restaurants, and other shops, people are online often seeking directories and phone numbers so it would be great economic sense to show maps and stores located in each mall so more visits can result. Nothing exists now online at least what the google search engine can find.

Finally each mall should have contact information such as email addresses so customers can make inquires about hours, facilities, or report concerns. At one time there was contact details for each mall but it has disappeared from the web. It should be restored in this information age where SM is even offering free wifi now which is a blessing.

It would be nice for each SM mall to have online a map and store location, type of store name and email address and phone and web address if they have such and even a yahoo messenger chat name so customers could contact in chat instantly as some innovative retailers like CDRKing are now doing.

Here is a shop that has stores in the Cyberzone and has a good website to show off its locations and make more sales. Many people search for such details in google online.

Compex http://www.compexinternational.com/outlets.htm

Here are the present SM websites with no sales details for the stores withinor their contact details or map of the locations in the mall. Customers would increase if such was provided.

http://www.sm-shoemart.com/smretail.htm

http://www.smdeptstore.com/smdeptstore/index.php?p=1287 coming soon

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=SM_Shoemart

SM Retail Operations

SM Department Store
SM Supermarket
SM Appliance Center
Super SM

Retail Affiliates should have contact details, websites, and maps

Ace Hardware
Baby Company
Hardware Workshop
Homeworld
Kultura
Our Home
Signature Lines
Sports Central
Supplies Station
Surplus Shop
Toy Kingdom
Toyworld

Joint Venture

Watsons

SM Biggest CYBERZONE @ SM CITY NORTH EDSA ANNEX but no links to stores inside sad

Celebrating Freedom Day at Cyberzone-SM Cubao no links to stores inside

Why don't the malls maximize their values by adding condos above and call centers within?

2009-09-27T23:32:00.000-07:00

I wonder why the malls don't recognize the value of their real estate and get maximum value from it like Robinsons has and continues to do by building condos on top of the malls? Robinsons Manila built their condo's and hotel's right on top of the mall so all the residents make ready shoppers for their malls and supermarkets and cuch a convenience to the residents to have everything right in the same structure. And now Robinsons is taking it one step further by putting the call centers in the malls too. More customers again for their malls. Working, shopping, and sleeping all in the same complex such a great idea no more traffic!

Mall-based BPO facility in Robinsons Luisita
http://pinoybusiness.org/2009/09/21/mall-based-bpo-facility-in-robinsons-luisita/

Robinsons Place Residences are an integral component of the Robinsons Padre Faura Mall, one of Manila City's largest real estate developments and most comprehensive shopping, entertainment and mixed-use centers, presenting residents with a myriad of choices on their doorstep.

Robinsons Padre Faura Mall is one of the nicest Malls in Manila, with not just shops, department stores and supermarkets, but also such establishments as Star Bucks, TGI Fridays, McDonalds, Jollibee, Pizza Hut, Cinema complexes, and much more.

http://www.manila-condos.com/robinsons/index.htm

Also refer to this ideal location for a mini mall or supermarket
http://primerealestate.wordpress.com/

Raising the bar for consumer welfare

2009-09-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

BOUGHT a defective product? No worries, an “excellent” store will replace the commodity with a new working product without being asked twice. Replacing a defective product serves as a test by the consumer if the establishment is worth coming back to. A store that cares for its clients usually has a high chance of succeeding because it attracts a wide and loyal consumer base.

Nowadays there is a big shift in the buying habits of consumers wherein offering greater convenience, more selection, higher quality or better service take precedence over price alone.

There is a growing trend toward convenience, wherein consumers consider paying a little extra for the convenience of having knowledgeable salespeople who can help them make infirmed buying decisions in a non-hurried atmosphere and have a mechanism to act efficiently should a problem arise from the purchase.

Unfortunately, not all stores have these in dealing with customers. A lot of business establishments view customers merely as people where they derive profits from.

Consumers complain that there are just a few stores that really treat them personally and fairly. “They need to have a better appreciation of us,” they often say.

Thus, stores need to install a mechanism that will answer issues on how to service their clients’ needs, implement an effective customer feedback mechanism, conduct after- sales service, among others.

But what incentive do stores have when they put on these mechanisms? An incentive is the Department of Trade and Industry Certified Establishment (DTI-CE) seal of recognition.

The DTI, together with the private sector, has raised the bar of consumer service when it launched the CE Program.
The DTI-CE Program is designed to give due recognition to businesses that aspire for excellence by encouraging adherence to fair-trade laws not because the government is requiring them, but because it is the right thing to do. It encourages and promotes the adoption of “self-policing mechanism” to foster the highest level of business ethics and uphold a fair and honest marketplace.

Although recognition is given to entrepreneurs, the end beneficiary of the program is, of course, the consumer who buys the goods. This addresses the guessing game of consumers where to get good products and service.

Well-deserving stores will be given the DTI-CE seal which should be displayed at the entrance of, or in any conspicuous place within their premises, for quick and easy recognition. Consumers buying at these stores are assured that they will get a fair deal and be serviced well by the store.

Government agencies serve the consumers better when it acts as encourager of business instead of a police in the marketplace. Thus, the seal is deemed as an instrument by the DTI to encourage the private sector to comply with fair-trade laws and other related policies, including the Consumer Act, Price Act, price- tag law and standards law. It is not just another decoration for a store to display. It is an achievement for consumer excellence.

Consumer welfare is really the business of the private sector, which is why there is a need for a concerted effort to enlist their participation.

For this program, the department has enlisted eight nongovernment organizations—the Philippine Retailers Association, Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Philippine Association of Supermarkets Inc., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Philippine Industries, Philippine Product Quality and Safety Foundation Inc. and National Association of Consumers Inc.

The broad spectrum of business that threw in their support for the program ensures that more consumers can benefit. More retail establishments, supermarkets, department stores, appliance centers, hardware stores and service and repair shops are expected to aim for certification from DTI.

The CE seal, just like a medal of honor, is awarded for three different categories:
Bronze—for complying with fair-trade laws and maintaining good customer relations through a Consumer Welfare Desk;
Silver—for attaining Bronze requirements, ensuring effective store management/ operations and adhering to social responsibility; and
Gold—for attaining Silver requirements and implementing quality and environmental management systems in their operations.

Why the need to the have three different categories? Just like the honor roll, the best establishments get the gold. It is an incentive for the stores to improve the quality of their service. It is hoped that the seal program will be a “peer pressure” among store owners, because no seal may mean fewer customers.

It is about time that the consumers get value for their money. In an environment where stores and goods abound, consumers have the right to know which establishments practice business ethics and treat their clients fairly.
October is Consumer Welfare Month! Click here to read the original article http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/economy/16424-raising-the-bar-for-consumer-welfare.html

Also there are a number of good articles here on service http://amazingserviceguy.com/1608/customer-service-training/how-to-handle-customer-complaints-tip-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2734

SM Appliance is finally lowering LCD prices towards mass appeal like USA prices

2009-09-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

Click photo to make larger

Finally the prices on LCD TVs are coming down at SM Appliance, the USA has been down for years and sales are booming. Makro has offered LCDs 32 inch for 19,000 and less and 42 inch recently for 37,000. Since Makro is owned by SM, I am sure that SM Appliance can also offer these excellent prices and I look forward to mass appeal pricing like they do at Makro http://www.makro.com.ph/

Above ad is good until September 30, 2009 and appeared in newspapers today 9/18/09

Earlier postings from my blog at Philippine Bargains on good prices on LCDs

http://philippinestuff.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/lcd-tv-best-buys-in-the-philippines/

http://philippinestuff.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/lcd-19-inch-9999-bargain/

http://philippinestuff.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/cherry-mobile-c50-curve-flip-open-phone-best-buy-20-inch-lcd-tv/

SM Definitely Has Everything Raves about wifi

2009-09-07T18:59:00.001-07:00

Now I can definitely say that SM has it all..They definitely provide their consumers with what they need at reasonable prices.

The SM Malls is big and very spacious. Which is something that I love about going there. It is a treasure trove of good finds! Most of the items for sale are affordable and of good quality. The clothes are in style and fashionably chic

One can never say that SM Malls are boring. You can never run out of things to do. There are cinemas, a bowling alley, a lot of arcades where the young and those that still they are young play video games. There are restaurants, bookstores, clothing shops, shoe stores and now it is a WI-FI Enable zone..

I am now in SM Manila testing the speed of the WI-FI connection.I can truly say that it is fast.No lags and waiting just log on and you are in cyberspace. Truly what they say is true the best things in life are free. If it's not free then it might as well be affordable. I tasted the food from Lydia's Lechon and it was yummy!!!! They have one of the best lechon's that I have ever tasted..Another amazing thing about them is that they are now online.. They can be found here

So basically, everything that you want and need . They can proudly say We’ve really got it all for you.

from the blog http://mushings.blogspot.com/2009/08/sm-definitely-has-everything.html

Henry Sy Sr.: The Man Truly Has It All

2009-09-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

Apparently, it seems that the slogan of SM malls, “We’ve got it all for you” can also be applied to the life of the man who built it. At 82, Chinese-Filipino Henry Sy Sr. is a perfect picture of success and excellence in all aspects. Born on December 25, 1924, Sy was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. A native of Xiamen in China, he went to the Philippines in 1936 to help his father who then owns a small grocery store in Manila. He was 12 years old then and they were very poor.

Financially, the wealth of Henry Sy is widely recognized. The 2005 Forbes Magazine World's Richest People list of 2005 ranked Sy and his family as the 14th richest person in Southeast Asia and the 74th richest in Asia and Australia. That makes Sy the 355th richest man in the world and the 2nd richest man in the Philippines. According to Forbes Magazine, his asset amounts to USD 15 billion.

In terms of career, Sy is considered a business tycoon and greatly admired by fellow entrepreneurs The success of Henry Sy has been recognized by various institutios. In 1999, the Makati Business Club gave him the "Management Man of the Year" award and the De La Salle University-Manila gave him an Honorary Doctorate in Business Management.

Aside from beng the owner of SM Investments Corporation , he also manages Banco de Oro Universal Bank and China Banking Corporation. He also owns 12% of San Miguel Corporation, with an estimated worth of USD 500 million.

Inspite of his achievements and immense wealth, Sy manages to maintain a simple, strong, and happy family life. Some of his children holds top positions in their various companies. Likewise, he never forgets to share his blessings. Sy put up the SM Foundation Inc. to give hope to poor but deserving youths. To read the original posting, click this link http://www.tsinoy.com/article_item.php?articleid=748

Landlords find creative ways to fill empty retail spaces

2009-08-31T15:45:00.000-07:00

"Outside the box" is way to go as malls fight high vacancies

A string of USA national bankruptcies has mall landlords shifting their thinking away from big box chains.

The recently announced New Era Park at Eastern Hills Mall is one local example of an increasing number of nontraditional tenants finding their way into former retail spaces in both regional malls and neighborhood strip centers.

The $1 million athletic training facility will fill 52,000 square feet at the mall come October, bringing it to 100 percent occupancy after years of limping by with high vacancy rates. The mall also houses an Erie County Auto Bureau branch, a military museum and learning center called Echoes Through Time and Bridges Wellness Center, which teaches holistic health and spirit classes.

Landlords are becoming increasingly flexible on nontraditional tenants and have lightened up on shorter lease terms, rent concessions and temporary uses. I have even seen churches moving into malls in underused theaters and open areas.

McKinley Mall has gotten creative, too, housing a Red Dragon Martial Arts dojo as well as the Ten Lives Club, a non-profit cat adoption and rescue organization. Going forward, said Property Manager Jeff Ohle, the mall is focusing on adding entertainment or recreational uses in addition to office and medical space.

Since the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theatre moved into Florida's prime regional Galleria Mall in April, several hundred kids and their parents come each week to the mall for rehearsals and classes. They have brought traffic and life to the increasingly vacant east end of the mall that Lord & Taylor once called home.

Stiller has already signed deals with day care centers, medical clinics, shared office space and beauty suites. And he's looking for more.

"Shopping centers are very conveniently located," Stiller said. "In a weak business environment, you have to open up the aperture and think a little more creatively. The more quickly you turn into a proactive mode and recognize this is going to be with us for awhile, the better off you're going to be."

One of Stiller's new nontraditional tenants is J.J. Martin, who is opening the Beauty Mall in Kendall, Fla. The space will house about 40 different beauty professionals under one roof.

At the end of the day, it's all about filling spaces. Read the complete original article here http://www.buffalonews.com/145/story/777021.html

In Manila, The research firm said Metro Manila malls are filled with non-traditional retail tenants such as spas, clinics, leisure and entertainment shops. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/01/yehey/business/20090901bus1.html

Elderly Learn to Surf at SM, Very nice

2009-08-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Goes along with their free internet, SM malls has great ideas

SM Cebu please note the problem

2009-08-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

We want a SUN signal in SM CEBU Supermarket and SM Cebu mall

Many users now use SUN like myself and also like to shop at SM Supermarket Cebu. But there is no signal for SUN in the supermarket at SM Cebu and so if you linger there for shopping you are out of touch with the world hehe. Just like the addition of the new wonderful wifi at SM Cebu, Sun signal should also be set up in the supermarket so the customers can be more relaxed and in touch with the world. . Also SUN signal needs to be increased through out the mall as there are many dead sposts for SUN throughout the mall, so we can speed our shopping time there. Thanks SM Cebu for listening.

As a result of the new wifi at SM Cebu there are a number of new websites and blogs, Wow

2009-08-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

As a result of the new wifi at SM Cebu there are a number of new websites and blogs, Wow

SM CEBU NEW FREE WIFI http://www.smcitycebuwifi.com/

contact form is only web based and it should have a physical address too as I like to keep a copy of my emails and many webbased email systems break down. Please put a email on the web page would be very helpful. The forum on the website does not list actual speeds which would be very helpful. My own experience is the North wing is slow but the area near Jollibee on 2nd ground level is very good and even got the SM internet in the Supermarket. Nice touch.

SM CEBU WIFI BLOGS http://www.smcitycebuwifi.com/featured-blogs.html

Wifi everywhere at SM http://www.mangochico.com/wifi-everywhere-at-sm/

Speed test at SM Cebu on internet http://www.mangochico.com/speed-test-sm-cebu-wifi/ but my speeds do not reflect this reading when I checked it myself. But regardless the effort to make available a fast free internet through out the mall is commendable and speaks good of the future for high end consumers that visit the mall and should attract more high level end customers but those who have wifi phones are so happy too.

Ayala Cebu should take note of this innovation and others like the new tiles on the floor thoughout the mall as the Ayala mall is starting to look a little less high class compared to SM Cebu now as if they are not keeping up with the latest free wifi mall wide and the attactive tiles compared to the worn out look now at Ayala floors in Cebu.

Also read some of my other blog posting on free wifi

Where can I find free wifi hotspots or zones here in the Philippines

FREE WI-FI SM malls, Robinsons, Philippines

As a result of the new wifi at SM Cebu there are a number of new websites and blogs, Wow

SM City Cebu pioneers mallwide WiFi service ,thanks SM the shoppers appreciate it

SM Travel Lounge Cebu, what a nice idea and service

2009-08-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

When in Cebu, are you looking for a place to leave your baggage, go for a clean toilet, buy a ticket and take a cold shower? You dont need to check-in in a hotel but this all can be done at SM Travel Lounge. This is SM’s service specially for transit travellers who just want to roam around the mall to eat and have a last minute shopping while waiting for their flight.

The first Travel Lounge I’ve been to was at SM Iloilo, conveniently located beside the Airport terminal van and the last time was at SM City Cebu. This is perfect for seabound passengers because of its close location to the pier. For a minimum amount of P100, one can leave their bags and take a refreshing cold shower (shampoo, soap & towel not included).

At SM Travel Lounge Cebu, there’s also a coffee shop inside, telephone booth although its not working yet.

from http://marcopolo.i.ph/blogs/marcopolo/?p=250

SM City Cebu pioneers mallwide WiFi service ,thanks SM the shoppers appreciate it

2009-08-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

CEBU, Philippines - As the need for WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) facility has become one of the strongest demands for consumers today, SM City Cebu pioneers a mallwide free WiFi service in Cebu.

Although, value-added services will be rolled out by the SM Mall Group in all its 36 shopping malls all over the country, Cebu is currently one of the 13 malls that are WiFi capable.

“This is one of our value-added service offers for mall goers and shoppers,” said Joanne A. Abrogar, operations manager for SM Cyberzone.

With this free WiFi roll-out, SM Cebu expects to double its daily consumer traffic from an average of 100 thousand a day during weekdays, and 150 thousand on weekends.

SM City Cebu, assistant mall manager Maria Teresa J. Mempin said that the entire mall will be having a free WiFi facility starting this week. Initially, the mall installed free wireless Internet connection at the Northwing area.

Based on the performance of the SM malls that have been installed with this facility, consumer traffic have doubled, because of this value-added service, Abrogar said.

Mempin said that SM Cebu expects the same performance, “hopefully, we will be able to attract more mall goers.”

SM has commissioned PhilCom, as its Internet provider on this mall-wide WiFi program, with 8mbps bandwidth that can accommodate 200 users simultaneously, without connection glitches.

Although some Coffee Shops have installed their own WiFi facilities, prior to this introduction, Mempin said the mall has not received complaints from coffee shops, and even Internet Café tenants.

For Coffee Shops, this facility will eventually benefit their businesses, as users are attracted to stay longer in a comfortable environment, such as offered by Coffee Shops, to avail of the unlimited WiFi access.

For Internet Café tenants, such as Netopia, Mempin said this will not adversely affect their business, as not everybody has mobile computers of laptops. Besides, Internet Café’s huge markets are the gamers.

Free Internet connection, such as WiFi in a mall, is one of the strongest demands for consumers now days, with increasing number of people are mobile workers to encourage productivity.

Besides, because of the availability of affordable laptops that are made available to the consumers even as low as P13 thousand pave the way for people to own mobile computers, not only the professionals, but also students.

SM Mall Group, introduced this mall-wide WiFi service in February of this year in its SM Marikina branch. Today, there are a total of 13 SM Malls that are WiFi capable, and the Group targets to install WiFi service to all its 36 malls nationwide by October of this year.

Abrogar however, downplayed impression that the introduction of this facility is the result of the stiffer competition among shopping mall operators in the country, amid the “belt-tightening” measure adopted by consumers due to the financial crunch.

She said the primary purpose of this offering is only to offer more value-added services to its consumers

In Cebu, SM shopping mall is the first mall WiFi that offers free connection to its consumers, in a mall-wide coverage. 8/3/09 Philippine Star click this link to read original article

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=492522&publicationSubCategoryId=108

Here are some other postings I have done on free wifi

Where can I find free wifi hotspots or zones here in the Philippines

FREE WI-FI SM malls, Robinsons, Philippines

As a result of the new wifi at SM Cebu there are a number of new websites and blogs, Wow

SM City Cebu pioneers mallwide WiFi service ,thanks SM the shoppers appreciate it

We Want a SM SAVEMORE or HYPERMART at Pueblo Ocampo/Taft Manila

2009-07-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

After seeing how great the mixed use condo mall is at Robinsons Place Manila has proved to be, I think a SM hypermarket or mini mall on vita cruz and taft (opposite Jolibee) could be a prime opportunity to form a joint venture with Cityland to put several condo projects on top of such a mall or hypermarket and would be a gold mine for the operators and residents and such a convenience.

I am sure Cityland Chairman Sycip and President Luison might be interested. Cityland has excellent value for the money and are quickly bought up as a result. http://www.citylandcondo.com/properties.html

There are over 6 major wealthy colleges and universities within two blocks

De La Salle University-Manila Taft Ave, Manila

DLSU School of Design Ocampo
STI COLLEGE - TAFT INC, Educational Institutions, 1913 TAFT AVENUE
Philippine Normal University - Taft Avenue, Manila
SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE, 210 Taft Avenue, Manila, Manila
St scholastica's college manila
Rizal Stadium

At least 10 high rise condos within one block and a place to shop a few steps away is badly needed. And maybe more condos right along the LRT stop Vita Cruz/Taft/Pueblo Ocampo.

And with all these potential customers nearby, why not have entertainment and restaurants along Taft Ave like you have done in SM Cebu that face the street and can stay open all night if desired?

View Larger Map

Parents from all over the Philippines buy condos for their students in Manila and the same could happen in Cebu as it is a magnet for students from Letye, Bohol, Negroes and Mindanao.

Another prime use for a condo/hypermarket at vita cruz & taft on top of SM hypermarket could be a call center on some of the floors as this is bound to continue to expand here in Manila as more firms move call operations here and it is in such a prime location for so many residents as it right on the vita cruz lrt stop. Prime location at vita cruz/taft across from Jolibee for a joint hypermarket mini mall and mixed use Cityland condo.

There is a big mansion and property between Taft & Vita Cruz just a few minutes from the corner that could be the anchor area for the start of the development and many others would be happy to sell. Students, parents, the sports attendees at Rizal Stadium, the hotels, the condos, the schools, the main transport line would all welcome such a development.

We hope that SM Savemore or Hypermart could be a anchor to allow other entertainment businesses to open in a safe and recognized developer in this Taft/Pueblo Ocampo area with its thousands of wealthy residents ready to buy and spend.

SM to open 3D theater in Cebu before yearend

2009-07-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

BELIEVING the Cebu market is ready to pay more for digital films, SM Cinemas will open a 500-seater IMAX Theater in SM City Cebu in the fourth quarter of the year. (my comment.....the residents of Cebu look forward to this quality upgrade! Thanks)

Digital theater system developer IMAX and SM Cinemas will convert SM’s Cinema 4 into an IMAX theater, equipped with 3D projection technology, laser-aligned digital sound system and a customized way of maximizing a movie-goer’s field of view. When it opens in November or December, it will be the first IMAX Theater outside Metro Manila.

Since they need to choose a good film for the launch, SM Cinema senior vice president Edgar Tejerero said the IMAX-SM partnership are looking Walt Disney’s A Christmas Carol, which is due for release in November, and James Camerons’ Avatar, which Twentieth Century Fox announced will be available in 3D format on Dec. 18.
Cebu Sunstar 7/16/09 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sm-open-3d-theater-cebu-yearend

IMAX Comes to SM North Edsa, now when in Cebu as promised?

2009-07-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

Is the IMAX Theater in Mall Of Asia too far for you because you are living north of Metro Manila? Then fret no more!

On July 16, 2009, after opening the very first IMAX Theatre in the Philippines at SM Mall of Asia, SM Cinema is opening another IMAX Theatre at SM City North EDSA!
Digital Manila Blog

My comment: Earlier press reports said IMAX would also come to SM cebu in mid 2009. I wonder when it will be annouced as opening?

"SMPHI will also introduce Imax (Image Maximum) cinema technology in Cebu. The company will convert the existing Cinema 4 at SM City into an Imax theater that shows three-dimensional movies and hopes to open the facility in the middle of 2009. " from Cebu Sunstar 9/13/2008

SM Megamall Launches Wi-Fi Service Today

2009-07-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

After the prior successful Wi-Fi service launches in other SM Malls in the past few months, SM Megamall follows suit with the rest of its Sy-owned mall family. The earlier ones include SM Marikina, SM The Block, The Podium, SM North Edsa, and SM Bacoor.

However, compared to all the other Wi-Fi service quality, SM Megamall's Wi-Fi service today was not upto par.

It suffered a measly speed of 100kbps download speed according to measuring site Speedtest.net. Compared to household PLDT DSL999 connections which avergaes 1000kps, one would crawl with a YouTube upload or download.

Hopefully, it would improve as they get some realizations out of this user beta-test session; or after it is already 100% implemented. Nonetheless the common user can be thankful for the technology and SM Megamall's free Wi-Fi service.

My comment, now if only they would bring it to SM Cebu, Parkmall and Emall here in Cebu too hehe.

Reported in Digital Manila

http://digitalmanila.blogspot.com/2009/07/sm-megamall-launches-wi-fi-service.html

Here are some of my other blog posting on free wifi

Where can I find free wifi hotspots or zones here in the Philippines

FREE WI-FI SM malls, Robinsons, Philippines

As a result of the new wifi at SM Cebu there are a number of new websites and blogs, Wow

SM City Cebu pioneers mallwide WiFi service ,thanks SM the shoppers appreciate it

SM Prime Holdings eyes three more malls in Cebu

2009-07-05T19:16:00.001-07:00

CEBU, Philippines - SM Prime Holdings Inc., the conglomerate that owns and manages SM shopping malls in the country is currently negotiating with three properties here in Cebu for possible sites of three new malls.

“We are still in the middle of negotiations but we will come out with some good news towards the end of the third quarter because we should be closing some deals by then,” said SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy in an interview.

He also said that the three new properties will hopefully include the South Road Properties (SRP) site. After SM Prime Holdings close the deals for the three new sites in Cebu this third quarter, they are targeting to construct the malls simultaneously within 18 to 30 months so that it will be ready for operation by 2011.

7/6/09 Read the complete article here by clicking link below
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=484157&publicationSubCategoryId=108

We want SM in CEBU South Reclaimation Area

2009-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

The development of the South Area is exciting news for the city of Cebu and holds great promise for a planned community with world recognition and great vision is needed.

The piecemeal development of the North Reclaimation area, the poorly maintained roads, and still many vacant lots 20 years later gives reason for instead a planned development of the South Area such as the one that might be negotiated with SM if proper staffguards were written into the contract to allow a planned development to take place. Foreigners are starting to come here with the price of quality education a good price just like medical tourism, why not have SM develop a University too as students become a magnet for the mall business as you find in Manila SM near Universities. Yes even a Mactan like export processing zone could be incorporated into the terms of the contract with SM and real estate examples in Manila like the amazing multi towered condos developments underway at the Megaworld Manhattan Graden city at Arneta Center QC.

The sprawl of retail stores and restaurants commingling with residences and commercial buildings just attest to the integrated lifestyles urban people lead now. I see the facelifts that are taking place in the most prominent malls nowadays. Whether these were spurred by competition or upgrading consumer's shopping experience, or both, there is no doubt that we, the public, benefit from this. The changes actualized are reflections of a changing society as well. Even in the USA many people are moving back to the city to be near stores, colleges.

Cityland has excellent value for the money and are quickly bought up and would be a great development for SM partner in a coventure of condos, colleges, and malls
http://www.citylandcondo.com/properties.html so a joint venture with city land would provide housing for the new SM university and customers for a SM mall.

Parents from all over the Philippines buy condos for their students in Manila and the same could happen in Cebu as it is a magnet for students from Letye, Bohol, Negroes and Mindanao.

(http://condominium4u.googlepages.com/) condo/mall like Robinsons Place Manila

The south area is idea for a planned community of universities/hospitals/condos/stadium/sports area/offices/export processing zone/malls/business park/ it zone/call centers/museums/hotels/casino/convention cener/film studios/amusement park/retirement communities all in a planned development that is world class all tied together in an amazing mix of with a transportation hub/entertainment/parks/strolling areas/entertainment with restaurants and fireworks along the waterfront like Manila's Board walk and creating thousands of jobs. And world recognition for a well planned master plan.

Why not make this a hotel concentration area for transportation to other islands link right at the hotels, convention center, sports arenaand casios to rival Macau as Cebu is centrally located allowing other islands to come to Cebu and spend their money in a world class environment?

And if a signed commitment with SM Prime indicated when each component was to done by an exact date, the city of Cebu woould have a world class development. Why only allow the Ayala Business Park to shine, why not two world class developments in Cebu with wide roads, sidewalks and to rival Singapore! Parks and water front boardwalk development would allow a world class tourist attraction as well.

I have included two links online related to the worldclass SM Mall of Asia in Manila (footnote 1) and the economic benefits of the new Bacolod SM Business Park (footnote 2)

A world class planned community would really put Cebu City on the map with forward thinking leaders and plans. Good luck.

footnote 1 Mall of Asia in Manila shows the way for multiple uses for call center buildings, offices, coliseum (with ample parking...5,000 spaces), IT development, central transportation hub (even a tram) and this could all be within Cebu City not neighboring towns (and the tax base would be amazing)!

The Mall of Asia http://wikimapia.org/83627/ was constructed within the reclamation area, west of Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, aptly nicknamed "Bay City". It is built on 19.5 hectares of reclaimed land and has a gross floor area of 386,224 square meters. The mall is located at the southmost tip of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. A roundabout was constructed in the front of the mall with a huge bronze globe similar to Universal Studios. An esplanade was constructed at the back of the mall where it served as the observation center for the First World Pyro Olympics in December 2005.

The mall consists of four buildings interconnected by walkways: the Main Mall, Entertainment Mall, and the North and South Carpark Buildings. One of its unique features is a 20-seater tram to make it easier for shoppers to go around. The management’s priority is to make sure shoppers will not get lost inside the mall. There will be two concierge desks—one in the Main Mall and another in the Entertainment Mall. Maps will be given out, and there will be signs aplenty. The Main Mall will include shopping and dining establishments, the food court. The South Parking building will house the SM Department store and half of the 5,000 parking spaces while the North Parking building will include the SM Hypermarket, a spacious office space and more dining areas.

The mall’s newest attraction is the Pacifica Entertainment Plaza. Besides bowling and billiards facilities, the building will house 10 theaters, including a Director’s Club and the first ever IMAX theater in the Philippines. The theater, named as the San Miguel Coca-Cola IMAX Theater would also have the largest screen in the Philippines at 22 x 30 meters, similar to the height of an eight-story building. The CenterStage Cinema which can used for live musical concerts and theatrical performances, and six regular cinemas. The mall also features an Olympic sized skating rink and a science museum. The mall also provides office space. Dell International Services (call center), a subsidiary of Dell, Inc. occupies a 13,470.5-square meter area at the second floor of the north parking building of the mall.

Adjacent to the south parking building, a two-hectare area has been allocated for the site of a 16,000-capacity multi-purpose coliseum/arena for sporting events, concerts and entertainment shows. It is set to rival the 50-year old Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Furthermore, a planned convention/conference center measuring 12,000 square meters will be built as an attractive venue for major conferences and trade exhibits. The convention center once constructed, will be a newer alternative to the Philippine International Convention Center, erected in 1976, located a few blocks away. Along with this, two hotel developments, one with a casino, are also planned for construction.

Also set to the right of the north parking building, The SM iCity is a 69,300-square-meter area allocated to serve as a prime venue for companies engaged in software development and IT-enabled services. A mix of single and multi-storey buildings will be developed to provide for the office and workspace requirements of prospective IT-related locator companies and for support office and backroom operations of business process outsourcing. The first building, OneE-comCenter, began March 8, 2006 and is scheduled for completion in July 2007.

An esplanade was constructed at the back of the mall where it served as the observation center for the First World Pyro Olympics in December 2005. My comment: If done in Cebu city, then a world class waterfront in a PLANNED development could result where citizens could walk along the tree lined waterfront and have central transportation links like Baywalk Manila.

Henry Sy, owner of SM Malls said that the name of the biggest mall of asia will be lost come 2007 due to the structural expansion of SM City North EDSA. The SM City North EDSA is the centerpiece project of SM Prime at the newly developed SM Central Business Park, where five one-story buildings serve as the company's corporate offices.

The mall is very different from the other SM malls, as it does not follow the usual SM mall format. It is the second SM mall to cater to the upper and upper-middle class, the first being The Podium and the 7th high-end mall in Manila, after Ayala Center Makati, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Power Plant Mall and The Podium. It has many foreign luxury stores, such as Zara, Marks and Spencer, Tag Heuer, Charriol, Calvin Klein and some other foreign brands. It also has high-end restaurants.

The SM Mall of Asia is the largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the third largest shopping mall in the world in terms of gross floor size. It is owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings, under the management of Henry Sy, a Filipino-Chinese business tycoon — regarded as one of the wealthiest men in Asia.

-----------------------------------

footnote 2 SM in Bacolod to snowball small businesses By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bac/2007/03/02/news/sm.to.snowball.small.businesses.html

THE Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) is confident that the presence of SM City-Bacolod will cause the mushrooming of small businesses in the periphery of the reclamation area.

MBCCI Vice President for Internal Affairs Frank Carbon said with 3,000 to 4,000 people employed by SM City, "I am confident that boarding houses, eateries, among other small-time businesses, will sprout in the areas beside Manokan Country, Vendors' Market, Dawis, and Barangay 16."

With this scenario, "I am pretty sure that money will just be around the city and this is good for our local economy," Carbon said.

Carbon said he is also grateful that SM City did not only give benefits to Bacoleños but also to some Negrenses as far as San Carlos City in the north and Hinoba-an in the south.

He said a lot of Bacolod and Negros businessmen will also be given opportunity to think of another business ventures that SM could not give to the public.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Monico Puentevella said "SM City is a long awaited project for several years. So it's about time for us to enjoy it. Let's all welcome SM to the City of Smiles and hope that our local economy picks up more."

For his part, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said "With SM, small and medium industries in Bacolod will also be given hope to shine benefiting the ordinary people by generating jobs and providing income to small manufacturers and vendors alike."

Leonardia said SM City will also be a big factor for the tourism and investment promotion of the city.

As for the plan of SM management to also put up a convention center soon, the mayor is confident that Bacolod will soon be "the real premier City in the south where residents have a high sense of pride of the place, of self, and display significant value of concerns for the common good."

And with the presence of call centers - Teletech, IOAsia, Focus and TelePerformance, Leonardia is also confident that the city will soon shine in economically.

How about an SM or Sy Universities in Manila and Cebu?

2009-07-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

I noted the headline the other day that SM Group still open to new opportunities and wanted to pass along the idea of developing universities near your malls here in Cebu or other towns as it creates tremendous foot traffic and sales and makes the students life long customers.

Cebu Doctors has opened near the Park Mall and has created some customer traffic but is too far away to make it easy to walk there like many of the universities there in Manila which make all of the SM malls boom with traffic. Here in Cebu, with the South reclaimation area just getting underway, it would be a prime move to build a mall and university (in cooperation with another group if necessary) in this developing area and even the SM City Cebu still has vacant land at the side and back that could be easily developed into a university with already excellent transport links as well. And if some condos could be developed near SM City Cebu, it would also would be a great traffic generator like Robinsons Place Manila has shown extremely well with their condo towers over the malls. Other provincial towns with SM malls would also be prime candidates for colleges as many foreigner students are already coming here to college and many more are planning to avail of this cheaper cost Philippine education and many overseas workers sending their students to college as well.

And this would create a steady rent stream in the university and also create much high end foot traffic.

SM Group still open to new opportunities
Business Mirror 6/14/09
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/11688-sm-group-still-open-to-new-opportunities.html

comments from the internet
What College Should I Enroll In The Philippines?
im a senior in High school in here in NY, USA and im planning to go to college next year in the philippines. But i dont know which college to go to . I want to take nursing, Doctor, or any in MED fields.. Which ones are easier to take ? And i will be taking the SAT test in Oct. …..Will the Philippines college accept my SATs scores if they are high? And are the Admission tests or the Entrance Exam in the Philippines are hard?
Please help?
http://www.mymashweb.com/living/what-college-should-i-enroll-in-the-philippines/

Anthony V says:
May 31, 2009 at 6:19 am
haahaaaaay, i’m surprised henry sy hasn’t thought of opening an SM university yet. i’m sure you’ll be the first to be admitted

SM malls free wi-fi? We want free wi-fi in SM as customers

2009-07-02T22:41:00.000-07:00

????
Dear SM Mall owners: With the explosion of internet cell phone users in malls, and the many new very cheap internet offerings now from SMART, Globe and SUN, and easy installation of a wireless internet router in the ceiling of the central mall, customers would be extremely pleased as all of the shops in Cebu SM that have wifi are locked and not open and most shops employees DO NOT know about how to access. Try walking abound SM Cebu and see if you can find any open wifi and you will find it very disappointing.

Robinsons malls already offer free open access to mall customers and it would be a wonderful addition to SM mall Cebu and an easy installation at both central courts with wifi routers in SM malls.

Advertising that you have free wi-fi on your website would then let the world audience know of an added benefit to SM mall shopping. So many chatters on blogs now want free wifi access in malls.

It so easy & cheap to set up with a wireless access point from CDR King or other computer store! SM is a leader in most customer services why not in free internet access too?

In SM Cebu, there are many wi-fi signals but all are closed and set up for shop use only. Gokongwei-owned malls offers free Wi-Fi why can't mall leader SM as well?

My comment about the following article: Sadly SM malls are missing from this article, I wonder why they don't also offer free wifi?

Free wifi. (Philippine Inquirer article)

Yes, I am a self-confessed wifi whore. A place only becomes truly civilized in my eyes if it offers free wifi. When booking hotels, it is my “non-negotiable.” If I could learn one phrase in different languages, it would be, “Do you have free wifi?”

Since I am always out, whether on location or doing creative research (e.g. shopping), I’ve short-listed some favorite places where you can spend some quality time with your netbook, laptop, iPhone or favorite mobile Internet device.

The Malls—Free wifi in a place with pretty little things that you can have in exchange for multi-colored rectangular pieces of paper (a.k.a money) is probably the closest thing to heaven on earth for me. If you have the time, it can even help you become a more savvy shopper, e.g. check out the reviews on a book you’re thinking of buying, or see if that gadget you want will be cheaper if your US-based relative can buy it for you online instead. That is, if you can overcome the lust for immediate gratification first.

Powerplant Mall

Powered by Wigo, using the free wifi requires an initial registration process and download of a toolbar (if using a laptop). The wifi is pretty fast. There are fairly strong signals throughout the entire place (though it’s strongest on the side near the cinemas). You can park your butt at any of the numerous restaurants and coffee shops around the mall.

Glorietta

While there are no cozy seats or steaming mugs of frothy beverages, Glorietta 3’s topmost level, Digital Exchange, houses free wifi powered by Globe WIZ. It’s the perfect place to shop for phones and other gadgets since you’ll be able to compare prices, specs and go through user reviews if you bring your netbook along.

Robinsons malls

Robinsons malls, like Galleria, for instance was one of the first malls to go free wifi all the way. Great surfing spots on weekdays. Avoid during three-day sales, for your sanity’s and wallet’s sakes.

To read the complete Philippine Inquirer article click the link below

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090619-211459/Sweet-spots-Wifi-havens-in-the-Metro