Nominations still on for retailers’ awards

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) has extended its call for nominations to the 18th edition of the Outstanding Filipino Retailers and Shopping Centers of the Year (OFR-SCY) awards until Nov. 28.

The “OFR - SCY” Awards, organized annually by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), the recognized national organization of retailers and suppliers in the country, is considered the Oscars of the Philippine retail industry.  It is open to local, regional, and foreign brand retailers and to shopping centers and malls in the country.

“Based on preliminary entries, the next staging of our OFR - SCY Awards is bound to be the biggest as more and more retailers and malls are recognizing the importance of having this citation in their portfolio,” PRA president Lorenzo “Enchong” C. Formoso, COO of Duty Free Philippines said. 

The award categories include Full–Line Department Store/Hypermart, Food Retailer, Fashion, Services, Home Improvement Center, Most Promising Retailer, Regional Retailer, Specialty Retailer,  Shopping Center of the Year, and Regional Shopping Center of the Year.

PRA secretary general Evelyn Balmeo-Salire sees the awards as a yardstick and a benchmark for  competitiveness vis-a-vis their peers in the retailing industry.

“Aside from enhancing the value of their brands, the awards also seeks to establish the winning retailers as best in their class because we have a very rigorous set of criteria and selection process,” Salire emphasized.

The “18th OFR – SCY” Awards gala night is scheduled in February 2015.

The highlight of the annual event is the presentation of the PRA “President’s Award”, which is being given to personalities in the retail industry who have made invaluable contribution to the country’s retail sector. 

Last year, the “President’s Award” went to SM Group’s Teresita Sy- Coson.  She was recognized as the “Philippine Retailing’s Woman Visionary Leader”  for  her “insightful vision and commendable leadership at the helm of SM that made it the country’s largest and most consistently successful retail conglomerate in the Philippines.”.

For inquiries, call the PRA secretariat at 6874180, 6874181, 6874985, or email [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or visit its website at www.philretailers.com.