Shopping centers seen thriving despite evolving retail landscape

MANILA, Philippines - Malls, which belong to the so-called “brick-and-mortar” businesses, will continue to “click” despite the evolving retail landscape enabled by the explosion of digital formats. Speakers attested to this during the recently held SM Partners Summit in line with SM Supermalls’ 30th Anniversary, with the theme, “Bricks Click” at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

Addressing retail partners at the summit, SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy said brick and mortar businesses like shopping centers are continuously challenged by “clicks” or online formats and social media.

“As you all know, much has happened since we opened our first mall 30 years ago – the retail landscape has become more global and competitive, technology has forever changed the way we live and do things, and customer tastes have changed along with the times,” Sy said.

According to Sy, brick-and-mortar businesses like shopping malls have evolved with the times, surviving major and economic political shifts and changing the Filipino lifestyle.

In 1985, SM founder Henry Sy Sr. opened his first shopping mall, SM City North EDSA after seeing that suburbs in the United States were being built in the outskirts of big cities, with a shopping mall as the center. Sy believed that this would also happen in the Philippines.

“When we started building SM City North EDSA in 1983, people thought my father was crazy.  There was a political crisis; interest rates were as high as 45 percent, and the location of the mall was in the middle of nowhere.  They said that SM City would not succeed, but the mall was an instant success.  And the rest, as they say is history.  And that is why we are all here today after 30 years,” the younger Sy said.

Malling became more of a phenomenon when SM Megamall in Mandaluyong was built in 1991 amidst an energy crisis. Once again, the mall’s success affirmed the competitive business model Sy developed. 

SM soon opened SM City Cebu in November 1993, its first provincial mall, which was followed by an aggressive expansion program in key cities around the country.

In 2006, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City was opened, SM’s premiere mall destination in the region. It soon introduced more upscale projects like SM Aura Premier in Taguig and expanded Megamall in 2014 with the Mega Fashion Hall.

“We have seen changing lifestyles in a world that is more global in perspective, and more technologically advanced and environmentally concerned. But together, we have changed the Filipino lifestyle forever,” Sy said.

Steven Tan, senior vice president of SM Supermalls said today’s breed of shoppers are not the “shop and go” types. “Right now they’re very experimental. They really want the experience,” he said.

In order to cater to this new breed and to enhance the shopping experience, SM has introduced more international retail brands, more interesting food concepts as well as services geared towards enhancing wellness and providing greater convenience. These include spas, dental clinics, and waxing salons, to name a few.

“You have to make sure that your brands are competitive. There are still people who want to see and feel what they’re buying. You have to make sure that your malls are lifestyle centers. You have to be ready. Change is going to come. You just have to be fast and quick in evolving,” Tan said.

Catering to the changing preferences of shoppers, Tan said that SM has increased its food tenants over the years. “When I joined SM Supermalls some 11 years ago, the food ratio is five percent of the tenant mix. Right now, the food ratio is 30 percent, can you imagine that from a low of five percent,” Tan said.

As further proof that bricks do click, SM malls also introduced Cyberzone, the ultimate technology and lifestyle center which provides service centers and consumer electronics at a convenient location.