Jack Uy: Saver’s saving grace

From one small seedling can come one great tree! In like manner, from one small kiosk business can come one great conglomerate! Such is the story of Jack’s Video.

The year 1983 saw Jaime "Jack" Uy open his first Jack’s Video in Angeles City. This venture established himself as a pioneer in video retailing and "Jack’s Video" as a premier video store in the city, which used a state of the art inventory system for its extensive library of tapes. And since this business was engaged in the distribution of video equipment, rewinders and other accessories, the next expansion was the opening of an appliances store named Saver’s Mart. And, from that one outlet, Saver’s Mart now boasts of 15 branches, the latest being Saver’s Mart in North Edsa which opened its doors to the public in October 2006.

Success, however, did not come easy for the Saver’s Group of Companies. Along the way, it had encountered problems, the most critical of which was the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. That eruption not only left most of Central Luzon in devastation, it also effected Saver’s Mart because most of its branches were located in Central Luzon.

Yet, like the proverbial phoenix, Saver’s Mart rose out of this devastation and emerged even stronger. It thus, established the first cable television networks in Pampanga and named it Angeles City Cable Television Network (ACCTN) in 1992. Today, ACCTN is considered one of the biggest cable networks in the country using the most advanced technology in cable TV broadcasting.

Nineteen-ninety eight was a banner year for Saver’s Group with the opening of the first mall in Angeles City. Thereafter, Saver’s Group opened the biggest furniture and appliances showrooms in Pampanga and Zambales. Saver’s San Fernando Pampanga was opened in 2002, and Saver’s Olongapo in 2003. To cap it all Saver’s North Edsa opened in October 2006.

Saver’s Mart proudly carries in all its offering and displays all the leading brands of appliances and air conditioners as well as furniture. From small home appliances to the latest in Plasma and LCD TV, from room air conditioners to commercial type air cons, Saver’s Mart sells them all. Yet for all these modern appliances and gadgets, Betamax and VHS remain closest to Jack Uy’s heart. These are the products where all his businesses started. In fact, he still keeps his Betamax player with him.

The cellphone is the device that Jack can’t do without for it allows him to be present and hands-on in most of his operations. With so many cost and risk factors getting higher these days, he usually does market research and SWOT analysis. As a homegrown company, his competitive advantage lies in personalized customer service. A personalized customer service puts premium on customer relationships as well as it motivates people to be more effective and efficient.

Nowadays with rapid expansion of Saver’s, comes more complex operations and so his management was more on the consultative side. Today, with growth and diversity of their product offering and the geographical distance of their outlets, they have a more professionalized and empowered organization. But through it all, the customers occupy a greater importance in their business.

Saver’s Mart was not an overnight success. It had its ups and downs but it had charted its course so successfully because it is customer oriented, catering not only to retail customers but to institutional and corporate customers. It even has tie-up with banks to cater to the demand of the OFWs. Willing to take risks, it has diversified into different industries and it has maintained good community relations.

Partners

Saver’s Mart and Samsung’s business partnership dates back to the mid 80’s. The partnership remains strong and solid as ever. One reason for this strong partnership may be due to the fact that Saver’s Mart and Samsung started operations at almost the same time in the late 80’s so it can be said that the partnership is business like as well as sentimental. Saver’s Mart chose to link arms with Samsung because of its innovative products brand value and acceptance by customers worldwide.

Furthermore, Samsung has contributed to Saver’s Mart in terms of increasing sales and revenues. The new Samsung products cater to Saver’s Mart more discriminating clients.

Saver’s Mart is fully supportive of all the marketing programs of Samsung such as zero percent interest, bundle promo and freebies among others. They will also go one step ahead by doing marketing strategies such as direct mailers, pre approved facility line, group plan and corporate sales, tie-ups with affiliate companies like giving more value to customers like free cable subscription, free broadband installation, in house raffle promo, etc. As they are diversified into other products and services, they are able to bundle Samsung products with other products and services.