Wellness shops stand out in ACC merchants awards

CEBU, Philippines – Boutiques that offer health, beauty and wellness products led Ayala Center Cebu’s 11th Merchants’ Awards based on the 2008 overall operational setup, including sales.

Health supplement store Healthy Options was named “Store of Year”, for its consistent performance in high sales, adherence to contract, and compliance to house rules. Healthy Options recently moved to a bigger area occupying over 100 square-meters located at The Terraces, providing Cebuano consumers with wider options of health supplement products.

Joy Polloso, ACC division head said that aside from Healthy Options, four stores were also recognized for “Store Operations Excellence” these are, sophisticated footwear brand Crocs, Marks & Spencer, lifestyle-shoes boutique ResToeRun; Lacoste Apparel and homegrown restaurant—Lemon Grass.

The widespread economic downturn that hit the world last year, apparently has not severely affected the consumers’ interest in buying, as high-end boutiques are still performing very well, Polloso said.

Aside from the five stores that were given the “Store Operations Excellence” award, ACC also recognized other tenants that performed well in 2008, such as Rustan’s Department Store (Marketing Excellence award), Filipino-owned apparel brand Bleach Catastrophe as Overall Visual Merchant Excellence winner.

Most promising retailer for 2008 was given to new restaurant brands located at The Terraces, these are Siam, and Hukad.

In 2008, Ayala Center Cebu (ACC) posted 10 percent growth of its total revenue last year, contributing to “still” dynamic retail market in the metropolis.

ACC group head Clavel G. Tongco reported that mall traffic continued to grow, with its highest growth posted in 2008 triggered by the opening of The Terraces.

“More foreign and local tourists visit the mall. This is fueled partly by the growth of tourists’ arrivals in Cebu. The mall’s connection to Cebu City Marriott Hotel has attracted more hotel guests to spend time at the mall,” Tongco said.

Moreover, she said the ACC’s “Turista Desk” which, provides assistance to tourists registered more visitors in 2008 than in previous years.

Tongco said that the opening of The Terraces has helped the 25 percent increase of mall traffic last year,

“New markets were gained out of this development, and existing market have seen another compelling reason to keep coming back to our mall,” she said.

“Ayala Center Cebu is positioned to be the lifestyle icon in Cebu. With this, our focus is not to compete with other malls but to further work on strengthening our position by refining our brand and introducing trailblazing concepts to the market,” Tongco added.

In the third quarter of this year, ACC will open up another attraction, called “The Active Zone.”

The 3,000 square-meter area, formerly the Food and Entertainment Center, will be hosting boutiques that offer products and services for “active people” such as sports-apparel brands, and the likes. — Ehda M. Dagooc