Cebus's Loalde eyes outlets in Malaysia, Singapore

CEBU, Philippines - After making it big in the domestic market, sophisticated apparel brand Loalde gears up for the international market with new outlets set to open in Malaysia and Singapore in the next few months.

Aldeguer Group of Company (AGC) president Jay P. Aldeguer said the company is still negotiating with its potential partners in these countries and probably the deal would be a franchise operation.

The provider of apparel products for sophisticated market, Loalde has two boutiques in Cebu, one in Makati, two in Bacolod and Iloilo, as well as in Davao City, and one in Cagayan de Oro City.

Loalde is one of the long-standing Cebuano-owned apparel brand for men and women in the Philippines. AGC is also the mother company of other apparel brands such as Island Souvenirs, USA Sports, Bisaya Ispisyal, among others.

Aldeguer also mentioned that Loalde is also planning to open more shops in Metro Manila, aside from its plan to venture into overseas market.

Just like its sister company, Island Souvenirs, which has outlets in other countries like USA, Saipan, among others, Loalde is also starting to open its doors to international market.

Capturing the growing market for sophisticated apparel fashion not only in the highly-urbanized areas such as Metro Manila, and Cebu, Loalde has been able to penetrate other cities in the Philippines, such as Iloilo City, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City.

Recently, the company opened its 10th outlet in Bacolod City at the SM Supermall.

According to Aldeguer, with the success of the Loalde brand in the Philippines, there is no reason why it can’t be successful in other Asian countries also.

Aldeguer said the increased purchasing power of Filipinos, with the robust investments in BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), and other employment and entrepreneurial opportunities have pave the way for more dynamic retail industry, including the branded RTW (Ready-To-Wear) products.

Specifically, he said Cebuanos’ buying preference has improved, the market has become more sophisticated, thus, despite the existence of cheap products, sales of branded or original items in different retail merchandize are still doing very well.