S&R Shopping

CEBU, Philippines – Membership shopping in a warehouse-type store is nothing new to Cebuanos. We are very familiar with having to use a membership card to be able to get into a shopping center, buying in bulk and stocks that reach up to the ceiling.

But imagine this, membership shopping in a warehouse-type store with 70 percent imported and famous American brands on display. Plus, you do not even have to buy in bulk!

This is what S&R shopping is all about.

"Going to S&R is like shopping abroad. It's like being transported to the US West Coast or a Costco outlet in L.A.," said S&R Chairman Leonardo B. Dayao.

S&R stands for Sol and Robert Price, the father and son tandem who founded the Price Club. S&R Pricemart started in 2001 and later re-opened in 2006 as S&R. The chain has 4 branches in Manila - at The Fort, in Alabang, in Baclaran and in Quezon City. They are set to open their 5th branch and first branch outside of Metro Manila here in Cebu end of this month. The Cebu branch is located along Ouano Avenue corner E.O. Perez Street, Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

The store chain's management brought the Cebu media to their branch at The Fort to let us experience how it is to shop at S&R in preparation for the opening of the Cebu store. The experience was truly exciting, especially since the S&R management brought us there at the time they were to have their Member Treats, a five-day shopping treat for members that features huge discounts and lots of Buy 1 Get 1 promos.

S&R stores feature 70 percent American and imported brands and the remaining 30 percent are products that are locally made. Among the products that caught our attention were the bath and body products, food items (chocolates, chips, canned goods and ice cream), wines, meat products (they sell turkey burgers and even White Castle burgers), towels, beddings (they have JC Penny and Quicksilver!), electronics and other household items at very affordable prices.

Mr. Dayao told us that S&R holds two Member Treats per year, one in March and another in September as a way of thanking their members. Member Treats are truly treats! When S&R holds sales for members, they sell top of the line goods that are really great buys.

And S&R members know this that is why they flock to S&R stores during Member Treats.

As early as 7:30 a.m. last September 15, members already lined up outside the store, waiting for it to open at 8. As soon as the store opened, members got inside with not just one or two carts but three to five! By 9 a.m., or one hour after the store opened, the management had to stop letting people in because the store was already very crowded and you can no longer move around.

My companions and I had fun going around the store looking for bargains. I loaded my cart with food items, Emily of Sunstar Cebu loaded hers with toiletries and Kris Cabilan of Cebu Daily News got food items, as well. But the biggest shopper was Raymond Lapena of Campaigns Cebu, who could not take his eyes off the towels, bed sheets and solar lamps!

Here's something that you should look out for when S&R Cebu opens - fresh pine trees from Oregon U.S.A., which are perfect for Christmas!

After a grueling time going around the store, we experienced dining the American way at the S&R Food Service, which sells New York Style pizzas, Blue Bunny Premium Ice Cream and pastries at affordable prices. The portions were really big that we could hardly finish a whole pizza but the food was enough to recharge our tired legs.

Are you an S&R member already? If not, be a member now and get ready for some S&R shopping! (FREEMAN)