Ayala Malls recognizes top retailers

MANILA, Philippines - Living by its promise of providing the best and unique experiences to their patrons, Ayala Malls, the country’s premier lifestyle and shopping destination, constantly delivers exceptional customer experiences and innovation together with merchant partners. With their success, Ayala Malls shares the glory as they give recognition for outstanding achievements of merchant partners who have shown excellence in store operations, marketing, and visual merchandising.

Now in its 14th year, the Ayala Malls Merchant Rewards has lived up to its word of celebrating the best by holding the 8th Merchant Forum while capping the fete with a prestigious awards night on the last day. The Merchant Forum is an annual trade conference participated by Ayala Malls’ merchants, where speakers from various fields, including marketing, customer service and design, share the latest retail trends and best practices.

With the theme “In the Sphere of Influence: What’s Next?” key speakers and experts from various fields such as advertising, architecture, fashion, media, entertainment and leisure shared with the attendees what to look forward to in terms of branding, trends, social networking and media, customer service, and creating platforms of interest in the coming years.

An insightful two-day forum began with keynote speaker, Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, who talked about branding and the Philippines. Economics expert Dr. Bernardo Villegas tackled “Economic Outlook of the Retail Industry,” Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa shared her thought-provoking presentation on “Inspiring Smart Conversations and Community Engagement with Technology,” and Benoy chairman Graham Cartledge flew in from Hong Kong to discuss “Influencing Design for Global Competitiveness.”

Viva Communications’ Vic R. del Rosario added showbiz pizzazz to the forum with his “Building Successful and Influential Talents,” El Nido Resort’s GM Lyba Godio talked about “Providing Signature Customer Service,” while Unilever Philippines VP for corporate affairs Chito Macapagal spoke about “Shifting to Greener Practices,” marketing and advertising experts, Anubha Sahasrabuddhe, Coca-Cola Export Corporation’s marketing director shared insights on the successful “Coke Happiness Campaign,” Globe Telecoms’ landline head for broadband business Luis Villanueva discussed “Creating Platforms to Influence” with their Globe Tattoo campaign while Universal McCann deputy managing director Alvin Bangay shared current information on “Top Consumer & Media Trends.”

Panel discussion on “Personalizing Trends” were attended by Aranaz and SoFA’s Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Myth and Schu’s Ruby Gan, stylist Alyanna Martinez, designer Dennis Lustico, while Philippine Tatler editor-at-large Mia Borromeo, Bijou’s Anna Rocha, TWBA/Santiago Mangada Puno executive creative director Marci Reyes and creative director Lady San Pedro discussed ‘What’s Next?’ for the lifestyle panel discussion. Aria restaurant owner Juan Elizalde and chef Claude Tayag shared insights on “Changing the Dining Experience.”

The highlight of the forum included the awarding of the special awards, including the forum top awards: Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence, Green Merchants Award and Marketing Excellence. The Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence awards were given to Mental for Ayala Center Cebu, Artwork for Marquee Mall, Nike for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra, Just G for Market! Market!, Nothing but H2O for Alabang Town Center, Team Manila for TriNoma, Adora Department Store for Greenbelt, and Homebound for Glorietta.

The Green Merchant Awards were received by Rustan’s for their Care for the Rare Campaign and Rustan’s Naturally program, which promoted sustainability and earth-friendly practices to their customers.

The Marketing Excellence awards were given to Bratpack for Ayala Center Cebu and for Marquee Mall, R.O.X. for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra, LazerXtreme for Market! Market!, Healthway Medical Clinic for Alabang Town Center, Bambu for TriNoma, Swatch for Greenbelt, and National Book Store for Glorietta.

The culmination of the 14th Ayala Malls Merchant Rewards was the Awards Night, led by Ayala Corporation chairman emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Beatriz M. Zobel, Ayala Land chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Kit Zobel and Ayala Land president Tony Aquino. They were joined by Ayala Land executives Bobby Dy, EVP and Commercial Business Group head; Emilio Tumbocon, Ayala Land SVP and VIS-MIN group head; Rowena Tomeldan, VP and head of operations and support services-Commercial Business Group; Cora Dizon, VP and head of business development and strategic planning-Commercial Business Group; and Joel Luna, VP and Innovation and Design Group head. The annual awards ceremonies celebrate the trailblazing efforts of Ayala Malls’ merchant partners, a gathering that celebrates the premier of retail.

The awards night took place at the Bonifacio High Street Central, Ayala Malls’ latest development and was attended by the country’s top retailers. The awarding ceremony also showcased UK classical-pop harmony vocalists Blake, who rendered their hits and classic tunes to the delight of the crowd. The night also featured Steps Dancers, who captivated everyone with the preview of their Pinoy Sentimental performance.

Awards were given to Ayala Malls’ merchants in the following categories: Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence, Overall Marketing Excellence, Special Award for Promoting Arts & Culture, Store Operations Excellence, Most Promising Retailer, Store of the Year and the Grand Store of the Year.

The Store of the Year and Grand Store of the Year trophies were especially designed by Jaime Zobel de Ayala.

This year, Adora of Greenbelt and Superbench from Market! Market! received the Visual Merchandising Hall of Fame award for having won the Overall Visual Merchandising Awards for the past three years. National Book Store took home the Overall Marketing Excellence Award and Swatch Philippines received the Special Awards for Promoting Arts and Culture. Swatch Philippines is recognized for the revolutionary executions of Swatch vision and global advertising and making it relevant in the Philippine art and culture scene.

The following stores were awarded for Store Operations Excellence: Nike Park, Lacoste Footwear and Casa Verde for Ayala Center Cebu; Marks and Spencer, Toys R Us and R.O.X. for Marquee Mall; Cupcakes by Sonja, Charles and Keith and Penguin for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra; Gingersnaps, NAVA and Tribal for Market! Market!; Nothing but H2O, Rustan’s and Lacoste for Alabang Town Center; Geléia, Bench and Schu for TriNoma, Chili’s, Bonchon Chicken and Fred Perry for Greenbelt; Nothing but H2O, Timex and Rustan’s for Glorietta.

The Most Promising Retailer awards were given to the following stores: Phitem for Ayala Center Cebu, Apag Marangle for Marquee Mall, Wee Nam Kee for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra, Diva for Alabang Town Center, Sperry Top-Sider for TriNoma, Kenji Tei Ramen House for Greenbelt, and Shoebox for Glorietta.

The most awaited and most coveted Store of The Year awards were given to: Lacoste Footwear for Ayala Center Cebu, R.O.X. for Marquee Mall, Charles and Keith for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra, Gingersnaps for Market! Market!, Rustan’s for Alabang Town Center and Glorietta, Bench for TriNoma, and Chili’s for Greenbelt.

The Grand Store of the Year was awarded to Rustan’s, for their exemplary efforts and performance in store operations, visual merchandising and marketing.

This annual celebration is hosted by Ayala Malls as a way of thanking and recognizing its valuable merchant partners for their commitment in providing only the best lifestyle and shopping experiences to their loyal customers.