ISI to offer “Cut & Style” concept in other festivals

CEBU, Philippines - After the successful run of Island Souvenirs Inc. (ISI) “Cut & Style” Your Sinulog Shirt 2014, the company announced its plan to roll out a similar approach in other festivities and beach destinations across the Philippines.

ISI president Jay P. Aldeguer said that while the market has evolved differently from the traditional retail platform, the company also has to trail-blaze with the fast changing market psyche, and that providing personalized designs, and “make-your-own” design t-shirts has hit the modern market’s “weakness.”

ISI’s “Cut & Style” (Your Sinulog T-shirt) strategy has been running for two years now. Aldeguer said while it has hit its desired success, the company is now ready to offer this particular retail approach to other beach destinations, and various festivities in the country.

“Recoginizing the Filipinos’ inherent creativity, Islands Souvenirs is giving everyone the chance to customize their own Island Souvenirs t-shirt to wear come Sinulog or really, whenever they please” said Camille Aldeguer, ISI executive vice president.

This special event officially opened on January 10 at the SM Northwing Atrium and will run until January 19. While all Islands Souvenir outlets around Cebu will also offer the same service.

A fashion show will be held today at the SM Northwing Atrium, to emphasize the company’s venture into sophisticated and highly fashionable t-shirt retailing.

“This Sinulog, as you take to the streets and dance the day and night away, do it while wearing something that’s not only distinctly Cebuano, but also uniquely you,” added Camille.

While the company is one the trend-setters in the t-shirt and souvenir retail in the country, Aldeguer said the challenge is not just coming up with innovative ideas but more importantly rolling them out strategically to optimize the innovation.

Meanwhile, the active movement of domestic and foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines, has brought about an encouraging sales performance of souvenir retail giant, ISI with an average of 27 percent growth from January to October in 2013.

Aldeguer said that this figure exclude the over 100 percent growth performance of its Boracay island outlet, which he described as “exceptional”.

Aldeguer attributed the robust growth of the company, to the hyper-active domestic travelers, as well as the steady growth of the foreign tourists coming to different destinations in the Philippines.

He said the high growth of tourism and travel translates to good retail performance in the country, specifically in the souvenir related retail outlets.

At present, there are over 100 outlets of ISI all over the country, including those that are located in the department stores, and small kiosks.

 Aside from the steady growth sales from the foreign tourists, Aldeguer emphasized that the all time high growth of domestic tourism has become the driving force of the company.

ISI has been the trend-setter for lifestyle souvenir product concepts, the design innovations of its t-shirts, and other products made the company sustain its leadership in the country’s souvenir industry.

Its designs are destination specific, personalized, and prices are kept standardized regardless of destination, and type of customers. /JOB (FREEMAN)