Manila retailers eye slice of Cebu market

MORE retail industry players from Manila expressed optimism in Cebu by expanding operations in what economists describes as the fastest growing retail hub in the country outside of Manila.

Just this month two brands announced their entrance and planned expansions in Cebu – Dwell Studio and Ministop.

In an interview early this week, Quirks Marketing Philippines marketing manager Anne Gretchen Choa-Uy said Dwell Studio will be expanding its product line in Cebu starting this quarter.

Quirks Marketing Philippines is the exclusive distributor of Dwell Studio in the country,

Dwell Studio is an American  designer home essentials brand that offers bedding, baby products and furniture and is being displayed in Rustans Department Store in Ayala since two years ago.

Choa-Uy said their Cebu market expanded, prompting them to add to their collection including the furniture line once the new wing of Ayala Center Cebu opens.

“The market is ready for our products because here people have developed a taste for quality products that don’t only offer durability but also the element of design which is what Dwell Studio is actually known for with a fashion designer and home retail veteran for a founder,” said Choa-Uy.

Choa-Uy said more people have increased purchasing capability and are updated on the latest home design trends.

This growth in purchasing power, according to the 2011 Regional Economic Situationer for Central Visayas by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), is due to the availability of jobs fuelled mostly by the growing outsourcing industry in the region especially in Cebu.

Another retail brand from Manila that recently opened operations in Cebu is Ministop Phils.

The retail brand opened in the country in 2000 under the Robinsons Retail group in partnership with Mitsubishi Corp. Japan and Ministop Limited Japan.

The convenience shop offers merchandises ranging from snack items, canned goods, personal care and a selection of ready-to-eat food products available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To date, there are over 300 Ministop stores in Luzon. It recently added their first two stores in Cebu last week – one in Robinsons Mall in Fuente and another across Cebu Grand Hotel in Escario Street, Cebu City.

In an interview,  Ministop Phils. general manager Rowena Sarte said they are looking at opening 60 branches in Cebu by 2017 starting with 15 stores to open next year.

“Five of these stores already have confirmed locations and will begin construction soon. All these new stores will be under franchise,” said Sarte.

“We target to end with over 400 outlets by end of 2013. We’ll be focusing our expansions here in Cebu within the next six months and then also look out for other areas like Davao, Panay Island and in the northern part of Luzon,” said Sarte./Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap