Start up, management techniques in retail confab

BASIC techniques of starting and running successful companies will be the focus of the one-day regional conference of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) tomorrow.

With Cebu’s consumer market expanding, this remains the key for competitivenes, said organizers.

“Whatever form your retail business has taken, the principles are the same. In the end, take away all the technical jargon, it goes back to the basics – timeless techniques in retail,” said Edmund Liu, conference chairman.

“This year, we are looking at 300 participants but are ready to accommodate more,” he said.

The conference starts at 9 a.m. at the Oakridge Pavilion in Mandaue City.

The conference will feature industry pillars as speakers. They will talk about their successes, challenges as well as their failures in the business, said Liu together with Melanie Ng, PRA chairman; Jun Yap, PRA president, and Robert Go, PRA board member.

Speakers include Max’s Group of Companies and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts director Jim Fuentebella; Edgar Sia, founder of Mang Inasal; Paulo Campos III of Zalora Philippines; Atty. Paul Santos, PRA national vice president and president of Picture City; senior consultant and chief brand advisor of Mansmith and Fielders, Inc. Benedicto Cid, Jr and Armando Bartolome, GMB Franchise Developers president.

Local retailers such as Melanie Ng of Ng Khai, Jay Aldeguer of Islands Group, and Raki Urbina of Laguna Group of Restaurants will also share their experiences.

According to Ng, Cebuano retailers should tap opportunities and be armed with the right tools.

“We have to protect our home turf by becoming equally or more competitive and to attend learning opportunities like the conference to prepare ourselves for the Asean Economic Community by 2015,” said Ng.

Conference fees start at P1,200 for PRA and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry members and P1,500 for non-members. The conference theme is “Back to Basics: Timeless Principles in Retailing.” Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap