Read this in the Manila Times digital edition.
The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) sees a rebound in the country’s retail business, also due to digital trends and innovation.
This, as the PRA on Thursday opened the 28th National Retail and Stores Conference Asia Expo 2022 (NRCE 2022) at the SMX Convention Center at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, themed “Retail: Ready, Reset and Growing up.”
“After two years, we are thrilled to see everyone back face to face as we bring the National Retail Conference and Expo Asia back to a live staging and physical format,” said Rosemarie Ong, President of PRA and Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wilcon. officer. “We retailers bear witness that hard times don’t last. We are slowly recovering and rising once again.”
However, she explained that while businesses are slowly recovering, they should never be complacent as they all need to be ready for a new environment. This, as consumers have embraced online shopping as part of the new normal.
“Retailers need to balance these things while serving our customers; to be able to stay competitive, be sustainable and, at the same time, ensure our businesses are profitable and successful,” Ong continued. “As an industry, retail is rapidly moving towards a better and bigger landscape and opening new doors for opportunity through technology and innovation.”
The conference featured several sessions on the latest trends in e-commerce; new roles and opportunities for physical businesses; how businesses can better serve their customers in the new normal; the latest sustainability efforts by retailers; and improve the customer experience, whether online or in physical stores.
Donnie Tantoco, general chairman of NRCE 2022 and president of Rustan Commercial Corp., also agreed with the assessment that the pandemic has changed the way retail businesses are run.
“We are here today not only to reconnect with each other, but also because of how the past three years have reshaped our identity, our worldview, the way we as retailers , we see in our values and, more importantly, the trajectory of our retail journeys and lives. I believe that all of that has evolved and changed,” Tantoco explained. “We are here to learn and grow. We are happy to introduce you to excellent speakers who have the gift of foresight. They don’t claim to know the future, but they’re damn good at their craft and have this skill at connecting these concepts for all of us,” he added.
