Philippine mall titan quickens shift to China-style mixed retail

Manila

SM INVESTMENTS Corp, the owner of the Philippines' largest mall operator, is speeding up efforts to develop "omni-channel" options for shoppers as people shift to a mix of online and in-store purchases amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The group is tapping personal shoppers, ramping up delivery and pick-up services, and boosting its online presence, said Steven Tan, president of SM Prime's mall unit. Last month, the group started operating a virtual mall for Manila residents, which it plans to roll out nationwide soon, he said.

"You have to be present in all channels," Mr Tan, 51, said in a virtual interview on Friday. "Retail is all about listening to your customers and moving so fast."

The group, founded by the late Filipino billionaire Henry Sy, is adopting the "omni-channel" retailing approach seen in China, where people shop both online and at malls. Although malls need to keep up with changing times, they won't go out of style, Mr Tan said.

SM has 75 shopping centres in the Philippines and eight in China. It is opening another in its home country this quarter and about five are planned for next year, he said.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Tuesday, 12 pm

Property Insights

Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond.

Sign Up

Transactions through social-media channels account for about 11 per cent of sales at SM department stores, Timothy Daniels of SM Investments said at the interview.

"There is no plan to slow down the general retail strategy," said Mr Daniels, SM's investor relations consultant.

Filipinos are returning to malls as virus quarantine curbs ease but shopping habits may have changed. People visiting malls are those purposely buying and not just window shopping, Mr Tan said, forecasting that by the third quarter of next year, sales of tenants at SM malls will be back at end-2019 levels.

Sales of SM shopping centre occupants are at 60 per cent to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, up from about 20 per cent in the early months of Philippines' reopening in May and June after a two-month lockdown, he said. Foot traffic is about 40 per cent of what it was before the coronavirus. SM plans to gradually restore rents in 2021 after waiving most of the tenant fees this year, he added.

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea will open its store in SM's Mall of Asia by the third quarter of next year, Mr Tan said and added that the company's malls are expanding al fresco dining and lounges to cater for the virus-driven trend toward bigger, open spaces. BLOOMBERG