Delivered pizza

Rustan’s SuperCenters Inc. vice-president for merchandising Catherine Yu Tantoco came up with an unusual way to launch Shopwise’s "Fresh off the racks" weekly promos at its five outlets – a tongue-in-cheek fashion show held last Saturday at Shopwise’s newest outlet located at Festival Mall in Filinvest Corporate City.

Imagine models in bikinis showcasing the hypermart’s seafood and swimwear ongoing promo this week while male models, dressed only in denims, shared the limelight with the poultry, meat, and men’s fashion promo for the whole of next week.

Rustan’s SuperCenters is the only member of the Tantoco Group chaired by Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., which has a joint venture partner – Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines, which is headed by Guillermo Luchangco.

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Did you know 1: When the officers of Standard Chartered Bank led by chief executive officer Simon Morris were recently detained for six hours at the Senate, they were fed adobo and torta, with the usual rice, dessert, and soda.

Oh yes, bank officers were allowed to call a pizza company for some "home delivery".

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Did you know 2: First Resources Management & Resources Corp. head Vivian Yuchengco is said to have flown to Boracay immediately after casting her vote in the Philippine Stock Exchange elections last Saturday.

Ms. Yuchengco is celebrating her birthday until her return to Manila today.

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Did you know 3: Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions executive director Fe Agoncillo-Reyes has been keeping a low profile since she took over the job last November.

Ms. Agoncillo-Reyes, who was the first employee hired when CITEM was set up, has an expanded portfolio. Aside from handling the country’s export marketing efforts through the twice-a-year Manila Fame, she now also handles the National Trade Fair, which showcases the products of small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs from all over the country.

By the way, the last NTF, which was held middle of this month, generated twice the amount of sales in 2003.

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Elena Lim, whose company used to be the exclusive distributor of Sony in the country, has put up a retail company called Avid Corp.

Actually, it was the idea of son, David Lim, who wanted to maximize the company’s showrooms and, in the process, to give some competition to SM Appliances, which is, of course, controlled by the family of Henry Sy; and Automatic Center, Inc., which is chaired by Benito Lim.

Basically, Avid has three business models. The first one, also called Avid, sells only Sony products. The second one called A-V Center retails all TV and cell phone brands. The third one called Best Brands sells other appliances.

Oh, all the business models also sell the accessories that go with these toys for the big boys. (And that’s supposed to Mr. Lim’s secret strategy).