Ayala Malls salutes winners of the 12th Merchant Rewards

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala Malls has always been known for providing world-class shopping and lifestyle experiences for their patrons. Continuous innovation and delivering exceptional customer experiences are values shared with its merchant partners. Over the years, the Ayala Malls recognizes the outstanding achievements of merchant partners who have shown excellence in store operations, marketing and visual merchandising.

Now in its 12th year, the Ayala Malls Merchant Rewards was highlighted with the 6th Merchant Forum for their esteemed partners. With the theme “Harnessing Conversations,” the forum was then followed by the awards night, which was held at The Gallery of Greenbelt 5.

Marketing and retail experts shared new trends, innovative concepts and effective retailing strategies to store owners during the two-day forum held at the Intercontinental Manila ballroom. Some of the notable speakers included Belo Medical Group medical director Dr. Vicky Belo, Mega magazine associate publisher Meryll Yan, group head of marketing for Greenwich and Chowking group head of marketing Francis Flores, Rustan Commercial Corp. marketing communications head Dina Tantoco, DM9/Jayme-Syfu chairman and chief creative officer Merlee Jayme, Rogue Digital Inc. general manager Rupert Japlit, People Ignite founder JV Wong, MRM Worldwide managing director Donald Lim, and Makati City head of environmental services  Danilo Villas.

Panel discussions on branding, window display and customer service were also conducted, featuring retailers such as Margarita Fores (Lusso, Cibo, Pepato), Anton Gonzales (Planet Sports), Miguel Celdran (Nike), Nena Tantoco ( Rustan’s), Maritess Chug and Michelle Ibay (Celine Group), Rommel Ng (Outback).

Girlie Rodis of Global Resource Creative Exchange, March Ventosa and Robert Labayen of ABS CBN, Robby Carmona of SAGA events, and Gigi Lara of GMA 7 also imparted valuable insights during the creativity panel discussion.

Day 1 of the forum was highlighted by the awarding ceremonies for Visual Merchandising and Marketing. For Visual Merchandising Excellence, this year’s winners were Artwork, Nike, VMV and Zara for Glorietta; JO, Escada, AC + 632 and Adora for Greenbelt; The T-Shirt Project, Salsa, Fruits and Passion and Rustan’s for Alabang Town Center; Bisaya Ispisyal, Schu, Ballooney Shoppe and Rustan’s for Ayala Center Cebu; Maldita, Marithe + Francois Girbaud, Grassroots and Superbench for Market! Market!; Bleach Catastrophe, Nike, Toni and Guy, Fully Booked and Marks & Spencer for TriNoma, and All Flip Flops, La Senza, Blow Up Babies and Gap for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra.

Marketing Excellence Values awards were given to Rustan’s for Glorietta and Alabang Town Center, and Levi’s for Greenbelt, Ayala Center Cebu, Market! Market! and TriNoma. 

Winners of the Marketing Partners Award were Bacolod Chicken Inasal, Max’s, T.G.I. Fridays, The Body Shop and Toytown for Glorietta; the Lucerne Group of Companies and Hobbes and Landes for Greenbelt; Rustan’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, Italianni’s and Anson’s for Alabang Town Center; The Gustavian, Bratpack and All Flip Flops for Ayala Center Cebu; National Bookstore, Pizza Hut and Picture City for Market! Market!; David’s Hot Pot and Tea Bar, Crossings and Picture City for TriNoma; and Cacao, T.G.I.Friday’s and Italianni’s for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra.

Honored as special eGC partners were The Landmark and The Ramp for Glorietta, Adora and Dulcinea for Greenbelt, Makati Supermarket and Bench for Alabang Town Center; Metro Gaisano and Rose Pharmacy for Ayala Center Cebu; Metro Department Store and Supermarket and Meg for Market! Market!; The Landmark and Anson’s for TriNoma; and Fully Booked and iStudio for Bonifacio High Street and Serendra.

Schu, National Bookstore, VNC, Myth, Freeway/Solo/Ensembles by The Row, Bench, The Travel Club, Follow Your Heart and Lush were bestowed the Green Merchant Award for applying sustainability in their operations and promoting green practices to their customers.

A new category was introduced at the Merchant Rewards this year. The Promotion of Philippine Culture and Arts Award is given to merchants who have promoted Filipino artistry and ingenuity. Freeway, Bench and Collezione C2 are the first recipients of this special award.

The 12th Annual Merchant Rewards awards night was led by Ayala Land chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala with Ayala Land President Antonino Aquino. They were joined by the Ayala Malls management team’s senior vice president and group head Marivic Añonuevo, vice president and chief operating officer Rowena M. Tomeldan, vice president and head for business development and strategic planning Cora Dizon, assistant vice presidents Myrna Fernandez and Javi Hernandez, and assistant vice president and chief finance officer Ruby Chiong.

Awards were given in the following categories: Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence, Marketing Excellence, Most Promising Retailer, Store Operations Excellence, and the most coveted award — Store of the Year.

For Glorietta, the following were awarded for Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence: VMV and Hall of Famer Zara; for Marketing Excellence: Restoerun and Hall of Famer Taters; for Store Operations Excellence: CMG, Sanuk, Travel Club, Collezione C2, Plains & Prints, Celine, Rita Optical, Karimadon, Shiseido, and Nike Park; Most Promising Retailers: Stella Luna and Army Navy Burger + Burrito; and Store of the Year: Travel Club.

For Greenbelt, Adora was awarded for Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence; Firma for Marketing Excellence; Dexterton, Topman, Topshop, Sugi, Chili’s, Collezione C2, Peking Garden, People’s Palace, John & Yoko and Onitsuka Tiger for Store Operations Excellence; Lusso, Gelatissimo and Tory Burch for Most Promising Retailer; and People’s Palace for Store of the Year.

Alabang Town Center, on the other hand, gave the Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence award to Salsa and Hall of Famer Olympic World; the Marketing Excellence Award to Naturalizer; the Store Operations Excellence awards to Crocs, Nine West, Tutto Moda, Lacoste, and Rustan’s; Most Promising Retailer to Pepper Lunch; and Store of the Year award to Rustan’s.

For Market! Market!, the winners were Superbench for Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence; Taters for Marketing Excellence; Maldita, Collezione C2, Folded & Hung, Skechers, Preview, Lee, The Body Shop, and Akita for Store Operations Excellence; Candie’s and Sesou Nature Source for Most Promising Retailer; and Collezione C2 for Store of the Year.

Winners for TriNoma were Bleach Catastrophe for Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence; Artwork for Marketing Excellence; National Bookstore, Lacoste, All Flip Flops, PowerMac Center, and Skechers for Store Operations Excellence; Red Mango and DC for Most Promising Retailer; and PowerMac Center for Store of the Year.

For Bonifacio High Street and Serendra, the awardees were Gap for Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence; R.O.X. for Marketing Excellence; Mamou, Sentro, Fully Booked, R.O.X. and Healthy Options for Store Operations Excellence, RUNNR and Penguin for Most Promising Retailer; and R.O.X. for Store of the Year.

Finally, Ayala Center Cebu merchants were given the following awards: Schu for Overall Visual Merchandising Excellence; Rustan’s for Marketing Excellence; All Flip Flops, Lacoste Footwear, Bratpack, Levi’s Girls, Nine West, and Plains & Prints for Store Operations Excellence; Casa Verde and Canvas for Most Promising Retailer; and BratPack for Store of the Year.

Ayala Malls hosted this annual celebration as a way of thanking and recognizing its valuable merchant partners who continue to uphold shared values of passion for excellence and providing only the best shopping experiences.