United Kingdom’s best

From shops on Oxford Street to bohemian boutiques on Glasgow’s West End, the UK is truly a shopper’s paradise. In today’s global marketplace, British brands have become favorites among Filipinos.

The British Embassy in Manila, together with the United Kingdom Trade and Investment, launched the “Shopping is GREAT!” contest at SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall with a fashion show showcasing over 30 British brands.

This unique fashion presentation was conceptualized as a showcase of accessible fashion. The models who walked the runway were everyday people, including British diplomats. They modeled clothes, shoes, accessories and products from well-loved British brands like Marks & Spencer, Cath Kidston, Clarks, Debenhams, Pepe Jeans, Lee Cooper, Lyle & Scott, Superdry, Reiss, F&F, River Island, Vision Express and Mini Lifestyle products.

The fashion show also featured different British suit and shoe brands for men like T.M. Lewin, Burton Menswear London, Sanders, The Savile Row and lifestyle brands like Mothercare and Mamas & Papas. Guests also had a glimpse of the British sportswear through Speedo, Lonsdale and brands found in Toby’s Berghaus and Mitre. Toni & Guy salon and The Body Shop also participated in the event.

The contest is part of the GREAT campaign, a celebration of the best of British business and culture.

(For more information about the GREAT campaign, e-mail [email protected] or visit British Embassy Manila on Facebook and @ukinphilippines on Twitter.)

Strengthening partnerships

Electronics stores Beyond the Box and Digital Walker recently rolled out the red carpet to express their appreciation for the members of the media at Hole In The Wall restaurant at Century City Mall in Makati City.

Event host Marco Ho a.k.a. Bogart the Explorer broke the ice with fun question-and-answer games that won the guests prizes courtesy of the two stores. Owner and president of Beyond the Box and Digital Walker Charles Paw expressed his gratitude for the media’s unwavering support for the stores that contributed to their success in 2015.

A unique launch held this year was for the very first pay-what-you-want café in Manila called Recession Coffee. Located inside Digital Walker in Eastwood Mall, the café provides passersby and coffee lovers a place to enjoy a well-made cup of coffee at any price they wish to pay while lounging amongst the colorful items available in the store.

Throughout the night, raffle prizes were given away including a brand-new iPhone 6s as the grand prize.

(Visit beyondthebox.ph or Beyond the Box and Digital Walker on Facebook.)

An inspiring platinum lifestyle

Tessa Prieto-Valdes, the new face of Globe Telecom premium postpaid brand Globe Platinum, draws inspiration from her family, career and socio-civic endeavors to live an inspiring and successful life

Tessa is an interior designer, triathlete, events host, philanthropist, wife to business executive Dennis Valdes and mother to Bryan, Tyrone, Annika and Athena.

She says, “At times when the good old-fashioned way of spending time together gets difficult, our family stays close to each other through technology. Aside from calls and SMS, we’ve also maximized the use of messaging apps like Viber or WhatsApp, and social media like Instagram and Snapchat. We have our weekly chats with Tyrone, who is currently studying abroad, and Bryan, who lives on his own now. So I say, thank God for digital connections.” 

In the flurry of the very busy life she leads and glamorous gatherings she attends, Tessa finds that connections also allow her to indulge in her passion: charity. “I got that from my mom,” she shares.

“I’m getting great help with this from Globe Platinum. I consider it a key partner in enabling me to accomplish what I set out to do on a daily basis,” Tessa says.

Globe Platinum has designed the new and most powerful Lifestyle Plans to ensure that its customers are well-connected to what  matters to them — from their loved ones, their passions to what they need in their professions. The plan has access to the newest devices, unlimited all-network calls and text messages (a first in the market), rich mobile data allocation, built-in roaming services that can automatically subscribe customers to unlimited data roaming services or the option to enjoy a consumable roaming allocation whenever they travel. It also ensures plan users to be well connected to entertainment features and content on demand with complimentary access to a choice of NBA, HOOQ, Spotify Premium and more of the best applications as they are launched in the market. These top-of-the-line mobile plans are especially crafted to fit today’s digital, dynamic and always-connected lifestyles.

A huge plus is the Platinum Relationship Managers, who take the time to get to know customers, delivering seamless, delightful and personalized service that go beyond what the customers need. The experience is further enriched with customers having dedicated hotline services, plus priority in Globe stores, as well as worldwide perks and privileges — an international concierge, access to airport lounges around the world, exclusive hotel discounts and even a personal shopper abroad.

Globe Platinum brand director Kaisie del Carmen says, “It’s our job to ensure that our customers get to live their modern lifestyles in today’s digital setting. With the Platinum Lifestyle that we offer, you are assured that you receive the signature customer experience we’re known for.”

(Discover the inspiring world of Globe Platinum at www.globe.com.ph/platinum.)