SM creates stronger ocean conservation initiatives giving New Waves of Impact during Coastal Clean-up Projects

by Info @Brand Zone | June 26, 2024

SM Supermalls, through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, SM Cares, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), continue to drive active participation in ocean conservation with the latest leg of SM’s Coastal Clean-up drive, held on June 8, 2024, Saturday in celebration of World Oceans Day.

This year, SM was able to collect more than 15,000 kgs of trash with the help of 2,500 SM Employees and volunteers from 15 SM Supermalls nationwide.

SM City Sorsogon cleans the coastal area of Sitio Mahingan

SM City Legazpi does a clean-up by the coastal shorelines of Brgy. Dapdap and Brgy. Puro

SM Mindpro volunteers cleaned-up the trash along the stretch of mangrove areas

Purok Minanga get cleaned by volunteers from SM City General Santos

SM City Roxas volunteers are ready to clean the coast of Baybay Beach

SM City Puerto Princesa volunteer shows the trash they collected during the clean-up

SM City Puerto Princesa volunteer shows the trash they collected during the clean-up

Shore-lines gets greener with a clean up by SM City Daet

SM City Bataan volunteers protecting our aweSM seas

The area of Centro 10-Tanza-Caggay get cleaned by volunteers from SM City Tuguegarao & SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown

SM by the BAY volunteers – including NU Nazareth students, BSP/GSP, SM employees and agency personnel’s fight for a trash-free Manila Bay

SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu return to Cebu SRP for a clean-up

Since 2014, SM’s coastal clean-up initiative has grown to include more coastal locations and volunteers, showing the true impact of SM’s advocacy, as well as the power of community participation in environmental stewardship and marine conservation efforts.

SM Cares’ Coastal Clean-up project is part of the organization’s Programs on Environment. SM Cares also has supporting initiatives focused on children and the youth, women and breastfeeding mothers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. 

To learn more, visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/.

SM City General Trias Breaks Ground: A New Shopping Destination Emerges in Cavite

by Info @Brand Zone | June 15, 2024

SM Supermalls President, Steven Tan (6th from the right), and City of General Trias Mayor, Luis “Jonjon” Ferrer IV (7th from the right), lead the groundbreaking of the soon-to-rise SM City General Trias, the 8th SM mall in the Province of Cavite. Joining them are (L-R): Project Development Group Head of GT Capital, Stephen Comia; President of Federal Land, Inc., Thomas Mirasol; Chairman of Profriends, Guillermo Choa; SM Vice President for Operations, Junias Eusebio; SM Vice President for Engineering and Design, Architect Fides Hsu; Rev. Father Teody Andres; City of General Trias Vice Mayor, Jonas Labuguen; Cavite Provincial Board Member, Morit Sison; SM Senior Assistant Vice President for Operations John Jason Terrenal; DEVEX Chairman, Edison Ng and SM Assistant Vice President for Operations Lorenzo Calingansan IV.

Leading the capsule laying during the groundbreaking ceremony of SM City General Trias are  (L to R): DEVEX Chairman Edison Ng; SM Vice President for Operations Junias Eusebio; Rev. Father Teody Andres; SM Vice President for Engineering and Design Arch. Fides Hsu; Cavite Provincial Board Member Morit Sison; City of General Trias Vice Mayor Jonas Labuguen; City of General Trias Mayor Luis “Jonjon” Ferrer IV; SM President Steven Tan; SM Assistant Vice President for Operations Lorenz Calingasan IV and SM Senior Assistant Vice President for Operations South John Jason Terrenal

SM Prime bolsters MSME growth and boom in the Philippines

by Info @Brand Zone | June 15, 2024

Manila, Philippines - SM Supermalls continues its commitment to empower and enrich the growth of local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by building a thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation

“MSMEs are our local partners in generating value across all the communities we operate in,” said Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls. “With 99.59% of the local economy composed of MSMEs, the persistence and vibrancy of local trade as well as the generation of jobs on the micro, small, and medium scale hinges on their success.”

In line with this, SM Supermalls continues to implement various programs and plan opportunities for MSMEs to grow their customer base through the vast network of SM malls in the country. With 67% of its tenants being MSMEs, these programs empower entrepreneurs by providing them with accessible and affordable prime retail spaces in SM’s high-foot traffic malls, as well as helpful packages to support their growth.

PRESS RELEASE

Marketplace for Success

Various local products sold by SM for MSMEs’ purveyors

“Because SM has been an established brand for over three decades, perhaps people have forgotten that we started out as a small enterprise ourselves,” said Tan. “Our own experience emphasizes the value in supporting our MSMEs and has given us valuable insight we can use to further support this crucial sector in line with the government’s efforts.”

Last May, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) introduced the fourth iteration of the national MSME Development Plan geared to reduce operational costs and eliminate barriers for new entrepreneurs. Through the plan’s implementation, the DTI hopes to grow the number of registered MSMEs, improve their contribution to the larger local economy, and support continual job creation.

The “SM for MSMEs” program supports budding entrepreneurs in overcoming three key challenges they usually face–access to a diverse group of customers, the high cost of traditional operational requirements like rent, and competition with established brands for attention and patronage. Serving as a marketplace for entrepreneurs facing difficulties finding the right venue and market, SM aims to be the incubator of the country’s next big brands. 

“SM for MSMEs offer scalable packages to businesses in the communities around SM malls–for as low as 500 pesos per day, small scale businesses can rent a booth in SM’s high-foot traffic venues during regular exhibits and special events. The program currently has 633 purveyors nationwide, providing an affordable and strategic platform for entrepreneurs to sell their products and reach the right market.

Other Programs of SM for MSMEs

StartUp Market Purveyors, Arctic Balm and South Sea Gems, at SM City North Edsa

SM initiated its “StartUp Package” in 2021 to assist MSMEs in opening their first brick-and-mortar stores. The package provides start-up-friendly rental rates within SM malls along with the free usage of kiosks and carts. Marketing assistance is also provided through free exposure in SM online assets and ad spaces within the malls with valuable mentorship from its experts on operations and marketing. SM also offers financial assistance with BDO network bank. This program is currently running across five malls with 30 purveyors as of writing. Earlier this year, 44 StartUp Market purveyors successfully transitioned to SM tenants.

Supporting Farmers in our Rural Communities

The SM Sunday Market currently runs in 23 SM malls

On top of these, SM helps support rural communities through opportunities for fair trade that also preserve its cultural heritage. The SM Sunday Market bazaar has been running since last year across 23 active and participating SM malls. Among its 135 purveyors are graduates of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan program farmers who are local food and produce suppliers.

“Throughout SM’s decades of growth, we are familiar with the work and effort it takes to build a business from the ground up. Thus, with these programs SM aims to be a catalyst for the success of local MSMEs through support and tailored offers that further foster economic vitality and social wellbeing across all communities we operate in,” said Tan. “Because of the success we’ve been met with, not just on our own operations but with the programs and efforts we have initiated, we continue to pay it forward by supporting this crucial, underserved sector in the local economy.”