SM’s Historical and Remarkable Journey

SM's Historical and Remarkable Journey

SM’s story started when Henry Sy had a simple dream: to sell good shoes to all Filipinos. He began with a small shoe store in Manila in the late 1950s. Henry Sy really cared about making customers happy and coming up with new ways to make shopping at SM great. He also worked well with others, like suppliers and employees, and helped the places where he opened stores. As time went on, SM kept doing good things for the communities it was in and tried to make sure it didn’t harm the environment. Today, SM is the biggest company in the Philippines. The Sy Family, along with thousands of employees, still work hard to make life better for the people in the areas they serve, and they create value for everyone involved.

People Involved in this journey (in general)
  • The Sy Family
    The Sy family, with Henry Sy Sr. and his family members, played a big role in starting and growing SM Supermalls. Henry Sy Sr. was the leader who made the company grow.
  • Top Managers
    This group includes important executives like the CEO, President, and other senior managers who make big decisions and run the malls every day.
  • Workers
    SM Supermalls has many employees, like store workers, security staff, office workers, and others who help make the malls work well.
  • Shops and Renters
    Different businesses and brands rent space in SM Supermalls to run their stores. These renters are very important for what the malls offer and how successful they are.
  • Shoppers
    Customers are a crucial part of SM Supermalls. When people visit and buy things, it brings in money and makes the malls profitable.
  • Suppliers
    Suppliers are the companies that give the malls the products they sell, like clothes, electronics, and food.
  • Local Communities
    SM Supermalls is involved with and supports the neighborhoods where its malls are located. This includes the people who live there, local businesses, and community groups.
  • Government and Rules
    SM Supermalls has to follow different laws and rules set by the government, both nationally and locally.
  •  Investors and Owners
    SM Supermalls is part of the SM Group, and there are people who invest in and own shares in the company. They care about how well the company does financially.
  • Partners
    SM Supermalls often works with other businesses or groups to do things like marketing, promotions, and special events in their malls.
It all started from

The very first big shopping center, SM North EDSA, was made by Henry Sy. He’s a Filipino businessman whose family originally came from Fujian, China. Before this mall, he started with a shoe store in Quiapo in 1948, and then in 1958, he opened the first store with the name Shoemart (SM) along Carriedo Street, and now SM has 83 malls.

Recent Crisis or Struggles the SM faced
  • Mall Closures due to COVID-19
    When COVID-19 started, SM Supermalls had to temporarily close many of its malls to keep people safe. This meant they couldn’t make as much money.
  • Financial Troubles Because of COVID
    Because of COVID-19, many people didn’t have as much money to spend at the malls. Some stores in SM Supermalls had a hard time and had to close.
  • Safety Rules
    To keep everyone safe from the virus, SM Supermalls had to make rules like staying apart from others and wearing masks. They also had to clean the malls a lot, which cost more money.
  • People Shopping Online
    More people started shopping online because of the pandemic. This was a challenge for SM Supermalls because fewer people came to the malls.
  • Helping Stores
    SM Supermalls had to help the stores in their malls that were having trouble paying rent or bills because they weren’t making as much money.
  • Problems with Getting Products
    Sometimes, it was hard to get products for the malls because the pandemic messed up how things were made and delivered.
SM’s value-associated methods that they applied in order to Win
  • Different Kinds of Stores
    SM Supermalls carefully chooses a mix of stores, including big and small brands, restaurants, fun places, and even places for health. This variety makes lots of people come to the mall.
  • Fun Stuff
    Many SM Supermalls have fun things like movie theaters, rides, and video games. This makes people want to come and enjoy themselves at the mall.
  • Using Technology
    SM Supermalls uses technology, like phone apps, to help people find their way around and get deals. During COVID-19, they also let people shop online and pay without touching money.
  • Helping the Community
    SM Supermalls works with the people who live nearby. They support local businesses and do events for the community to feel welcome.
  • Making Customers Happy
    SM Supermalls really cares about making shoppers happy. They listen to what shoppers say and use that to make the malls better.
  • Being Green
    SM Supermalls also tries to be kind to the environment. They use energy-saving lights, make less trash, and design their buildings to be eco-friendly.
  • Advertise in Creative Ways
    SM Supermalls uses fun ads and promotions to get people excited about going to their malls. Sometimes, they work with famous people to make the malls even more exciting.
  • Banking Services at the Mall
    You can do banking at some SM Supermalls because they have banks right there. This makes it easy for people to do their banking while shopping.
  • Keep Growing and Changing
    SM Supermalls is always building new malls in different places and fixing up old ones to make them better.
  • Helping the Community During Problems
    When there are big problems like floods or storms, SM Supermalls often helps out by giving space for people to get help and support. This shows they care about the areas where they have malls.

The inspiring journey of SM Supermalls

Rooted in Henry Sy’s humble aspiration to provide quality shoes to Filipinos. From its inception as a small shoe store, SM has blossomed into the Philippines’ premier company. Henry Sy’s commitment to customer satisfaction, innovative shopping experiences, and partnerships with suppliers and employees fostered its growth. Today, SM’s impact extends beyond commerce, enriching local communities and safeguarding the environment. Weathering challenges, like COVID-19 closures and shifting shopping trends, SM adapted with resilience and creativity. Its blend of diverse stores, technological integration, community engagement, and sustainable practices underscores its success. Embracing change and expansion, SM continues to enhance lives and neighborhoods while demonstrating unwavering community support in times of crisis. Into this narrative of entrepreneurship, adaptability, and social responsibility that showcases how a simple dream can transform into a force for positive change.

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