Capping off and welcoming the new fiscal year has never been as grand and luxe as the Primer Retailers’ Convention 2019!
Primer employees who have shown dedication and practiced retail and operational excellence over the past twelve months deserved to walk the red carpet, relish the spotlight, and receive awards and recognition in the glittered up, gold-tinged Century Park Hotel Grand Ballroom last May 16, 2019.
Giving his warmest welcome to the audience Primer Group Managing Director Jerry Sy delivered his heartfelt gratitude for all KaPrimers who gave their best performance over the past year.
Primer Group Managing Director Jerry Sy delivers his welcoming speech
“Thanks to each and everyone of you for being here with us to witness this momentous occasion. We are very happy and proud of what each of you had achieved in the last fiscal year of 2018-2019. All your efforts not just significantly contributed to the growth of our business but, more importantly, they also nourished our partnership with customers and clients. And today, allow us to give back and recognize all your contributions. Your excellent performance truly deserves recognition and applause. You are all well appreciated.
KaPrimers, continue to demonstrate optimism and passion in everything that you do. Aim high and reach for the sky. This will help us in delivering superior customer experience,“ says Jerry Sy.
WATCH: 2019 Primer Retailers’ Convention and Circle of Excellence Awarding Ceremony
INSPIRATIONAL TALKS
Driving KaPrimers’ towards the right path to leadership excellence was Francis J. Kong, acclaimed business speaker who also sits as a Primer Group board member. In his talk, Francis Kong emphasized the importance of commitment and service, and living the Primer Group core values Integrity, Self-discipline, Teamwork, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Passion for Excellence (iSTEP) in order to guide one’s self and colleagues towards the path of success.
Francis J. Kong talks about leadership excellence and Primer Group’s core values
“Awards and honors are always given to those who have served. People who have given, they are the ones who will get the awards. If not, the awards mean nothing,” Francis Kong says.
Chief-of-Staff Noel Duldulao emphasized and followed through on how values define one’s decisions, and eventually, outcomes and results.
“The values that we have now were the ones that were shaping the destiny of the company,” shares Noel Duldulao.
Additionally, both highlighted how change is inevitable, and as the company adapts and ventures in unrecognized territories, iSTEP core values shall serve as compass or guide towards success.
Primer Group advisor and Board of Directors’ mentor Gary Yeang imparted his wisdom on how to succeed fast– and that is through developing an ownership mindset.
Gary Yeang shares about a secret to success- Ownership Mindset
“Ownership mindset starts when one joins the company. It is an aspiration and it is a duty. With this, one can quickly climb the corporate ladder. It is the key to reach the summit, to reach the top.”
Gary Yeang then invited on stage Brand Executive Pierrick Tan and Assistant Vice President Tiffany Batungbacal, who both shared stories of actual Primer employees who have practiced ownership mindset in the past years, and have climbed the ladder- from store associates to store managers and beyond.
Rallying employees that morning was PH Retail Sales and Ops Manager Marisel Sy who also thanked each employee for all their contributions to where the company is today.
PH Retail Sales and Ops Manager Marisel Sy rallies and acknowledges everyone’s hard work and dedication
AWARDING CEREMONY
Following a sumptuous lunch with a saxophone serenade was the most awaited part of the day- the Circle of Excellence Awarding Ceremony!
Aptly opening the afternoon was Primer Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Thai who, after congratulating all KaPrimers, grasped the opportunity to mingle with guests, by mainly entertaining questions from the audience.
Primer Group President and CEO Jimmy Thai grasped the opportunity to get to know KaPrimers from stores all over the country
Primer Group stores from National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were recognized for three categories of the Circle of Excellence– the All Time High Award, Reach for the Sky Award, and Passion for Perfection Award– for the fourth quarter.
The highlight of the event was the declaration of the winners of special awards for the fiscal year: Retail Ambassador of the Year, Retail Leader of the Year,and Retail Store of the Year.
Retail Ambassador of the Year
| NCR | Action Sports | MICHAEL ANGELO DELA CRUZ | FOX SM ANNEX |
| NCR | Bags | JERALD BARRETO | BRATPACK GREENBELT 5 |
| MINDANAO | Footwear | ANALYN D. TORRES | RTR KCC ZAMBOANGA |
| MINDANAO | Outdoor | JONATHAN ARENDAIN | SALOMON ABREEZA |
| NCR | Travel | FRANK REINER VIDAL | TUMI SOLAIRE |
| NCR | Wellness and accessories | MA. TERESA PROVIDO | BACKJOY ROB. MAGNOLIA |
| VISAYAS | RA | LORETO DIZON | JANSPORT SM SEASIDE CEBU |
Retail Leader of the Year
| NCR | Action Sports | JEAN MARIE FLORENTINO | DC ROB ERMITA |
| NCR | Bags | MARY ROSE AUSTRIA | BRATPACK ROBINSONS GALLERIA |
| VISAYAS | Footwear | ELMAR SAGRANADA | RES|TOE|RUN ROBINSONS GALLERIA CEBU |
| VISAYAS | Outdoor | EDMUND CEDENO | COLUMBIA SM CEBU |
| MINDANAO | Travel | EMANUEL TAGALOG | THE TRAVEL CLUB KCC ZAMBOANGA |
| NCR | PHILIP ANDREW DENZON |
Retail Store of the Year
| NCR | Action Sports | ROXY SM MALL OF ASIA |
| NCR | Bags | HEDGREN SM MALL OF ASIA |
| NCR | Footwear | DR. MARTENS SM MEGAMALL |
| NCR | Outdoor | THE NORTH FACE SM MALL OF ASIA |
| MINDANAO | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB SM DAVAO |
| NCR | Wellness & Accs | AETREX TRINOMA (KIOSK) |
| NCR | RSY | SM AURA |
The following are the winners for each category:
All Time High Award
| ISLAND | CATEGORY | AWARDEES |
| LUZON | Action Sports | QUIKSILVER SM CLARK |
| LUZON | Bags | BRATPACK SM PAMPANGA |
| LUZON | Footwear | RES|TOE|RUN SERIN TAGAYTAY |
| LUZON | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB ROBINSONS SANTIAGO |
| MINDANAO | Action Sports | GRIND KCC GENERAL SANTOS |
| MINDANAO | Bags | BRATPACK AYALA CENTRIO |
| MINDANAO | Footwear | RES|TOE|RUN SM GENERAL SANTOS |
| MINDANAO | Outdoor | SALOMON AYALA ABREEZA |
| MINDANAO | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB KCC ZAMBOANGA |
| NCR | Action Sports | FOX SM NORTH EDSA ANNEX |
| NCR | Bags | BRATPACK UP TOWN CENTER |
| NCR | Footwear | RES|TOE|RUN UPTOWN BONIFACIO |
| NCR | Outdoor | SALOMON SM MEGAMALL |
| NCR | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB MEGAWORLD NEWPORT |
| NCR | Wellness & Accs | BACKJOY ROBINSONS MAGNOLIA (KIOSK) |
| VISAYAS | Action Sports | QUIKSILVER SM BACOLOD |
| VISAYAS | Bags | BRATPACK ROBINSONS GALLERIA CEBU |
| VISAYAS | Footwear | RES|TOE|RUN ROBINSONS ROXAS |
| VISAYAS | Outdoor | SALOMON SM SEASIDE CITY CEBU |
| VISAYAS | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB ROBINSONS TACLOBAN (NEW) |
| NCR | Travel | SPORTSMART TERMINAL 3 (FASHION RACK) |
| VISAYAS | Bags | SM CEBU DS BAGS JANSPORT |
Reach for the Sky Award
| ISLAND | CATEGORY | AWARDEES |
| LUZON | Action Sports | DC SM LUCENA |
| LUZON | Bags | BRATPACK SM PAMPANGA |
| LUZON | Footwear | RES|TOE|RUN AYALA MARQUEE |
| LUZON | Outdoor | COLUMBIA SM BAGUIO |
| LUZON | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB ROBINSONS LAOAG |
| MINDANAO | Action Sports | DC SM GENERAL SANTOS |
| MINDANAO | Bags | BRATPACK SM GENERAL SANTOS |
| MINDANAO | Footwear | DR. MARTENS AYALA ABREEZA |
| MINDANAO | Outdoor | ROX AYALA ABREEZA |
| MINDANAO | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB KCC GENERAL SANTOS |
| NCR | Action Sports | GRIND AYALA GLORIETTA 3 NEW |
| NCR | Bags | BRATPACK UP TOWN CENTER |
| NCR | Footwear | DR. MARTENS SM MEGAMALL |
| NCR | Outdoor | COLUMBIA AYALA GREENBELT 5 |
| NCR | Travel | TUMI GREENBELT 5 |
| NCR | Wellness & Accessories | AETREX TRINOMA (KIOSK) |
| VISAYAS | Action Sports | QUIKSILVER SM CEBU |
| VISAYAS | Bags | BRATPACK AYALA CENTER CEBU |
| VISAYAS | Footwear | RES|TOE|RUN AYALA CENTER CEBU |
| VISAYAS | Outdoor | ROX AYALA CENTER CEBU |
| VISAYAS | Travel | THE TRAVEL CLUB ROBINSONS TACLOBAN (NEW) |
| NCR | Travel | SM AURA DS LUGGAGE |
| VISAYAS | Footwear | SM SEASIDE CITY CEBU DS LADIES CASUAL SHOES FITFLOP |
Passion for Perfection Award
| ISLAND | CATEGORY | AWARDEES |
| LUZON | Outdoor | COLUMBIA SM CLARK |
| NCR | ROYAL SPORTING HOUSE ROBINSONS ERMITA JANSPORT | |
| NCR | PFP | SPORTSMART FIESTA MALL |
In between awardings, KaPrimers also enjoyed entertainment from R&B and soul singer Miss Ramonne and from the company’s very own The Voice of Primer winner Roland Aquino.
A fine ending to the event was the touching speech of Vice President for Philippine Retail Brand and Marketing Group and Retail ManComm Chair Paul Sy who did not forget to acknowledge everybody’s hardships and hardwork, and congratulate all who played a role in Primer Group’s retail success.
Vice President for Philippine Retail Brand and Marketing Group and Retail ManComm Chair Paul Sy closes the program with a heartfelt congratulatory message