SM launches 60th anniversary celebration

SM launched its 60th Anniversary celebrations starting off a series of exciting 60 themed visual attractions, fun experiences, and interactive activities for customers from May to October in SM malls nationwide.

The SM story began in 1958 when founder Henry Sy, Sr. opened the first Shoemart store in downtown Manila, introducing exciting new merchandising and retailing concepts. At that time, Mr. Sy, who has been honored as the Father of Philippine Retail by the Philippine Retailers Association, thought that if he could sell a pair of shoes to every Filipino, he could be a successful man.

In the 1960s, Shoemart expanded its shoe store chain and became one of the pioneers in the new urban centers in Makati and Cubao.

In the seventies, Shoemart evolved into a department store, becoming SM, which has been synonymous with one-stop shopping excitement. SM positioned itself for growth in the 1980s, expanding its department store chain and venturing in the supermarket and appliance business.

1985 saw the opening of the first SM shopping center, SM City North EDSA. It was a time of a major political and economic crisis, but the mall was an instant success, paving way for the so-called malling phenomenon in the Philippines. Malls became part of the Filipino lifestyle, places where families and friends could shop together, dine together, and have fun together in world class surroundings.

Today, SM has close to a thousand retail stores, and 70 malls in the Philippines, and 7 malls in China.

The #AweSM launch party last May 25 in the different SM malls nationwide gathered SM’s partners, tenants, celebrities, and valued stakeholders who have been part of SM’s journey from a one-store operation to one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers.

In SM City Cebu, shoppers gathered at the main mall rotunda area to witness the balloon-drop with 60 awesome balloons filled with exciting deals and surprises from mall tenants.

SM City Consolacion gathered health enthusiasts for a special Zumba session at the second level.

SM Seaside City Cebu highlighted the Santacruzan sa Sugbo in celebration of SM’s 60th year anniversary. Shoppers witnessed the coronation of the Reyna Emperatriz and the parade of the Santacruzan reynas in designs by Clothes for Life at the Mountain Wing Atrium.