ANTON HUANG

Luxury & Specialty Retail

Over the past three decades, the SSI (Stores Specialists, Inc.) Group has been at the forefront of innovation–providing options to the Filipino consumer and aiding in the increasing sophistication of the Filipino lifestyle. A man who has contributed greatly to this success is Anton Huang, President of the SSI Group.

As a third generation Tantoco, Anton has inherited the family’s keen sense in business, which includes searching for the finest world-class products and services. This eye for detail has sustained the empire and made its lasting legacy as an undisputed leader in brand management of specialty retail concepts both locally and internationally.

Last year, Anton was honored by the Italian government as a Cavaliere of the Order to the Merit of the Italian Republic for his contributions in bringing the best Italian fashion brands to the Philippines. In the same vein, as is the case of the aforementioned nod, Anton Huang has also been named a Chevaliere (literally, knight) in the Légion d’honeurs by the French Ambassador for his efforts as President of the France-Philippines Business Council under the Makati Business Club where he has encouraged a great deal of economic enhancements by the thriving of French retail in the country through SSI. And with a growing retail network of over 600 specialty stores, the SSI Group continues to enhance the lives of Filipinos by opening doors to more elegant choices–not only with what remains unchartered in retail territory, but as well as what can potentially make waves in the future.

The increase of foreign competition and the evolving habits and ever-changing behavior of its consumers may pose great challenges to the business, but with Anton’s leadership, the SSI Group has maintained its dominance in the retail landscape. He attributes the company’s credence to its ability to adapt easily while continuing to provide the same level of service, excellence and refinement in providing lifestyle choices as they’ve done for the past 30 years.

Anton believes in empowering the Filipino market with the luxury of choice. And with a wide range of options, the SSI Group has affixed itself as an important part of the local market culture. He shares, “We assist in opening the eyes of our consumers towards what is out there–giving them the opportunity to see what they would like and how they can attain these things for themselves and adapt it to their lifestyle.”

And what does it take to make a great tastemaker? Anton is quick to answer, “Openness to change and the value of hard work for our entire organization.”—PG