Manila’s new sole-mate
B ata, a pioneer of innovative footwear for more than 120 years, launched its first store in the Philippines at SM Megamall.
The shoe company’ s chief marketing officer and the founder’ s great grand son Thomas Bat a graced the occasion. “We’re very happy to be here. Bata is a fantastic company that is very value- oriented with very strong ethics and values,” said Thomas.
He was likewise excited about opening a store in the Philippines, which he described as a “very modern market.”
“I think our message of style, comfort and great price is a perfect fit,” he said.
In fact, he has quite an “ambitious vision” for the footwear company in the country, seeing a “national presence with many excited consumers who buy our products and enjoy them so they keep coming back.”
The T .& A. Bat a Shoe Company was registered in Zin, Czechoslovakia by the siblings Tomas, Anna and Antonin Bata in 1894. (Almost one century after the company was formed, Czechoslovakia dissolved into Czech Republic and Slovak Republic in 1993.)
Innovative from the beginning, Bata is all about century- old traditions of a one-man cobbler’s workshop. Known for its contemporary styles and quality and affordable products, the shoe company enjoys a long history as a leading manufacturer and retailer of quality footwear. It proudly serves some one million customers from its 5,000 international retail stores in over 70 countries each day.
The bright, friendly and inviting interiors of Bata at SM Megamall give customers an exciting and convenient shopping experience. The store also highlights different brands like Ambassador, which offers a wide range of footwear for men in laceup and slip- ons for formal occasions; Power, a brand designed in Canada, with style, technological features, comfort and durability for athletic and sports enthusiasts; and Weinbrenner, “strong shoes” built to suit the true outdoor personalities.
Bata also has brands for the younger market like North Star, a sports casual footwear and accessor ies brand inspired by world trends and young people’s versatility; and Bubblegummers for kids. (Bata Store is located at 3/L, SM Megamall Building B.)