Q1: You have been importing medicines for decades. What made you decide to open a retail network via franchising all of a sudden? What was the inspiration? A1: In early 2000, physicians from PGH would recommend their patients to our office in Quezon Avenue, but since we are in the business of wholesale, unfortunately, we cannot sell retail to these […]
Search Results for: Growing Business
Q1: When you started Summit Media in 1995, your glossy, higher priced magazines became the new industry standard. What was your insight behind the new concept or what inspired you to tackle something different? Did you have a back up plan if it had not succeeded? In 1995, when we launched Preview, our first title, the magazine industry was dominated […]
Q1: Your are part of the Rocket ecommerce group where your business model is about being a ‘Fast Second’ in concept but operate in emerging countries, how better or different do you tweak the original concept to suit the countries you operate? (Note to readers: “Fast Second” is a concept that discussed those who are not the originators but who […]
Q1: As a retail expert, who are the top 3 retailers you admire most and why? Locally, Rustan’s, SM, and Bench. These homegrown brands all had humble beginnings and through the years have grown tremendously through constant evolution while remaining true to their brand essence, DNA, and heritage. Rustan’s represents quality, service, and world-class products and experiences. It has defined […]
Q1: Bayad Center, as a bill payment center, was set up because you had to address unremitted collections and increasing cost of collection (hold ups of Meralco electric bill collectors, delayed remittance, etc). How serious was this situation then or what was the tipping point that caused the creation of the Bayad centers? Have you attained your goals why Bayad […]
Q1: You spent a few years with the US Navy when you were in your early 20s. What made you enter the navy and what habits did you get there that you continue to practice today? Pretty much, my life wasn’t anything worth talking about after dropping out of high school. I really didn’t value education yet back then so I guess I […]
Q1: Jacksonhole in Wyoming is the no. 1 ski resort in North America while Four Seasons Resort Hotel is the only 5-star, AAA 5-diamond hotel in Jacksonhole. What differentiates your hotel from other resort hotels or what do your guests experience in Four Seasons that they can’t get from other hotels? There is a great osmosis between JHMR (Jackson Hole Mountain Resort) and […]
Q1: I have known you since the mid 1990’s, when you were a young partner of a struggling start-up. Although it became successful, the map business was eventually dissolved after 5 years, what lessons did you learn from that early entrepreneurial experience? It’s been exactly 20 years since I met you, Josiah, when you mentored me and my friends on […]
Early this month, while vacationing in the US, my family and I watched Absinthe at Caesars Palace Hotel and O at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. It does seem like an odd choice of combination of shows but it was interesting for the comparisons and contrast of themes we experienced. We watched Absinthe because it was recommended by people […]
This is continuation of our interview with Universal Robina Corporation’s Vice President-Marketing Edwin Totanes on Launching and Defending New Products. In this second part, Mr. Totanes generously shares about lessons he learned from failures. For Part 1 of his interview, click here Q7: One of your early marketing assignments was as brand manager of Procter and Gamble for Crest. While […]