A recent article by Manila Bulletin delves into the early brick-and-mortar foundations of the Sy family empire, long before the rise of its iconic shopping malls. The story highlights how founder Henry Sy started with a small shoe store in Manila, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the Philippines' largest retail conglomerates.
According to Google News — retail Philippines, the piece emphasizes Sy's early ventures in retail, including his experiences working in his father's store and later opening his own shop. These humble beginnings provided crucial lessons in customer service and inventory management that would later define the SM Group's success.
The article traces the evolution from a single shoe store to the first SM department store in 1958, and eventually to the sprawling SM malls that now dot the archipelago. It underscores how the Sy family's focus on brick-and-mortar retail, combined with strategic expansion, created a lasting legacy in Philippine commerce.