VIRTUAL SALE. The Philippine Retailers Association-Cebu Chapter hatches "The Great Cebu Sale 2020", a virtual industry-wide sale from September 15 to October 31, 2020. Chester Lim, PRA-Cebu president, on Thursday (Aug. 27, 2020) said the event will stimulate trade and bring back consumer confidence after a long quarantine period amid the Covid-19 pandemic. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – In a bid to stimulate trade and bring back consumer confidence, a retailers’ group will make an industry-wide “The Great Cebu Sale 2020” that will run for one-and-a-half months.
In a statement, the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA)-Cebu Chapter said it conceptualized the virtual sale of Cebu’s top brands in the hospitality, wellness, travel, automotive, fashion, hardware, electronics and food industries.
Inspired by the great Singapore sale, the event will highlight exceptional deals, promos and packages of participating brands throughout the sale period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31.
Chester Lim, PRA-Cebu Chapter president, said the long period of quarantine since the middle of March and the lockdowns amid the resurgence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in June have crippled businesses and jobs lost.
“We need to start building up business and consumer confidence through a movement of consumption. The Great Cebu Sale will hopefully create favorable conditions for businesses to go online during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Lim said. “It’s a great opportunity for Cebu businesses to promote their product and services via e-commerce.”
He said this first virtual shopping event will be conducted collectively by retailers in Cebu, along with the different businesses, organizations, and chambers here.
As Cebu is reopening the economy with the downtrend of Covid-19 cases, Lim said now is “a good time to purchase anything from discounted room accommodations to the best deal in work and study from home gadgets or simply enjoy a visit in your favorite family destination".
He said Cebuanos will surely get the best deal for their peso, as all businesses have to submit their applications to DTI.
“Cebuanos can be assured of legitimate and fair business dealings,” he added.
Nine hotels – Seda Ayala Center and Seda Central Bloc, Golden Prince Hotel and Suites, Bai Hotel, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Movenpick Hotel, Cebu Grand Hotel, Citadines Cebu City, and Mezzo Hotel – participating the virtual trading will treat Cebuanos with 50 percent discounts on their products and services.
Wellness facilities like Maayo, LH Prime Medical Clinic will also present their services while restaurants like Cafe Laguna, House of Lechon, Lantaw, Top of Cebu, 10 Dove Street will give Cebuanos best choices of cuisines.
Tourism and amusement brands like Island Souvenirs and Anjo World Theme Park, hardware establishments like Belmont Hardware Depot and Cebu Bionic Builders, automotive companies such as JMC Vehicles and Deco Sales, Loalde and ATE Clothier for fashion will pitch in their different products and services.
Gaisano Main, Fresco, D+B Wines, Prosel Pharma, Aerophone, Remplex Productions, Twinbee, and Third Team Media are other businesses that signed up for the activity.
The PRA, however, said other businesses in Cebu can still join the event by signing up until Monday (Aug. 31).
The event will also highlight how Cebu businesses have gone digital and embraced the online platform to sell their products and services. The event organizers thus tapped Foodpanda, Maxim, Mober, Lalamove and Grab Delivery as partners for the event.
The Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI), Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Cebu Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce (CFCCC) are collaborating with PRA for the event.
Also helping them are the Hardware Consolidated, Inc. (HCI), Cebu Alliance of Tour Operation Specialists, Inc. (CATOS), Cebu Business Club (CBC) and the Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers (MEPZCEM). (PNA)
