SM Cyberzone started out in 1998 as a store in the Carpark building of SM City North Edsa.
Filipinos can’t seem to get enough of the latest gadgets, attuned as they are to the fast-paced developments in information technology.
Realizing that these tech-savvy Filipinos represent a big market, SM came up with the idea to house retailers selling the latest phones, computers and all sorts of gadgets in one place, saving potential buyers the effort of going from one place to another.
The SM Cyberzone has since become the technology hub for Filipino consumers, a retail space that has become a venue for showcasing the latest gadgets in the market.
It was an idea partly inspired by retail complex Sim Lim Square in Singapore, a hub for the latest in gadgets and tech innovation.
“Back then, people would travel to Singapore because it’s cheap and complete. We wanted to have something like that in every SM mall. That’s why we started growing SM Cyberzone as a concept,” said Froilan Manotok, Assistant Vice President for SM Cyberzone.
A brainchild of Hans Sy, SM Cyberzone started out as a lifestyle store in the Carpark building of SM City North Edsa in 1998.
The concept went on to other SM malls and was later branded SM Cyberzone.
As technology advanced, so too did the products carried by SM Cyberzone, evolving from desktops, printers, cell phones to laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches and digital printers that catered to the needs of different customer segments including millennials.
One of the tenants, Allan Miones, 35, who owns Cyberstar, a dealer of multibranded mobile phones, said he felt secure in locating in an SM mall given the malls’ round-the-clock security.
He also learned to operate a technology-related business through SM Cyberzone.
Rolando Raval Jr., vice president for operations of Octagon Philippines, which has over 100 branches nationwide, said locating in SM Cyberzone allowed shoppers to easily access their store.
Octagon’s biggest store is in SM Megamall, occupying about 900 square meters and was one of the first computer stores to introduce the “touch and go” concept to the retail market.
“People go to SM malls because everything is there, cinemas, shopping and food. The foot traffic in the malls has, in a way, accelerated the expansion of locators in SM Cyberzone,” Raval said.
Over the years, SM Cyberzone has served as a solid springboard for entrepreneurs to launch new tech ideas.
Erick Chua, 33, owner of mobile clothing brand Halo, said the company started in SM Fairview in 2009.
“It started out as a small business venture. In 2009, we applied with SM’s Leasing Department and we were very happy when Ma’am Tessie (Teresita Sy-Coson) gave us the approval,” Chua recounted.
“Our main goal was to grow with SM. That year, we opened seven branches of Halo, with the majority in SM malls. We practically grew with SM and Cyberzone. SM allows an ecosystem of business people to sell their goods,” he said.
With the consistent demand for new technology every year, Cyberzone is poised to continue on its growth path in the next few years.
SM Cyberzone, also known as a venue for the biggest gaming and tech-related events, is converting a number of smaller IT zones in SM malls, mostly in the provinces, into Cyberzones that span between 2,000 and 5,000 square meters each, to house more tech-related brands and
services.
To date, Cyberzone has over 40 branches nationwide and is home to over 2,500 I.T. stores, putting it the forefront of the consumer electronics sector in the country.