Lifestyle
Globe Strengthens Market Presence in Cebu with Opening of World-class GEN3 Store
The country’s number one mobile brand Globe Telecom is set to boost its presence in Cebu as it opens its revolutionary Generation 3 (GEN3) store at the Ayala Center Cebu in a bid to transform the retail experience and enable the digital lifestyle of Cebuanos and nearby markets.
The GEN3 store in Cebu is the telco’s first store in the Visayas region and is the biggest among the GEN3 stores that Globe has opened to date. It measures over 400 square meters and can accommodate up to 200 customers and store personnel at the same time.
Further strengthening its business and operations in the Visayas region, Globe opened the GEN3 store at the Queen City of the South to offer customers a differentiated customer experience that is up to par with global retail outlets around the world. The GEN3 store format has veered away from the basic transactional set-up to a venue where customers can discover and learn new things in the digital space. It brings to life the telco’s undertaking to be the purveyor of the digital lifestyle not only with its products and services but also in customer experiences and touchpoints.
The Globe GEN3 stores are designed by Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of Eight, Inc. His most famous work is the Apple Store in New York, alongside his other dynamic designs for international retail stores such as Nike, GAP and Coach, among others.
“Since we introduced the GEN3 stores last year, we have set a new global standard in retail and customer experience. The focus is no longer on selling just another postpaid plan or a device, but on creating strong emotional connections between Globe as a global digital brand and our customers,” says Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.
The GEN3 Cebu store will feature the latest technological innovations that will shape the Filipino digital lifestyle. This will be seen in the reconfigurable store displays that give Globe the ability to change the content every quarter. It will house four major lifestyle zones namely music, entertainment, life and productivity, that will illustrate mobile and broadband technologies as connected solutions—featuring the latest devices, apps, digital connectors and services that contribute to the total interactive customer experience.
Aside from the latest products and services, the new GEN3 store also serves as a platform to feature inspiring stories of must-watch personalities who are blazing new trails in their respective industries. With the store opening in Cebu, GEN3 highlights the cheering story of select artists featured in the recently-held online music talent hunt Spotify Emerge powered by Globe. Grand winner Shehyee and finalist Marion Aunor share their musical journey and how they succeeded in pursuing their love for music.
The new store is also equipped with a Play Bar where customers can learn about the latest apps through one-on-one service consultations, as well as self-service kiosks like the video hotline that allow Globe representatives to better interact with customers. Payment machines are also available that accept cash and credit cards for quick payment transactions.
As Globe Head of Retail Transformation and Stores Management Joe Caliro shares, “Globe has always considered Cebu as one of the key areas in the Philippines where we strive to expand our presence in. We are very happy to finally bring our world-class GEN3 store here to give our customers a taste of world-class retail experience. With the concept and design of the Globe GEN3 Store in Cebu, we are able to set up a space where everyone who walks in can have a totally different experience and come out learning something new every time.”
This year, Globe is set to open two more GEN3 stores at Greenbelt Mall in Makati by August and at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong by October. Globe also announced the construction of the Globe Iconic Store that is set to be the biggest and grandest Globe store. Its pioneering design will feature a bridge that will link two Globe stores from opposite sides. The Globe Iconic Store will soon rise right above the Bonifacio Global City amphitheatre at the Bonifacio High Street Central in Taguig City.
Globe is also set to convert the rest of its existing stores into GEN3 Stores to bring the world-class retail experience to more Filipinos nationwide.