The Philippines' leading fashion and lifestyle brand, Bench, recently achieved great success at the Retail Asia Awards 2023. The brand was honored with two major awards, namely, Apparel Retailer of the Year and Store Design of the Year for its Bench Active store located in SM Megamall. From left: Christina Tan, Cristina Montinola, Yumi Lim, Kai Lim, Suyen Corporation Vice President for Finance Nenita Lim, President Virgilio Lim, In-house Architect Miguel Pastor,  Chairman and CEO Ben Chan, Vice President for Business Development Bryan Lim, Vice President for Brand Marketing Kristine Lim, General Manager Jude Ong, and PwC Asia Pacific, Mainland China and Hong Kong Consumer Markets Leader Michael Cheng.
In the advent of digital technology, further propelled by the ongoing global health crisis, the retail industry finds itself at a crossroads—whether to take the bold leap and adapt to the emerging trends or remain stagnant in its current position. Suyen Corporation's flagship brand, Bench, has boldly faced the challenging impact of Covid-19 by forging ahead with diverse projects, activities, and product activations. "It has indeed been a challenging three years, but our brand remains committed to strengthening our resources to adapt further to the changes brought about by the pandemic," said Mr. Bryan Lim, vice president for Business and Development at Suyen Corporation. As he emphasizes, some of the key factors that have aided the company in navigating through these demanding times are their strong relationship with their employees and their passion in serving their patrons.

A notable feat for the Philippines

Chairman and CEO Ben Chan, Vice President for Finance Nenita Lim, and President Virgilio Lim
During the recently concluded Retail Asia Awards 2023, Bench emerged victorious, securing two major awards for the Philippines: Apparel Retailer of the Year and Store Design of the Year. The former accolade recognizes the brand's commitment to its mission of producing high-quality products, comprising apparel collections and home essentials, which have proven instrumental in navigating through a pandemic-driven lifestyle. It also underscores the brand's core values of serving not only its stakeholders but also the surrounding communities. "Covid-19 ignited a sense of responsibility in us to support and assist our employees and others in navigating these challenging times," said Ben Chan, chairman and ceo of Suyen Corporation. "That's why we took the lead in organizing a vaccine drive for our employees, their families, and local government units. Additionally, as a way to acknowledge the unwavering dedication of our essential workforce, we prioritized their well-being by providing them with essential assistance.” The second award acknowledges the exceptional creativity and innovative skills of the Bench team, exemplified by the brand's immersive Bench Active store situated in SM Megamall. The 227-square-meter store embodies the essence of the brand, showcasing a wide range of collections that epitomize stylish, high-quality, yet affordable activewear. Notably, it features the recently launched BRR Collection and Cool Pass Collection. This achievement marks the third time that Bench has been recognized by an international award-giving body. In 2011, the brand bagged the Best Marketing Award at the Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA) Awards for its series of successful underwear events held from 2008 to 2010. Following this accomplishment, Bench became the only Filipino retail brand to win the esteemed Brand of the Year Award at the World Branding Awards in London in 2017.

Moving forward

For the past 35 years, Bench has maintained its position as the most trusted retail brand in the Philippines. From its modest beginnings as a men's t-shirt store in Makati City to becoming a beloved household name, the brand has demonstrated resilience and steadfastness in the face of various challenges and crises. Mr. Chan affirmed that Bench will continue to uphold its goals and aspirations. "Despite the changes we have consciously embraced, our ethos of constant improvement, innovation, and serving not only our loyal patrons but all Filipinos, both here and abroad, remains unchanged," he said. Overall, Bench remains a formidable force in the retail and integrated marketing industry. The brand envisions a significantly brighter future, bolstered by strong teams, trend-setting product offerings, and a collection of esteemed local and international awards that they take pride in.