As SM celebrates its 50th Anniversary as a retailer, it approaches this milestone with a new vitality and energy to serve a new generation of shoppers, as well as the many customers that have made it part of their lives.
SM was founded as a shoe store by Henry Sy, Sr., in October 1958 in downtown Manila. Mr. Sy, who is known as the visionary of Philippine retail because of his innovations in the industry, thought of establishing a chain of shoe stores with a store layout and merchandising concepts never before tried in the Philippines.
The success of the shoe store led to its expansion as a full line store, and the first SM Department Store opened in downtown Manila in 1972. With its exciting merchandise mix, world class interiors, one stop shopping convenience, and service, SM has become part of the lives of many Filipinos. Today, it has 32 branches strategically located around Metro Manila and key cities around the country.
Through the opening of new stores, renovations of major stores, and the introduction of new merchandising concepts, SM continues to make shopping at its department store chain an exciting lifestyle experience.
