By: The Fashion Police
One of the most glaring problems (and an obvious negative result of colonial mentality) in Philippine retail is that the public refuses to accept things that are ‘local.’
The retail chain Sari-Sari is not only the pioneer but still is the champion of local designs and products. Decades of being family-owned and -run have seen the brand go from the ultimate in a Filipino lifestyle brand to its tarnished image today but not without signs of its former glitz. The business was originally marred by allegedly feuding cousins (current owners of the Celestina accessories line) that involved allegedly in dishonest bookkeeping, alleged misuse of company funds (including the alleged purchase of a fake Birkin) and non-payment of suppliers. But that was the ancient regime.
Today’s entry is about the new Sari Sari management.
Unfortunately, it lives up to the sayings ‘History repeats itself” and “An apple does not fall far from its tree.” Like a Hollywood adaptation of a novel or a remake, it is the same story with different characters (but not quite) and more lawsuits.
Because this is a private enterprise and the problems probably go back over 10 years, we can only piece together the story from different sources who decided to report to Dona Victorina because they know they would not get any space in traditional media. The current Ocampo management is allegedly well-connected with the broadsheets. What makes this business story very interesting is that it is typical of many small and medium enterprises but it straddles the world of fashion, one that revolves around glamour and wealth. It is also about a well-loved retail institution. And yet, once again, it is the little people who have to pay for that new car, that new Mac Book, the expensive travel and dining, the new dresses and apartments….
Geez... Learn to advertise once in a while.Stop using lifestyle editors!
Ideally, a business like Sari Sari’s should work like this: SS rents space from a mall and assumes rent and other dues like maintenance and commissions. SS, as a consignee, then has the choice to sell their own merchandise and/or divide the store among consignors (fashion designers or suppliers). A mall store such as SS is not allowed to sublet. The only way SS can make money off their consignors by letting them use the space is to charge commission on sales. These sales commissions are under a separate contract between the consignee and the consignor. The sales staff is usually hired by the consignor ideally to sell and manage only its product line. Cashiers and packers and hired by the consignee.
All retail sales are made into one centralized register where all sales are reported to the mall (so they can get their sales commission from SS the renter). In this case, SS collects all the money and has to pay their consignees their share of sales after agreed commissions have been deducted. This is where problems happen because in this case, some consignees claim that have not been getting paid for up to three years and the only reason they got paid was because they filed a lawsuit!! Generally, suppliers get paid anywhere from 30-120 days but we heard that no one ever follows this rule. EVENTUALLY they get paid within the year but in the case of SS’s suppliers, payments are made rarely on time and are usually from a few months to up to a few years late.
Despite this alleged business practice of non-or late payment, why would let’s say, local designer Mr. Jacobs want to consign at SS? A very small business like Mr. J has no choice if he wants to get his goods into the mall because he will not be able to afford mall rents and dues. Technically, the SS model is an excellent way to introduce new names into the market before they hit it big. Like Fred Segal in Los Angeles, it becomes a medium for design experimentation and a testing ground for new products (Juicy Couture, True Religion, Splendid, Michael Stars, etc. all made their start at Fred Segal). This model also keeps both parties from needlessly spending too much money. For SS, they will not have to spend on inventory and staff and for MJ they will not have to spend so much on mall rent and overhead while being able to enter and develop new markets in malls.
So much has happened before the Fashion Police including the owners having lost some of their personal wealth. The rest is fashion history, one riddled not only with alleged dishonest business practices but contended extraordinary buying procedures unheard of elsewhere. SS bought the fashion line of one of their merchandisers. It is one thing to be an editor or merchandiser TURNED designer but never at the same time and with sales in commercial quantities. But buying from your in-store merchandiser and shareholder is just an alleged accessory to more crimes.
There was an alleged Php 3million employee loan package which did not benefit employees but one of the owners. Eventually, another family member allegedly paid off this loan to save the unwitting employees. The money moved from one pocket to another. The funds from the South Mall store were used to pay rent on an office and another store in North Edsa.
One fashion reporter told us, “They treat the stores like their own piggy banks. They see cash coming in everyday. Ang sarap kumuha. They didn’t risk anything, not their hard work and the cash keeps coming in so they are tempted.”
|
thank you for posting this. I'm so glad I never signed with them years ago. These kinds of crooks should be exposed. they shouldn't get away with these things.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, SARI SARI STORE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE..EVERYTIME IM ON HOLIDAY, I GO THERE AND I ALWAYS INTRODUCE SARI2 STORE BECAUSE THEY LIKE WHAT THEY SAW.. ITS VERY SAD BUT YES.. EXPOSE THEM..GO GO GO!
I heard about this. CHAKA KHAN!
tama na pasosyal kung fake din naman!
Masasamang tao talaga 'yang Sari-sari owners.
Check this out: http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/decisions.php?doctype=Decisions%20/%20Signed%20Resolutions&docid=1219191479466807518
Boycott Sari-Sari!
haaay! sayang talaga. Sarisari can fall under the Proud to be Pinoy banner. I wish the owners would learn their lesson and wake up. The suppliers are key to their business. You starve them, you kill the business.
The Fashion Police?! In a blog promoting owning up to whatever you write in blogosphere and not hiding behind the cloak of anonymity? Don't tell that this is not a hatchet job - all based on hearsays and no solid proof - similar to what Chikatime would have done in its time. BTW, I am not in any way related with the SS owners nor am I friends with them.
The problem in the Philippines (and I guess even in Canada) is that
talk is cheap indeed.
That is why we shouldn't believe what the newspapers/glossy magazines feature may it be food, fashion or other places since they most likely get featured because the editor or writer receives gifts and free food and accommodation from featured products/places.
SariSari and estranged cousins used to be in newspapers every weekend and readers were quick to believe whatever the delusions of the cousins were except probably people who knew them from childhood in their provincial hometown.
The story just repeats itself as this I heard had also happened to the businesses of the cousins respective parents. It must run in the family or they just learned from their parent's bad business practice.
"In a blog promoting owning up to whatever you write in blogosphere and not hiding behind the cloak of anonymity?"
Who is hiding eyegames? I'm sure Sari-Sari can respond anytime of the day...
PUBLISHER:Amiel Aguilar Cabanlig
Managing EDITOR:Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles
EDITOR: Rain B.
The blogsphere has paved a way for citizens to put businesses under the microscope. Sari-Sari can explain in writing the veracity of this information... I'm sure this information holds water because Sari-Sari is now in court defending itself.
Thanks
Media created personalities have no substance. Fight traditional media!
Sari Sari stopped being relevant years ago. Their stock is atrocious & poorly constructed. Too bad, it was such a great retail concept - but they stopped evolving & now they are, quite simply, irrelevant.
hiding??????
eye see you!!!!!!!!!!!!
hehehhehehe
cant resist sorry Amiel...
I've been buying from Sarisari ever since. The Megamall store has been closed for a while now. What's going on ? I need graduation dresses for my teenage girls!
WHO IS FASHION POLICE? WHY NOT PUBLISH YOUR NAME TO OWN THIS ARTICLE....JUST ASKING
Anonymous 11;37 said...
Media created personalities have no substance. Fight traditional media!
Ha! First of all, I agree with anon 11:37 (who said it straight and simple)...BUT I'm afraid it's easier said than done...a good number of readers here can't even get away from the world of showbiz, gossip and so-called lifestyle news/personalities. If the readers are able to remove kapamilya/kapuso from their tv presets and stop reading the traditional print-media-materials, maybe we can start getting somewhere...but I doubt it. The last post proved na mababaw talaga ang pinoy (as observed by another smart reader).
So many issues concerning the country...tapos, patulan ng mga tao ang mababaw na topic. It was really disgusting to see all the cheap talk that took place in here. Baduy talaga!!!
I just hope DV can bounce back fron this travesty and get back to the national issues that REALLY matter. Otherwise, the rankings mean nothing to us...
inno: "The blogsphere has paved a way for citizens to put businesses under the microscope... I'm sure this information holds water because Sari-Sari is now in court defending itself."
Oh? So now, because of the blogsphere, citizens have the temerity to indiscriminately malign and spread rumors about anyone and any business entity without any moral responsibility at all? What happened to the Golden Rule?
The fact that what is supposed to have happened in Sari Sari is still being under judicial scrutiny means
that the outcome is still far from the true picture. Don't you think that we all should be decent enough NOT to pre-judge?
Or has the rush to judgment on any loose-lip topic now become the domain of Victorina?
eyegames said...
Hi Eyegames... Read the essay. It doesn't point a finger. Check out the redundantly used word "alleged" in the article. You are dealing with veteran writers dear. You should go read Bryanboy; Bagay ka doon!
Tina, my "dear", I would not ascribe the word redundance to the work of "veteran" writers. That word is beset by supefluity and characteristic predictability- not exactly flattering to real wordsmiths. Try the more simple "REPEATEDLY used", if that was what you were implying.
I guess you're right. Bryanboy probably has a better command of English rather than the Taglish you so brandish here.
That's all.
I don't see the difference between repeatedly and redundantly. Yes, the word "ALLEGED" covers the writer from libel. Plus the fact that the writer indeed made a quote from a Sari employee.
So what is the issue?
Greed, corruption, payola and x deals are part and parcel of the fashion retail industry.
It's a simple case of PINABAYAAN and quality of merchandise. Poor SariSari, it's now Sorry, Sorry.
Inubos and datung ng mga evil Ocampos. Join na doon si Tina and Ricca, who gave the blueprint for posing as fashion boutiques but were money launderers et all.
The LAUNDRY lit is long but the LIST of disgruntled and ABUSED employees who have take legal action is LONGER.
A decade and a half ago, I loved their mens t shirts. Today, ukay ukay had better choices 24/7.
L.P.Leviste who has just spent 6 days at the fiesta on Mindoro island in Mamburao. So unspoiled and charming. The diving is unparalled.Take the roro ferry to Mamburao and see what Boracay was like 30 years ago. GO.
Tina, my "dear", I would not ascribe the word redundance to the work of "veteran" writers. That word is beset by supefluity and characteristic predictability- not exactly flattering to real wordsmiths. Try the more simple "REPEATEDLY used", if that was what you were implying.
hehe :) taray ni eyegames!
i came from inside Sari-Sari, and i resigned because everyone (including me!) saw that it was a sinking ship --- due to too many debts to their consignors, mall rentals, even to the SS employees' SS & philhealth! they take it out of the employees' payslip, but they never remit to SS or philhealth. butas-butas ang payment if the employees check their SS records. hindi lang kawawa ang consignors, pati employees ng SS!
leon, repetition is not synonymous to redundance. Being redundant is being superfluous, supernumenary and unnecessary.
The use of "alleged" IN THE Sari sari piece, however REPETITIOUS, was NECESSARY from the legal point of view and from the fact that the poorly written expose has for its sources all hearsay:
1)"some consignees claim that have not been getting paid for up to three years and the only reason they got paid was because they filed a lawsuit!! DID THEY GET PAID OR NOT? IF THERE WAS A LAWSUIT, GIVE THE DETAILS...IT'S EASY TO IMAGINE SOMEBODY CLAIMING TO BE A CONSIGNEE WHO HAS AN AX TO GRIND AGAINST THAT BUSINESS.
2)"So much has happened before the Fashion Police including the owners having lost some of their personal wealth." OH? THE FASHION POLICE IS/ARE NOW PRIVY TO THE PERSONAL WORTH OF THE OWNERS? HOW? IS/ARE HE/SHE/THEY IN POSSESSION OF THEIR DECLARATION OF ASSETS?
3) "The rest is fashion history, one riddled not only with alleged dishonest business practices..." QUICK, DROP THE FASHION MAKE IT PLAIN AND SIMPLE POLICE WORK. IF THERE ARE INDEED UNLAWFUL BUSINESS PRACTICES, CALL IN THE REGULATORY BODIES.
3)" SS bought the fashion line of one of their merchandisers. It is one thing to be an editor or merchandiser TURNED designer but never at the same time and with sales in commercial quantities. But buying from your in-store merchandiser and shareholder is just an alleged accessory to more crimes." SAYS WHO? THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THE PHILIPPINES ADHERES TO THE FREE MARKET PRINCIPLE WHERE IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO INVEST IN OR ACQUIRE A BUSINESS TO ADD TO YOUR EXISTING ONE, THEN THERE IS NO LEGAL IMPEDIMENT.
4) "There was an alleged Php 3million employee loan package which did not benefit employees but one of the owners. Eventually, another family member allegedly paid off this loan to save the unwitting employees." SO IT WAS PAID REGARDLESS BY WHOM. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM TO THE REST OF US?
5)"The money moved from one pocket to another. The funds from the South Mall store were used to pay rent on an office and another store in North Edsa." NOW THAT REALLY IS SARI SARI'S BUSINESS, ISN'T IT? I'M SURE THE SAME PRACTICE IS EFFECTED BY MOST IF NOT ALL BUSINESSES THE WORLD OVER. CREATIVE ACCOUNTING, ANYONE? AGAIN, WHY IS IT our PROBLEM?
6)"One fashion reporter told us, “They treat the stores like their own piggy banks. They see cash coming in everyday. Ang sarap kumuha. They didn’t risk anything, not their hard work and the cash keeps coming in so they are tempted.” IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LOFTY GOALS OF DONA VICTORINA, WOULD YOU IDENTIFY THE FASHION REPORTER AND HER BASIS FOR SUCH EXTRAVAGANT CLAIMS OF RETAIL MISDEEDS. WAS HE/SHE EVER PRESENT WHEN "THEY" (WHO EXACTLY? HE/SHE CAN'T JUST BLANKET-ACCUSE...)DIPPED IN THE CASH REGISTER? AND IF "THEY" DID, AGAIN IT'S THEIR BUSINESS...IT WAS THEIR INVESTMENT RISK AND SURELY SOME HARD WORK WHEN THEY PUT UP THE BUSINESS. THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO AVAIL OF THE FRUITS OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS AND THAT INCLUDES THE CASH. TO GO WITH YOUR SKEWED PERSPECTIVE OF OWNING A BUSINESS I DON'T SEE WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT UP ONE!
In summary, this Sari Sari piece is a glaring hack job, certainly a hatchet job not worthy of being alloted a space in Dona Victorina. And this I allege..;- )
Wow hanggang ngayon Sari pa rin.
I'm quite sure Amiel doesn't give a damn about fashion.
But Victorina is open to any idea.
Eyegames you should email a piece to DV.
I like your style.
james
I LOVE EYEGAMES!!!
Cool eyegames!
But I still believe the article is substantiated. Otherwise, let the owners SUE Dona Victorina for libel and face their battery of lawyers.
Ganun lang yan!
PEACE!
"But I still believe the article is substantiated. Otherwise, let the owners SUE Dona Victorina for libel and face their battery of lawyers." Common these guys know what their doing. Eh PGMA nga hirap sa kanila!
I just love DV!
heard about this.
here's another fashion chika
http://www.lagahit.com/2009/03/boyet-fajardo-how-ruin-your-brand-with-your-public-attitude/
Eyegames why are you defending Sari-Sari. Let them issue their statement!
Hahaha.
OMG Eyegames... you're insane. I LOVE it!
More anal than the backside of a baboon.
I hope your name don't start with GP......
Come to Canada and I'll treat you to a Starbucks!
You deserve it after all that craziness. You're parents should be proud.
You are a smarty pants.
And I BET you're a cutie too!
Hahahaha, oh really, that was a hoot eyegames!
Fashion Police IS Victorina.
WHAT part of that do you not comprehend? Victorina wrote the article.
And before you strain your brain... AGAIN, I don't give two tosses about my spelling OR grammar.
That's not the ONLY difference between you and I.
Bx
Could he be Ambeth O?
to Eyegames,
Do you know what business ethics mean? Puro ka e ano ngayon...negosyo nila. Don't u get it, the money isn't theirs, pati employees weren't paid. No need for hatchet job, mismo yung President ng SS may hawak na bolo at tinatadtad ang image ng SS, ang mga pinsan na kasosyo, hinayaan lang.
Did you read the article ? It says consignors/consignee. The fact
that SS did not remit the sales to the consignors (error by the writer/s), this falls under estafa, a crime under our laws, because nonpayment of consigned items is a betrayal of trust. In fact, the consignee, SS, cannot use the money they got out of the sales, because they are held in trust. If they use the money, that is called conversion, a crime, under Art. 315 ng Revised Penal Code.
I am an ex-consignor of SS and isa ako sa nagkaso sa kanila sa southmall. They paid yung 3 taong utang nila sa Glorietta, Manila, Rockewell, but sa Southmall hindi. D na bale maliit lang sa akin. Yung sa nakasama ko, malalaki. Pinilit kaming idrop yung case para mabayaran yung mas malaking utang
sa ibang stores,but they promised the group na they can run the store one year after ma-sign ang agreement hanggang they earn back ang ilang milyon na utang
sa kanila. When they were asking for the store na, ayaw ibigay, even if they said lugi daw. They left a back rental of 6 months, at utang sa consignors. Pero nagbayad agad bago ipinasa yung store sa Presidente, na kinuha lang benta,
hindi nagbayad ng rent and suppliers. Go to SM Southmall and ask.
I hear there are new lawsuits, all criminal, na nakafile na. Bahala na sila. Buti na lang I got out of it na. For their own reasons, ayaw ng mga consignors ma-identify dito. Ayaw ng ganitong publicity. Pero merong iba, maliliit who cannot afford the legal fees, gusto silang ireport sa Imbestigador.
Just ask the employees at mga nag-coconsign diyan sa SS, everyone knows the truth. At sa mga nagsasabi na irrelevant na ang SS or this case..marami pa rin nauutong magconsign diyan because malakas ang benta kaysa sa anung boutique or department store. May brand recall pa rin sila,
even if they don't advertise.
Thank you DV for publishing this article so people know that crooked
business practices can be exposed. Hindi lang sa SS, pati sa ibang companies kung meron.
They got away with it for years kasi most people do not want to bother kung mga tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands, they just charge it to experience. SS has step on a lot of small people, affected their lives and livelihood, most of them walang access sa internet, so I decided to react na to the comments. most people ayaw ng gulo, they just walk away and move on.
Kung gusto mong iverify yung mga statements dito, just go to the only SArisari store na open, yung north edsa. Ask who are the consignors, get their numbers, talk to them. Or if that's too much trouble, ask anyone who has a friend na nagcoconsign sa kanila. You'll get the picture..so please do not defend these people without
knowing the truth.
Hannah
Hannah, I have NO issue with exposing any wrongdoing here - that's the blog's proclaimed militancy after all (and it's not my blog; I'm only a reader...and a sometime commenter;- ) ).
In Sari Sari's case, as I would any other, I made a call when a SLOPPY and poorly-written entry relying heavily if not entirely on hearsays and innuendoes suddenly find alloted space in cyberspace with the obvious intentions of taking down whatever reputation of those involved in running the business, the practices of which it deemed to have broken Philippine laws .
Hence, by dissecting that entry line by line, I've shown where the LOOPHOLES are. And you will agree, that there should have been more dots to fill, more leg or finger work, more angles to look into before filing that report. Maybe the Fashion Police should have talked to the likes of you who has no qualms to step up and point an accusing finger because you're supposedly involved in the case(s). You as source should have been duly noted and given credence if your claims pan out.
Let's say that I was gunning for the messenger more than the message in the altruistic spirit of the Golden Rule.
In other words,I feel that Dona Victorina should not be a venue for wanton and irresponsible acts of vengeance sowing malice and destruction in its wake. Isn't that as NEGATIVE an atmosphere in a country already reeling in "debauchery and intoxicant lies" not to mention "pretentiousness and carnality"? (Really big words to live by, I must say. Or to remember ;- ) ).
Now since Brian Gorell has pointed out that the fashion police is actually DV - he should know because he is part of The Council - then I take it that, since discovering this site, I have not perceived correctly its raison d'tre. I sit corrected...and saddened. But that's just me.
To Brian G.: I'm sure you recognize my handle.I've been making comments in your blog as well from time to time when my humble opinions could not be restrained from leaping out of my head but at no time have I been PEDANTIC. "Smarty pants" is your impression not my intention. At no time did I brandish superior knowledge unless provoked. And if you recall, months before your blog took on the mantle of advocacy/militancy, I had urged you to switch track in your life towards exactly that (HIV)positive goal. So, yes, maybe we should have coffee when I ever find myself in Mooseland - as long as it's NOT Starbucks! Now, there's a (multinational)business that should be taken to task for hooking up people to their over-priced coffee with disagreeable aftertastes...just joking: chaque un son gout (to each his own taste). On second thought, how about a shot of vodka or two at PRAVDA Bar? Then you can confirm how "cute" I am ;D
Lastly, Brian, there's more to life than spelling or grammar but just be sure that you are well-understood. Confusion is the root of CHAOS.
Ooh, I like you eyegames.
I really do!!!!!
You've always been a great mind and I KNOW you are CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!!!!!!
I consider you a friend and I'm glad you come to Victorina.
I like this line...
Lastly, Brian, there's more to life than spelling or grammar but just be sure that you are well-understood. Confusion is the root of CHAOS.
...Mooseland.. hehehehehe.
si michelle varela lim ba yung may anak na autistic?
sayang ang sari sari. its the best ever sana sa mga gowns.
too bad sari sari is ruined because of the OCAMPOS'. I heard that alot are being involved just to clear their name. AS IF......good lcuk!
kasi naman mga owner ng sari sari tago ng tago. Marni Ocampo and relatives and siblings, labas na at harapin mga problema. wag magtago. prom and graduation season pa naman