How consumer behavior has changed during this pandemic

We asked two top market research practitioners—NielsenIQ managing director for Myanmar, Vietnam and Philippines Patrick Cua and Kantar Philippines president Gary de Ocampo—to share about consumer behaviors which they have uncovered in 2021 and their implications in 2022. Here are their views: Q: What key changes in consumer behavior have you decoded during the pandemic…

qr code, quick response code, scanning

Small businesses benefitting from QR payment system, says BSP

Filipino entrepreneurs who have adopted electronic payment systems are now even more productive, efficient and competitive, thanks to the new quick response (QR) code system that makes person-to-merchant transactions easier. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) further urged consumers, payment service providers and merchants, including micro, small and medium enterprises, to avail…

coffee

How to adopt a coffee tree

October is also known for another beverage. We have been celebrating Philippine coffee since President Fidel Ramos declared October as coffee month in 1997. In malls, promotional activities include free coffee every day for two to three weeks. The nonprofit Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PCBI) was established in 2002 by then Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo…

billboards

Trendspotting 2022 and beyond

At the recently concluded 12th Mansmith Market Masters Conference, we asked three seasoned marketers – Kakam Gabunada, Vice President of Nestle Philippines; John Rubio, Country Director of Facebook; and Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls in the Philippines and China – about trends that will emerge in 2022 and beyond. Here is a summary of…

electronic payment

Surigao del Sur-based bank joins digital service revolution to reach unbanked

The Cantilan Bank (CanBank) is expanding its digital footprint through the launch of its app iCAN targeting unbanked Filipinos. CanBank, established in 1980 in Surigao del Sur, said in a statement iCAN would introduce features such as fund transfer, bills payment, prepaid phone reloading and QR code payment to its customers in over 100 communities.…

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Tourism ready for rebound

The tourism industry is one of the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with travel restrictions forcing the closure of hotels and other establishments offering accommodations. But the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) has always been optimistic that tourism will soon bounce back, and Filipino and foreign travelers will once again queue up…