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[av_heading heading=’Wilcon Depot celebrates 40 years of ‘building big ideas’ with 41st store in Iloilo’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
By Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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WILCON DEPOT has come a long way from its humble beginnings in Quezon Avenue in Metro Manila since 1977 – now the country’s leader in home improvement and the premiere construction retail store.
Closing its 40th year on a high note, the home-building giant fittingly inaugurated its 41st store in the country on Dec. 8 in Iloilo City, as the company broke new ground in the hopes of contributing to the expanding construction boom in the region – while making both its renowned international and quality in-house brands more accessible to Ilonggos.
“Wilcon is very happy to be in Iloilo to open our 41st store, marking a very significant day,” said Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, Wilcon Depot Chief Operating Officer. “As we end our 40th year celebration, we bring the Wilcon brand and retail experience to Iloilo. We hope to offer the same world-class products and services you see in Manila to our customers right here in Iloilo.”
In 1977, the store was established by now Chairman Emeritus William T. Belo as a 60-square meter shop along Quezon Avenue. It carried an extensive array of the latest building and finishing materials from international and local markets. A few years after its successful yet humble inception, more and more branches were established across Metro Manila and in various provinces in the country.
In 2003, Wilcon launched its first big-box format depot store in Las Piñas, with complete selection of products and unsurpassed services. Through the years, it has continued to expand and provide home-building solutions by directly offering in-house brands and renowned international and local brands to Filipino homeowners and builders.
“Wilcon started in 1977. My father opened with a 60-square-meter store. You know how big this store is?” asked President and Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Belo-Cincochan. “It’s about 10 thousand square meters. Wilcon started as just a simple dream, a small store – and now this family and the Wilcon family has grown so much.”
Iloilo City mayor Jose Espinosa III himself welcomed Wilcon to the City of Love, highlighting the company’s unique position poised to contribute to the local economic boom with its slogan “building big ideas”.
“We are very happy to welcome Wilcon to our city, our province and to the island of Panay,” said mayor Espinosa. “We are very happy to have a new partner in the development of our city. We have four or five hotels with ongoing construction right now, and four or five hospitals also under construction. Business is booming in the city and we are very glad to have Wilcon be part of that boom.”
Aside from mayor Espinosa, top businessmen and leaders in the construction sector also attended Wilcon’s opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 8 – including Kohler Philippines Country Manager Jonathan Kwong, Wilcon EVP-Chief Product Officer Careen Belo, Iloilo Province First Lady Hon. Cosette Defensor, Wilcon Corporation Independent Director Alfredo Javellana II, Wilcon Founder and Chairman Emeritus William Belo, and LIXIL Water Technology Country Manager Alen Alban.
Wilcon not only assures top-grade quality products, but also aims to deliver utmost customer satisfaction. It revolutionized the construction supply industry as it committed itself to providing convenient shopping and excellent services such as air-conditioned shops, ample parking spaces, delivery services, interior design consultation, tile-cutting services, product installations, and repairs – even a recreation corner for children so parents can shop at their own leisurely pace.
These have helped Wilcon establish a strong reputation and take industry leadership – making the company a household name in the construction supply industry with 40 years of excellence under its belt.
Wilcon Depot is located along Diversion Road, Brgy. Dungon B, Jaro, Iloilo City – open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m./PN
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