Teddy Keng creates a unique Christmas at Landmark

The success stories of retail tycoons are not just about little shops that could. Sure, every tycoon puts in a lot of hard work  and creative thinking mixed with luck before the little shops become big department stores or malls.

In the case of Teddy Keng, founder and chief operating officer of  Landmark, there is an extra factor that forms the pillar of strength to his buildings: the power of prayer.

Most of his days begin and end with a visit to his chapel — right at the fifth floor of Landmark Makati. Called the Mary Mother of Hope Chapel, it was named and blessed by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle in 2013.

   "I am a Protestant but I have been active in the Catholic Church for many years now. I was also close to the late Cardinal Sin," says Keng. "Years ago I met Fr. Fernando Suarez and I asked him to celebrate Mass at Landmark TriNoma. He did once a month and thousands of people came. He also said Mass in Glorietta monthly and about 10,000 people attended."

These were such shows of piety and faith that moved Keng to build the air-conditioned chapel in Landmark Makati that can fit up to 1,800 people. It has a separate Adoration Chapel and a room for children. Five Masses are held here every Sunday and two Masses daily. This year, Cardinal Tagle will celebrate select Simbang Gabi Masses like he has done in past years.

A second chapel currently being built at Landmark TriNoma, can accomodate 2,500 people and will be ready by mid-2017, to replace the small,  temporary space devoted to Mass there.

“People kept asking me to build a chapel for Landmark Makati as well as TriNoma. Families love to shop together, and on Sundays they also want to hear Mass together," he explains."And it didn't look good for Holy Mass to be said in makeshift spaces."

The beautiful chapels are not the only source of pride for Keng. "Landmark Supermarket, which is number one in terms of sales volume can claim to be the best supermarket in the country. Our merchandise is always up to date. We also offer high-end imported and local quality goods while having the best prices for the A to C markets." Landmark Supermarket has in fact received several international awards as “Best Supermarket.”

And the secret to the enduring success of Landmark Department Store since its opening in 1988? "Good merchandise, excellent service, location and the best prices," Keng asserts.

Truth is, Landmark is a  not-so-secret  favorite shopping place of the elite. "Their brass and sterling silver candelabras, as well as drapes in silk or velvet are great," says a prominent woman of style. "I always check out their furniture pieces, lamps, curtains and beddings. A table runner in Japanese prints at P175? You don't find these everywhere."

A fashionably best-dressed lady prides herself using a P400 evening clutch, which her stylist found in Landmark, and with the addition of a brooch, looked extra chic.

"I love shopping at Landmark and then eating arroz caldo, bibingka and puto bumbong at Via Mare inside Landmark after," says a housewife. "Those are my family’s favorite comfort foods."

A businessman says: "You get the best value for money when buying appliances at Anson's, which is right next to Landmark."

Landmark traces its roots to Anson Emporium which was opened by Teddy's father, Keng Giok, in Binondo in 1966, and which later opened in Makati, in the area which old folks  remember as the site where Maranaw, Anson Arcade and Coronado Lanes once stood. It took two years to build the nine-story Landmark Makati within what is now called Ayala Center, with Anson appliances within  the building as well as the nearby building called The Link.

“Our friendship with the Zobel de Ayala family goes a long way back,"says Keng. "So when they built TriNoma in Quezon City, we also opened Landmark there.We are opening Landmark in Ayala Alabang next year and then also in Sta. Rosa  as well as the area between Solaire and City of Dreams where Ayala will open a shopping mall by 2018. Excavation for Landmark has started in Cebu where the Ayala and Aboitiz families have a joint venture."

Such expansion schedules make Keng a 24/7 workaholic. "I used to play golf many years ago, now I have no more time. The last movie I saw was 10 years ago." But of course, Sundays are devoted to family. His wife Linda,who is senior VP for merchandising; daughter Michelle who is merchandising assistant; and son Kenneth who is marketing head, take Sunday lunch with Keng.

The two kids have imbibed his work ethic. What does he teach them? "Just to be hardworking," says Keng. "I don't drink, I don't smoke. They follow my example."

What makes Keng happy? "Making people happy. I feel good when people say they have a good experience shopping at Landmark."

Oh, and Keng has a big way of making shoppers happy — by raffling off cars. "Since we opened, Landmark has given away hundreds of cars.” There was a time when Landmark Makati sent shoppers in a frenzy of excitement by raffling off one car every day.

To add joy to the shopping experience, Landmark also has this unique tradition of dressing up for the occasion. So for Chinese New Year, shoppers are welcomed by models in traditional cheongsams. In summer, which is travel season, guys in pilot uniforms open the doors for shoppers. For fiesta time, men in camisa chino and women in Filipiniana say “Mabuhay!”

For this Christmas season, models dressed as Swiss Guards march with a live band and give Landmark a picturesque atmosphere reminiscent of the Vatican. After all, there is a beautiful chapel upstairs.

Landmark recently unveiled its new collection by Filipino designers by presenting a live mannequin show — perhaps now better known as the “mannequin challenge” — in its display windows.

What will Teddy Keng do next? This man of faith will pray and work hard for something that will make shoppers happy. He is the big shop owner that could.

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