BANKING on the promising prospects in the retail industry, Skechers Philippines has expanded its presence in Cebu by opening its largest store to date at the Ayala Center Cebu.More store reopening with bigger store formats are expected starting this year as Skechers Philippines moves away from its third-party distributor in the country, according to Suzette Pasustento, country manager for Skechers USA Philippines.The bigger Skechers branch in Cebu not only carries its well-known footwear but also apparel and accessories, making the brand a complete and active lifestyle brand for every Filipino family.“Cebu is the biggest so far. We are going to open bigger stores in Manila and perhaps again in Cebu,” said Pasustento, during the store’s reopening Tuesday, May 31, 2022.Besides Ayala Center Cebu, Skechers is also present in all SM and other department stores in Cebu.Pasustento said the company is opening more branches in the third quarter of this year in Cebu.“We are looking at opening two more stores in Cebu this year,” she said with store sizes ranging from 250 square meters and above.Quoting Euromonitor’s study on consumer buying habits these days, Pasustento said post-pandemic consumer spending is even higher than the pre-pandemic level.“Based on the feedback of retail players in the industry they’re positive about the consumer industry,” she said.Skechers Philippines has been operating in the country for 20 years.“Skechers is a brand for the whole family. We have a good collection for lifestyle as well as performance and sports for all ages. We are a brand for the Filipino family. We are a brand that’s known for comfort and technology,” said Pasustento.In December last year, the brand announced that it has transitioned its setup from distributorship to a fully and directly owned company by Skechers USA.“This is our commitment to the market that we are going to scale further and meet the demand for the Skechers brand,” she said.“The Philippines has immense potential for Skechers, and with our dedicated team focused on growth and delivering the integrated capabilities of Skechers, we believe this step accelerates that potential,” said David Weinberg, chief operating officer of Skechers USA Inc., in a statement.He added that he believes that “the Philippines can become a key market for us in Southeast Asia.”Property research firm Colliers Philippines said it is optimistic that the retail sector will recover this year.“Major mall operators have reported an increase in footfall while a number of food and beverage and clothing retailers are likely to occupy physical mall space for the remainder of 2022,” Colliers said in its latest market report.